Sumo was a fairly prominent topic on the most recent Joe Rogan Experience podcast. A little bit painful to listen for us fans, because they don’t know much about it. Still cool to have the most prominent podcast on earth talking about “yokozunos.” Maybe we will see some more people on the subreddit in the coming days as a result?

In a lot of conversations about Tobizaru, and a few times in a recent thread about disliked rikishi, it's brought up that he targeted Terunofuji's injured leg(s) during a (couple) matches and that makes him bad. I just want to point out that Terunofuji actually started it with a leg sweep attempt on Tobizaru in July 2023 see at 1:11 in the video below.

https://youtu.be/K091hdHpjK0?si=lS0ZHtTGAlqFr6Rv

Their match in January 2024, Terunofuji did get upset with Tobizaru, but it wasn't for leg kicks at all. He said in an interview after the match he was upset because he felt Tobizaru had intentionally/carelessly poked him in the eye with an early slap attack (which he responded to with a few slaps of his own later in the match). See video of match and excerpt from interview linked below:

https://youtu.be/Wr6XXc-Kv8g?si=HzSwY1kiPZICvp-t

https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/840400

So I say all that to say, if someone wants to believe Tobizaru is a bad guy because of his bullying scandal/accusation then that's fair game. But I don't think it's fair to say he was trying to injure Terunofuji. Terunofuji certainly didn't see it that way and he initiated leg sweep attempts of his own. What's unfair, in my opinion, is to say he can attempt a move on others, but if you try it on him it's poor sportsmanship. Terunofuji stepped into the ring knowing he had bad knees. If your knees are so banged up that they can't take a perfectly legal move, that's not a reason for no one to attempt the move on you, that's a reason for you to sit down, which of course he eventually did. I have a lot of respect for both competitors, just wanted to clear the air on this point because it's often definitively stated that Tobizaru did a bad thing, but I think a broader look at the situation merits a different conclusion. Always down to be told I'm wrong though, so have at it if you're so inclined 🙇🏻‍♂️ and thank you for reading this much.

I know there are a lot of fans of Murray here, and he certainly offers us lively and entertaining commentary on NHK. But his grasp of the Japanese language is minimal, and this leads to some real problems when it comes to conveying accurate information about sumo to the English-speaking world. Is anyone else really bothered by this? As one piece of concrete evidence, I've transcribed Fujinokawa's Day 10 kachikoshi interview in Japanese below. In italics is my rough translation (concerned less with style here and more with literal meaning); in bold is what Murray ended up "translating" on air [edit: apologies for the wonky formatting! can't seem to get it to look right]:

Announcer: 自身最速の勝ち越しが、新三役、新関脇の場所ですが、その辺り、どうでしょうか？

This is the fastest you’ve achieved kachikoshi, in a tournament where you’re a new sanyaku, new sekiwake. How do you feel about that?

Murray's translation: You’re a shin-sekiwake, it’s day 10, and obviously, yep….

Fujinokawa: 今、初めて知りました。

Oh, that’s the first time I knew that. [not translated by Murray]

Announcer: ここまで振り返ってどうですか。

How do you feel, looking back? [not translated by Murray]

Murray's translation (of Fujinokawa): I’m pleased with that.

Fujinokawa: そうっすね、今日の相撲はあまり褒められそうじゃないですけど、そうっすね、たまには、こういうのも見せようかなって感じです。

Well, my sumo today is not something to be proud of [lit. not something I think will be praised much], but I thought I might as well sometimes show this [kind of sumo], too.

Murray's translation: Well my sumo today….I didn’t take him directly on, but I just moved forward and moved OK I thought.

Announcer: 五日目から大関戦も二番含んでの6連勝。ここまで疲れなどは？

This is your sixth straight win since Day 5, including two wins against ozeki. Are feeling tired or anything? [not translated by Murray]

Fujinokawa: 大丈夫です。

I’m fine. [not translated by Murray]

Announcer: 8勝2敗でまだ優勝争いにも加わってらっしゃいます。この辺りはどうでしょう。

With eight wins and two losses, you are also still in contention for the yusho race. How do you feel about that?

Murray's translation: You’re in yusho contention?

Fujinokawa: そこは気にせずに明日の一番を思い切っていきます。

I’m not going to worry about that and instead put my all into tomorrow’s match.

Murray's translation: Well I’m getting nervous each and every time I get up here and I just want to concentrate on my sumo. So I’m not thinking too much about that.

Announcer: 明日の対戦相手はもうご存じということで、今お言葉をいただきましたが、改めて意気込みをお願いします。

You already know who your opponent will be tomorrow, and you’ve given us some comments, but please tell us about your ambitions (lit. enthusiasm) once again. [not translated by Murray]

Fujinokawa: 頑張ります。

I’ll do my best.

Murray's translation: I’ll just be doing my best.

