Oh, I Think So

Teranofuji, seen last week just trying to use the men's room, came in second in the November Basho. It had to go to a playoff because he beat Takakeisho in the regular match and they both had a 13-2 record.  For the playoff the wrestlers go back to the dressing room and then come back out again.  (When it's the highlights they don't show the re-entry, just the tidied up sumos, dirt washed off from maybe touching dirt or slamming into dirt, all clean, maybe a different belt, ready to go again.)  Takakeisho was not going to go home without the giant Emperor's Cup and he quickly dispatched Teranofuji. Endo did much better this week and had three wins including today but he was so inconsistent that he will no doubt be demoted.  This makes me and all his fans -- of which he has many -- quite sad.  See you when you're promoted again, Endo. In January, it's back in Tokyo!  I am excited!

The November Basho is usually held at Fukuoka but the pandemic has it in Tokyo at Ryogoku Kokugijan, the Ryogoku Sumo Hall again and it is even more fascinating than usual.  As I learn more about sumo and recognize the players by face and name it has captured my imagination.  Wrestlers will come and go -- if someone drops out because of injury or illness they will promote someone for the day so that there are not daily wins due to the scratch -- but sometimes they just can't catch a break or an arm or a belt and don't win enough matches and end up being demoted.  And so it is for Enho, my favorite sumo.  He is 5'6" and when I first heard about him he weighed 216 pounds.  He has lost weight and is now down to 190.  He has opponents who are literally over twice his weight who don't seem to be falling for any of Enho's sumo tricks this time. This tournament has passed the midpoint and his record is 0-8.  After next Sunday, I will not be seeing Enho in Gra...

  Courtesy of the New York Times, November 7, 2020

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