Osaka 2010 - Days 13 & 14 - Jason's Analysis of March 26 and 27

[allgoo19]

It's been confirmed!!

Baruto is now Ozeki!! ^_^

Formal announcement will be made on Mar-31. According to the tradition, he'll make a speech at the ceremony.

I think he's the biggest hope for real challenge to Hakuho for some time to come.

Now he'll need some tornament winnings as stepping stones to become Yokozuna.

[allgoo19]

For a moment I had to think, "What's Mageshiro?"

It took me a while before the names of rikishi started coming up.

You'll be asked what it is from Japanese crowd many times when you happen to talk about sumo with them, Jason.

But again, they won't take it seriously. They'll be just happy to see "Henna gaijin" likes to talk about the same subject as they do.

[JasonsinJapan]

@allgoo19 are you saying I don't pronounce maegashira correctly? I think I do actually. My Japanese is bad, but I'm pretty sure I say that word correctly.

[allgoo19]

@JasonsinJapan

"are you saying I don't pronounce maegashira correctly? ..."

Yes, that's what I meant. Easiest way to find out is to speak the word to native Japanese speakers. They'll show puzzled look, specially if they don't know you are talking of sumo term.

I'll explain the best way I can online.

It's made of two words, Mae and Gashira. Mae(Mah-eh(not ee)) Gashira(Gah-shee-rah) but shortnen all the syllable. Little bit of accent on Ga but Japanese words don't emphasize on accent.

[Gaeilge2000]

Jase could u please explain the rankings from Yokozuna down, so we can understand the sumo hierarchy better?

[JasonsinJapan]

@Gaeilge2000 sure - I'll mention it briefly in my wrap up video later today

[allgoo19]

@Gaeilge2000

"Jase could u please explain the rankings from Yokozuna down, so we can understand the sumo hierarchy better?"

Google, "Sumo ranking system" then click the second link (next to Wiki)

One correction need to be addressed is "Makuuchi" to "Maegashira". Maku-uchi is a general term for the ranks Maegashira and up.

In short:

Yokozuna>Ozeki>Sekiwake>Komusu­bi>Maegashira, below this rank is not usually televised.

See the link above for more detail.

[JasonsinJapan]

@allgoo19 actually, in Japan, NHK starts showing sumo at about Noon each day and they show all the lower rank matches - including Juyro. It's just that the English play-by-play doesn't start until 4pm each day and that's about the same time the maku-uchi division bouts start

[allgoo19]

@JasonsinJapan

"NHK starts showing sumo at about Noon each day.."

Thanks for the info.

For some reason, I didn't get the reply notice in my email account, possibly many more others that I mised.

[JasonsinJapan]

@Gaeilge2000 well I forgot in the video, but I have a "sumo intro" vid on this channel - check back to last year, and I go over the rankings - which are briefly:

1 - yokozuna

2 - ozeki

3 - sekiwake

4 - komusubi

5 - maegashira #1 down to #16

[calbone1215]

man it is so interesting how baruto has grown as a wrestler the past three tournaments even tho he did have that 9-6 he hasnt fell down below double digit win. also how i think he will be promoted is because the current ozekis are not up to par except a couple and i think baruto has beaten all of the ozekis the past couple tournaments but this is going to be interesting!

[skitplace]

good for kaio. I like him more and more for each tournament that goes by. Though alarming that Harumafuji and Kotuoshu not doing so well, they need to be on top not to let Hakuho walk through every tournament with a perfect score.