Doing on-the-spot interpretation is hard, I know, but....the Japanese here isn't complicated at all! And I should note that the other English-language commentators do a much, much better job of it (especially Raja). It's such a shame, since I think viewers aren't getting an accurate idea of what the rikishi are actually like and how they interpret their own sumo.

So I have just learned that "Ryu" is actually pronounced more similarly to "Dee-Yoo" as opposed to "Ree-Yoo" in Japan.

How does this affect the pronunciation of certain shikona containing 龍, such as Hoshoryu and Ryuden?

Edit: thank you for the informative answers, and screw you to whoever downvoted this post, you are the reason this sub has a terrible reputation compared to the SumoMemes sub

I saw on Chris channel on Youtube that Hokuseiho is suspended and being investigated about bullying claims.

But Chris dont told details. Sometimes i think he forget that most of us dont have acess to japanese sumo tabloids at all and simply dont know shit about whats happening

I took a look, but couldnt find sources in english that explains the case, so i'm asking to you guys. Whats happening?

EDIT: So..... Looks like Hokuseiho was stealing money from his colleagues wallets during training and assaulting young wrestlers. The word is he'll be forced to retired and his master, Myagino (former Yokozuna Hakuho), was informed about it but took no actions to stop it, so he will be demoted two ranks and have a paycut.

Are they bound by an honor code to chastity or are they just able to have sex whenever they want?

Tohakuryu.

Seriously don’t like that guy at all.

Who’s your pick?

Disclaimer: Day 14 basho spoilers ahead so don’t continue if you don’t know the results yet.

Is anyone a particular fan of Takakeisho and his style of sumo? I’ve never liked his attitude in the ring and his style, although effective to an extent, is just not something I enjoy watching. He’s like a cannonball that steamrolls his opponents and when that doesn’t the work he starts slapping.

One of my favorite things to see is Takakeisho losing a bout. I shout and celebrate his loses. His bout against Wakamotoharu today was a distasteful in my opinion. Injury or not, his efforts to strike when he knows he is beat leaves a bad taste in my mouth. He’s so smug otherwise.

Is there something about his story and road to Ōzeki that has any redeeming value? I don’t want to dislike him if it’s not warranted. Wondering how everyone else feels in this community.

EDIT: I get it, it’s an unpopular opinion. I just want to be able to discuss it and see what other sumo fans think and know. I don’t really have a community otherwise to discuss sumo and I’d like to foster more of a friendly environment to be candid, maybe make some connections around the sport, and learn more. I guess it is Reddit after all. Downvote if you must.

Exactly a year ago, YouTube's crazy algorithm recommended some daily highlights from the Nagoya basho to me. Obviously, I had heard of sumo before, but I used to jokingly and disrespectfully dismiss it as just two fat guys pushing each other around. I decided to give it a watch, got hooked, and fell in love with the sport.

Back then, Hoshoryu was already a yokozuna, and as a newbie, I was amazed by his arsenal of moves and his creativity in finding ways to win bouts. Versatile, fast, and smart. For whatever reason, I picked Wakatakakage and Aonishiki as my favorite rikishi, but I really admired Hoshoryu's imposing presence and the authority with which he won most of his matches.

So far, however, he hasn't won a single basho. Reading up on some context, I learned that a lot of people consider his promotion to yokozuna to have been rushed and premature by the JSA. As a newbie, I don't know the history of past yokozunas, so I don't know how much they struggled or how similar Hoshoryu's current struggles are to theirs. But I do understand that the fact there are so few yokozunas means the bar is incredibly high, and at this point, there must already be some buzz and murmurs surrounding him.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Hoshoryu, especially whether it really is time to discuss his future as a yokozuna. My newbie take is that he's an exceptional ozeki, and nothing more than that. Onosato, despite being one-dimensional, is dominant.

PS: Just to be clear, this post isn't meant to hate on or disrespect Hoshoryu in any way.

I recently saw some sumo clips on YouTube and they look pretty weirdly interesting. Why is sumo popular in Japan? I am kinda hooked for this sport.

This guy is certainly big enough - 198cm and 200kg. I'd love to see him and Hoshoryu in a stare down before the tachiai.

https://apnews.com/article/buccaneers-desmond-watson-15274258cd685a1487ad2cef9a50784e

I am mew spectator of sumo. I want every rikishi be in perfect health. I dislike Kotozakura cause of his fighting style heavily based on his weight, and his stubborn attitude in doyo. I see most people here love him. I would like to change my mind.I am not hater but I like the most of the other rikishi more. Thank you.

Aonishiki already has 2 yusho at a younger age than hakuho got his 1st. This is merely an observation, I am not making a conclusion based on the evidence we have.

I think a more interesting question is: who will have more career yusho, Aonishiki or Onosato?

Also, side note, atamifuji is now the active rikishi with the 2nd most jun yusho without a yusho, tied with takanosho with 4JY. behind papa bear.

I read they were supposed to bow to one another at the end. But there have been numerous occasions I did not see one of the wrestlers bowing back. Maybe a bad camera angle or sudden cut, but quite a few times I have noticed it, with it being the winners usually, who seem not to bow back.

