Got to zoom around all of Tokyo with the great guys at @streetkarttour. Since everyone was so sweet on the streets, no banana peels or shells were thrown! @joshuashibata.bsky.social

Don’t mind me, we’ll just take this back home! Cool? #lifesizegundam @joshuashibata.bsky.social

The day in pictures.

Kirishima enjoys his master's singing at Otowayama's senshuraku party. Despite having a cold during the second week of Nagoya and running a temperature of 100 F on Days 14-15, the sekiwake, as they say, "did his best." As Kakuryu told guests, "Luck wasn't on our side this time, but it will return."

Oh God, mother! Blood! Blood! Mother came back to last night’s @atomiclegacywrestling!

a longshot, not w 10 strong rikishi within arm's reach of the Cup. Yamamoto's primary focus is on his next bout--tonight--a biggie vs Yokozuna Onosato who trails Ichi by one point. "I'm going to charge him with all my might," he reveals. "I can't see myself winning in any other way." END

You can always depend on Ichiyamamoto to make you smile. In his dressing room after his fierce but disappointing loss to Takayasu, Ichi spoke to reporters about being knocked off the leaderboard. "I always knew that would catch up on me someday." Indeed it did. But the race is not over, not by...

Going live right now for more dating fun! Twitch.tv/wrestlingleva

because I won. I had absolutely no idea about being the oldest man to earn a gold star. I did not know that. "All I did was go into the bout with the feeling of having fun. I still want that--and to continue doing my best." Tonight Day 11: Tamawashi vs Kotozakura Onosato vs Kirishima END

Q: What does it take to snap a photo in which everyone has his/her mouth open? A: It takes witnessing sumo history, specifically in Nagoya yesterday where Tamawashi became the oldest rikishi to earn a kinboshi by dispatching Onosato, a young yokozuna many consider unassailable.

"Give it everything you've got and that you've been practicing. Now's the time to let it rip." Hakuoho grabbed 56 kensho prizes (courtesy of Onosato's corporate supporters) while zabutons were still flying. He laughed saying, "My biggest concern was showing the joy on my face." Tough guy.

as he rolled his eyes and shook his head upon falling under the dohyo. Said his opponent and kinboshi-winning Hakuoho, "I knew I had a chance when the yokozuna drew back. That was the only way I could see to win. It was ideal." Earlier that morning, Hakuoho's shisho (Terunofuji) advised him to...

when he wins, and should he lose, there's no place for him to fall as there is for an ozeki." "When famous Yokozuna Tochinishiki became yokozuna, his master, Kasugano Oyakata admonished, 'Being yokozuna means retirement is your future, so always think about that--be prepared to retire.'" END

It's too early to send plaudits to Mitakeumi (the personable ex-ozeki with 3 yusho) who is our sole leader going into Day 7 w/ 6-0. I should wait until he faces rikishi in the joi or san-yaku, but he still should be admired for fighting back to the Makuuchi after falling to the Juryo at age 32.

Date Everything with my brand new sexy elgato! Twitch.tv/wrestlingleva

Absolutely. Hosh has the chops, but the real battle is with his mind/confidence.

Ya, you don't want to go to a reunion dinner with that group--even if Kise is a talker and Asashio can only be contacted via the Quija Board. I think though that Hosh can do it! Right now, he's got to get out of the fight in his head.

"He had a crack in his bone and it hurt when he touched it," said Tatsunami. "The yokozuna was eager to continue wrestling and had to be persuaded to pull out. "I want him to be in perfect shape next time in order to compete for the title."

Hoshoryu has withdrawn. For the 2nd time in his 3 outings as yokozuna, Hoshoryu has abandoned a tournament after rendering poor scores and citing an injury. His master Tatsunami informed of a flare-up to the yokozuna's big toe that was damaged before the basho and will require 1 month of recovery.

Onosato losing his edge or revealing cracks that could derail a third consecutive yusho, saying, "I'm not worried. He has a great ability to regroup." On Day 5: Onosato meets spoiler Abi (who narrowly defeated Yokozuna Hoshoryu); Oho tries for a double gold star versus struggling Hoshoryu. END

43rd Shikimori Inosuke made his first misjudgment by declaring Hoshoryu the winner of the musubi btw himself and Abi, but our hawk-eyed shimpan caught--if only for an instant-- the yokozuna's heel brush the sand on the back side of the tawara, and conferred to have the gyoji's call reversed.

Yesterday’s workout playlist is themed out to Yuchan’s catchy Champagne Poppin #KANGYUCHAN #강유찬 #ChampagnePoppin #샴페인팝핀

😘❤️❤️❤️

Precisely stated Ototo-san! It was that slight hesitation that was his coup de grace. You should be the one in our family writing these sumo posts. 💕

all I had to do was charge forward." With the win, Wakamotoharu earns his second kinboshi by defeating a yokozuna as a rank-and-filer. END

Wakamotoharu, stunned everyone in Nagoya, but none more than Hoshoryu (who holds an overwhelming winning record over the top-ranked maegashira), by securing his signature left-hand hold and holding it until the yokozuna made a move for the makikae (to switch his grip) and Wakamotoharu took action.

