#shodai — Public Fediverse posts

Former ozeki Asanoyama held onto the outright lead with his seventh straight win, while lone yokozuna Terunofuji suffered his second loss at the hands of rank-and-file opponent Shodai on Saturday at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2024/01/20/sumo/basho-reports/asanoyama-keeps-solo-lead/?utm_content=bufferbd139&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #sumo #bashoreports #terunofuji #shodai #asanoyama #newyeargrandsumotournament

@wukong #Shodai has been publicly scolded by the elders for doing the bare minimum he has to in order to hold on to ozeki, riding the kadoban roller coaster over and over. I find it kind of doubtful that a person would do that intentionally, but there are a lot of things that could look like that from the outside, especially to a traditional culture that sees struggles with mental illness as a character flaw. It’s fucking hard to be a rikishi and it’s not just their bodies that they destroy for us.

It’s less than a day to #sumo. I cannot understand how you are all so calm about this. With #Terunofuji out, it’s anyone’s #basho!! Heck, even #Takakeisho or (ha ha) #Shodai could take the yusho.

Imagine an ozeki winning a championship. Pff. I’ve heard of such things but it’s been so long… In fact, the last time an ozeki took the yusho, it was Terunofuji!! Back in May 2021.