@Since_1994 said:

@BrogLog said:

@Since_1994 said:

I go to Japan every year to watch Sumo, if you can believe it. Sumo is to me what Phish is to most of you. Phish ranks just below what is to me, the absolute King of Sports.

Oh man, that is so awesome! Who you rooting for this upcoming basho? Will Asanoyama find his pre-ban form? Will Ura transform his loveableness into kimarite that actually work? Will Abi continue to be a giant PoS? Will Takakeisho ever sustain a Yokozuna run, or is Kirishima or Hoshoryu more likely? You always go to the Kokugikan or have you been to the other ones as well?

Nice to meet a fellow fan on here. It's kind of a niche sport interest.

Who you rooting for this upcoming basho? Anyone in Sanyaku or Asanoyama. Not a big Takakeisho fan and his neck is buggered so I'd be surprised if he finishes he tourney anyway. If Terunofuji wins, that's 10 for him and cements dai-yokozuna status. He's a already a legend, either way.

Will Asanoyama find his pre-ban form? Hope so. I'm long on his autographed cards.

Will Ura transform his loveableness into kimarite that actually work? He'll never make it beyond Sekiwake, if he gets that far, but he's a favorite all the same. No one gets louder applause and for good reason. Mister entertainment.

Will Abi continue to be a giant PoS? Watch your neck around that guy. I'm lukewarm on him at best due to his limited repertoire. He did win a basho.

Will Takakeisho ever sustain a Yokozuna run, or is Kirishima or Hoshoryu more likely? No chance for Takakeisho, I'd say. Too many other strong Ozeki now, after that period of weakness at the top. I say Kirishima first. Maybe that would light Hoshoryu's fire, but he's obviously looking the better of the two so far this basho.

You always go to the Kokugikan or have you been to the other ones as well? Only Kokugikan. January tournament coincides with my winter break every year.

What about you? What are your predictions?

My Covid project was learning Japanese, and I absolutely loved learning kanji. My buddy said, 'Since you're already getting into Japanese stuff, you should watch Sumo with me.' It was 2020 and not much else was going on. I was immediately intriqued by the huge salt throw of Terutsuyoshi (that didn't age well) and I honestly loved the stupid arm warm-up of the Angry Hamster. I know he is the definition of a pusher/thruster, but I have a soft spot for him (you're sadly right about his neck though, it's honestly crazy he's ridden that kadoban line for years now, but hey, he's a much better rikishi than Shodai). I also just loved Wakatakakage's name. Hakuho still loomed large, but he was pretty much where Teru is right now, biding his time before he retires. Then the Teru arc started and I was all in. Daiesho also won that first yusho that I watched, so I'm fond of him (and hey, he won another one not too long ago).

But honestly, I love the wildcards like Tobizaru, who is just pure chaos, Kiribayama (now Kirishima, still getting used to that) and Meisei was glorious to watch for like a year there. I support the Hoshoryu ascendence, but I'd love to see Teru win one more before he gives the ole knees a rest. I agree with all your takes though; Abi has two moves - tsuppari (if you can call them that, they're really just jabs) to the neck and henka, and they both suck. I dislike him with an unreasonable passion. I love Ura with the same unreasonable passion. It would be cool to see one of the old guys win one too - Tamawashi never missing a day for like 10 years always commands my respect, and Myugiryu never has much luck. Is Hokutofuji's mawashi as disgusting looking in real life? Why do people say Endo is a technician, he's abut as middling as Ryden. Honestly though, I always want Takayasu to win and at least reclaim Ozeki, is that too much to ask?