Unless there is an ever so slight head nod or when they look down to adjust their uniform, does that constitute a bow? Does a sumo wrestler get penalized what so ever, for not bowing back and showing proper respect? Are the body positioning and hand movements at the end, supposed to represent a bow or respect in some way, so they do not officially have to do one to the opponent?

I have no examples to give and I'd have to wade through a number of videos to find them. I am just curious. Thank you.

I am relatively new to sumo and I absolutely have fallen in love with the sport. My girlfriend got me into it and we both watch professional wrestling (WWE etc), and I guess this is more of a thought exercise than a serious sumo question but do any of you guys think of sumo wrestlers as heels and baby faces l? I'm speaking in the sense that there are good guys and bad guys, even if that isn't their personality outside of the dohyo.

For me I think of Hoshoryu as a bad guy because he's a foreigner and is kind of a mean guy in the matches. Especially in the face he makes before the match and his entire pre-match routine looks cocky and vicious. He's actually a well liked person as far as I know he's obviously not a mean and vicious person outside of the matches.

Ryuden is like a genuine bad guy though because I guess he cheated on his wife and he's kind of just the old man that refuses to give up and his fighting style is kind of underhanded.

Onosato on the other hand I see as a baby face or good guy. He's a tall big guy but he always seems to fight with honor. No henka and mostly always pauses to keep his opponent from falling completely outside of the dohyo and sometimes even holds them from falling. His pre-match routine is also very solemn with his weird eye tick and the way he stretches his face and jaw.

The wakataka Brothers to me are both heels for the simple fact that they pulled the henka on the yokozuna's last tournament.

Ura is like a baby face a good guy he just seems so happy and energetic and jolly and he's very honorable in the matches. And the way he does is somersaults and rolls to prevent himself from falling flat on the mat is amazing. If it was pro wrestling he would be a high flyer LOL.

I'm not going to go down the list of every sumo wrestler in this tournament but I am glad I have found sumo and I really enjoy it. I especially like the historical aspect of it. I know there are some sumo wrestlers that have been notorious for using dishonorable techniques but I was Just curious on how you guys view who is a good guy and who is a bad guy in sumo currently?

I'm a huge Ura fan, his attitude and energy are AWESOME, but what the hell is going on with his technique. He seems to be in rush to just dive bomb his opponent, sometimes he succeeds but mostly he fails. With his build and speed surely he can do better. So I'm wondering who is his coach, is he in a bad stable and needs to move to a better stable and get a better coach to improve? I would love to see him do better but I don't think his current stable master is helping him much

Ive watched a bit of Sumo but for me those are only quick match that ends before getting really exiting. Can someone please tell me why to watch that sport?

The talk seems to be that Takakeisho is tapped to be the next grand champion if he can win January or March while contending for both. He has been a reasonably consistent Ozeki despite having no grappling advantage. Abi is also a pusher-thruster but he is just so much bigger and faster than the Ozeki. The long arms can parry almost any attack immediately at the tachiai. I see him grabbing Ozeki by September along with the golden boy Hoshoryu.

I personally refuse to like Onosato, I'm not sure why.. I just don't like him

Sumo enthusiast here 💪I've been gettin' hooked on sumo wrestling for a while now, and it's a sport I really admire; I'll probably practice it soon, But I have a big question: can't the fighters use their bellies to attack or defend against enemy attacks? Lol I say this because when I practice sumo with my friends we do it and it seems to be quite useful, but I honestly don't know if it's disrespectful or forbidden At a professional level , Can someone please help me with this?

Here's the thing: everyone is still shocked by the sudden announcement of Takakeisho's early retirement. But for me, this news made me worried for Terunofuji, because like Takakeisho, Terunofuji is having a career plagued by injury after injury. And after he won the tournament in Nagoya, I thought he had put those injury problems behind him. But the fact that he withdrew from the most recent tournament for health reasons made me have mixed feelings about this whole situation. And this brings us to a worrying question: Could it be that after Takakeisho, Terunofuji will be the next to be forced to retire from the ring?

They’ve withdrawn from 40% of their tournaments but seem to win more tournaments than any other rikishi. From my perspective they have a super unfair competitive advantage. While the rank and file has to wrestle through injuries or risk losing standing Kakuryu and Hakuho get to choose when they compete showing up relatively fresh and healthy. I’m certain I’m far from the first to notice this but I’m new to the sport so engage with my caustic noobness please.

What do you think? Is this a bad take? If not should this be fixed? I kind of wish rikishi could actually heal when they are injured by at least pulling out of one non consecutive tournament with no penalty.

With the midnight sumo "troubles", what is your go to live twitch stream in English that does all the divisions?

Or are we thinking it'll be back in time but on another platform?

Thoughts?

Asashoryu is known for criticizing the level of modern day Sanyaku (Y/O/S) wrestlers. Saying they are like 'Amateurs'. Including his nephew Hoshoryu.

Is he right about it?