This would make your best holiday card. In the basement of the Nagoya IG Arena is a photo-op that is almost as cute as the standard at the Kokugikan of Endo carrying you (in kimono) in his arms.

Hoshoryu took care of business by blocking Takayasu's attempted sukuinage and taking him down w/ a solid sotogake-outside leg trip. "I was fired up, but I am glad that I was able to calm down once I got it done," said Hoshoryu. "I want to focus on my next bout tomorrow," which will be Wakamotoharu.

The car is back! The one-of-a-kind, $200K Toyota Century Rally Convertible, will again carry the winner of the Makunouchi tournament. The pure white, SUV vehicle was created at the request of ex-yokozuna Hakuho who, as a close friend of Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, participated in the

💯 As always, I agree with my "little" bro.

I know--this is just awful. Daieisho was finally in a really good spot for ozeki advancement--something that had eluded him ... and continues to. Oitekaze said something about Daieisho wanting to return later in the basho, but HOW is that possible? Now, with your info, I know it's not. 😔

everyone else considered it a pipe dream. "You don't know my brother, "Wakamotoharu told doubters. It took him two years, but he did it--and on Day 1 of Nagoya, he will mount the dohyo again as a Sekiwake, along with Daieisho and Kirishima. "I feel a sense of fulfullment," he said softly. END

to his right gastrocnemius (calf muscle). Endo, Oitekaze says, is scheduled to undergo surgery on his knee which has been a persistent problem. The handsome M7, whose later career includes playing spoiler to yokozuna or rikishi on a tear for the yusho, is looking forward to a comeback. END

And, I love YOU my kakkoi ototo.

This is the first time since 1949 that a Komusubi has dropped only half a rank with nine losses in the previous basho. When asked about this near miracle, Takayasu replied, "I'm very grateful. I thought for sure I'd fall much further." END

The big news today is about the sanban-geiko (multiple practice bouts) between two yokozuna which, outside of the YDC's soken, is a very rare occurance. But it happened, and quite by accident, at Sakaigawa-beya's camp in Fuso-cho, Aichi. Hoshoryu and Onosato took rounds versus each other ...

Taping a TV show that will air on Day 1 of the tournament, the formers Terunofuji and Takakeisho revealed WHO they predict will win the Nagoya basho. Terunofuji: Hoshoryu Takakeisho: Someone who's weak in heat. A pusher thruster. For sure, retirement hasn't made them peppy.

Spur of the moment Happy Jaws Day Date Everything stream! I met a Nightmare and need you guys with me while I talk to it! Twitch.tv/wrestlingleva

Now that I accidentally came between the washer and dryer, which I feel bad about; it’s time to find Dana Snyder in this house! Join me as I play Date Everything! Twitch.tv/wrestlingleva

Joshua ototo-san. You are as astute as you are precocious, bc you're FAR TOO YOUNG to remember yaocho OR the ouster of Asashoryu. After Hakuho finally surrendered--anyone with half an ounce of true sumo fandom MUST feel down and bitter. But, yes, we still have established-- and young talent!

With the ignominious way in which Hakuho was pressured out of sumo, I'm a little lackluster about anything re: the upcoming Nagoya tournament (and here comes the conjunction) BUT, Onosato is cranking up interest with his determined goal of adding his name to the elite group of shin yokozuna ...

Looking for pictures to post since it’s @joshuashibata.bsky.social birthday today and found this! I am still giggling!!!! Everyone go wish him a great day 😆🥰🥳

We always forget to take pics when we visit each other until it’s the very last day.. 😅 @joshuashibata.bsky.social

Japan-based sports writers who are generally conservative in context and opinion, are resoundingly critical of the JSA's heartless treatment of Hakuho, which has rendered sumo without the greatest yokozuna of all time. Ichiro Sasaki of Nippon Sports sums up the tragedy as, "... a loss ...

Agree 💯dear Ototo-san. I'm with you and Otoh-san. I could never see sumo outside of Japan & the JSA making it big, BUT my best imagination never had Hakuho in it. He's the only person on planet Earth that could enlist some of our top (retired & active) sumotori and coaches, which is pivotal.

Hakuho--are you listening? No matter how many crypto coins Trump offers you--DON'T even give the guy the time of day.

I doubt he could expect his wrestlers to adopt and adhere to ozumo's ancient traditions, rituals, reverence to any and all elders, and the rigid & extreme lifestyle--which, interestingly is part of its allure to us fans.

The JSA thinks they're rid of Hakuho and that he'll never affect them again. But, if his new SUMO league takes off and his rikishi are paid 5x what they are now and are given the freedoms afforded to other professional athletes, how many ozumo rikishi will join him? For certain the young guys will.

Tomorrow we party!!!! Come by and join my Birthday/Welcome Home Stray party on Twitch! We will play games; there will be chances to win prizes; drinks & dancing; and more ridiculousnesss than necessary! Tomorrow afternoon! Hope to see you there! Twitch.tv/wrestlingleva

My first stream back will be my birthday party & now Stray’s Welcome Home party on Saturday!!  Starting at 3/4pm EST. There will be chance to win prizes; drinks & dancing; and more ridiculousnesss than necessary!  Twitch.tv/wrestlingleva