Last Sumo Post of the Year (Or is it?)

So the Kyuushuu tournament has finished with Asashoryuu breaking just about every record on the books and taking home the 'Prime Minister's Cup' in addition to the usual 'Emperor's Cup'.

Let's take a closer look...

In this tournament Asa:

became the first ever wrestler to win all 6 tournaments in a year

became the first ever wrestler to win 7 tournaments in a row

broke Kitanoumi's 1978 record of 82 wins in one year by posting a total of 84 wins!

It boggles the mind! Out of a total of 90 matches in the year he lost only 6. 6! Most of the guys, even in Makunouchi (the top division) lose more than 6 matches in a single tournament, never mind all year. Asa is a sumo-wrestling machine; he's got the speed, he's got the agility, he's got the brute strength, but more than that he's got the brains. He doesn't fuck around, he knows exactly the right tack to take against each new opponent and he's able to make the crucial split-second tactics decisions that make the difference between a good wrestler and a brilliant one. He's unstoppable....

Except for one little (!?!) problem: The Bulgarian Bomber, Sumo's David Beckham, Mr. 204 cm: Koto'oushuu
He's basically the only guy these days who can be counted on to give Asa a run for his money, and so he does...handing Asa a full 1/3 of those six losses! (The others, by the way, were to Tochiazuma, Futenou, Kokkai, and [for fuck's sake] Aminishiki). He's still young and a trifle unpolished, and falls for stuff that he really oughtn't to, like that little spin move Kaiou pulled on him on Senshuuraku (the last day of the tournament), but at age 22 he's already assured of a promotion to Ozeki after only his 8th tournament in Makunouchi, and I can definitely see him becoming the first ever European Yokozuna...

All in all it looks like 2006 is going to be pretty exciting year for sumo!

On a sadder note though, this tournament also saw the retirement of Kotonowaka, who I've always liked. He will be missed.

Goog Niter to everyone, and I'll try to get some more non-sumo posts up within the next few days.