Nagoya 2015 Ichimon Banzuke Topics

Updated May 29, 2015

 

15+ Years of the great game of Bench Sumo!

 

DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance to real life events, people or places is purely coincidental.  4 out of 5 ichimoners prefer gums for people without them.  Eat your green leafy vegetables.  I pity the fool who don’t get his entry in on time. A clean mawashi is a happy mawashi.  Don’t practice Bench Sumo for 20 minutes after meals.  Watch out for that tree.  Always use your directionals.  Despite the fact that yobidashi sweep the dohyo, it is not okay to throw your trash there.  Don’t run with scissors. Don’t leave the toilet seat up.  Be nice to your sister, or I’m going to have to stop this car. Don’t make me stop this car!!!  Maybe you should see a specialist. It's a long, long way to Tiperary, It's a long way to go.  Why not use public transportation? Don’t spit on the bus.  Mind the gap. Always look left or right before crossing the street. Don’t touch the dohyo without first washing your hands. Se the mawashi, Be the mawashi.

DISCLAIMER #2: Stats here do not necessarily include recent intais, newbies, shikona changes, hair color changes, oil changes, loose change or change found under your couch cushions.

DISCLAIMER #3: Oopsies, intentional or not, are under copyright protection of the Organization of Outlandish Published Spam (OOPS), and may only be retransmitted if done haphazardly, with no spell checking or other fact check done on said oopsies. Additional misinformation may be appended to oopsies, only if information is certified to be incorrect and complete nonsense. ;-)

 

·         Nagoya basho! Summer is here!  Splash on some sunscreen and get your Bench Sumo entry in on time!!!  Enter your initial pick before each & every shonichi 6 times a year at www.benchsumo.net.

·         The Nagoya ’15 basho marks the 95th ICF contest (we had on in there that didn’t count, remember the scandal?)

o   Ninety-five is the thirtieth distinct semiprime and the fifth of the form (5.q). The aliquot sum of 95 is 25 within the aliquot sequence (95,25,6) 95 being the third composite number in the 6-aliquot tree. Ninety-five is the last member in the third triplet of distinct semiprimes 93, 94 and 95.

o   Windows 95 was, perhap’s Microsoft’s most popular operating system, selling 40 million copies in its first year, alone.  Despite support being dropped, its last year of availability saw 19 million copies sold.

·         This banzuke has 106 BSers. That’s down 4 from last basho. L

o   82 BSers are active Ichimoners on the banzuke (-4 from Natsu).   The banzuke color/non-color ratio is now 77.4% ichimoner-laden.  Just 24 spots are devoid of ichimoner color.

·         If you are interested in joining an ichimon, please Click here to find out more.  Any ichimon would be glad to have you, I’m sure.

·         You could hear the piter-patter of tiny feet, as the SumoTalk Ichimon’s Centipedian Horde™ won the Natsu ICF. 

·         It’s all in the BAG.  The Ichimoner Basho-at-a-Glance™ (a.k.a., the ‘BAG’) gives everyone a chance to see all the prizes handed out on a single page.  There are even links to some of the more memorable basho moments (if I remember to do them). ;-)  Stop by the Ichimon Pages, click the Basho-at-a-Glance & enjoy. J

 

Firsts

·         The first “official” Bench Sumo run began with a Friday September 6th 1999, 6 pm (Japan time) deadline – hereafter referred to as Bench Sumo Day!!!! J

o   Adding to the friendly nature of the game, the entry form included a “Pre-basho interview answer (by your cyber-rikishi)” to the question "What are your expectations for this cyber-basho?"

·         There were 7 players in the first trial ½ basho Yubiquitoyama, Maeden, Seigatakaigai, Myobudani, Tabehodaiyama, Chijanofuji, Jejima, Philanomi, Nomihodaiyama, and Kintayama (ed.note: missing the “ma”?).

·         The first “official” Bench basho (Aki 99) featured 18 players.  8 of them are still with us today: Maeden, Chijanofuji, Jejima, Kintamayama, Marushiki, Nekonishiki, Gaijingai & Doitsuyama.

·         The very first Bench Sumo bout was between M1w Haraiboshi S-Ow Maeden.  It ended in a 12-11 Uwatenage.  The smelly old sow (er, S-Ow) lost.  I suppose that would mean that Haraiboshi scored the very first ginboshi, huh?

·         The first match going to the bench didn’t occur until day 4.  Fittingly, the bout was between BS founder Jejima and T-G Nekonishiki.  They tied at 7 apiece, and Jejima took the Sotogake win with future Yokozuna Kaiho getting the nod over Nekonishiki’s Kyokutenho. 

·         The first musubi-no-ichiban matchup was a Day 1 battle between M6e Gaijingai and M3w Tochiaraki, proving that the torikumi-makers were still working the kinks out of the bench sumo “realism” system. :-P

·         The first BS perfect score was sent in by Robanoumi on Day 1 (bout 2).  A total of 4 perfect scores were earned that day, including Ookihito, (who else) Doitsuyama, (future Perfect man) Gaijingai and (the aforementioned Robanoumi.

·         The first BS KK belongs to Doitsuyama, who got his on Day 9 of Aki 99in a 9-5 victory over Chijanofuji.

·         The first BS MK belongs to Kitakaze, who lost 11-12 on Day 10 to Zentoryu.  Also getting MK’s on the same day were Kintamayama & Philanomi (who’s MKs came after Kitakaze’s bout, so technically, weren’t first).

·         The first BS Yusho belongs to Doitsuyama (now with SFI).  He had an 11-4 record.  Marushiki, Robanoumi, Zentoryu & (of course, the permanent Bridesmaid) Gaijingai earned the jun-yusho.

·         The first ICF went to Doitsugo ichimon in the Aki ’04 basho.  They overtook Massashigawa by 22.38 ITA points – a convincing victory.

·         The first BSer to go from Jonidan to Makuuchi was Sakuran-retiree Shomishuu.

·         The first 14-0 record goes to Gurowake (Unaff) in Natsu 2015, who managed to just miss a zensho basho by dropping the senshuraku bout.  Missed it by that much!

·         The first 0-15 record goes to Heiyu (Unaff) in Kyushu 2010, who had no torikumi luck at all.

 

Hellos, Goodbyes & “where the heck are you?”s

·         New recruits?  Snore….

·         Intais:  We had 2 Ichimoner say bye-bye.

o   Izzie Fuseigou  ended a 42 basho BS career (starting in Aki 06 at the rank of jd16w), and was active in each and every one of them.  Fuseigou made it to the edge of immortality in Natsu 09, standing at J1E, but just couldn’t make the KK to get into the top division.  Fuseigou amassed 20 prizes in this long career, including 3 yushos, 5 jun-yushos, a technique prize, 4 no cigar prizes, 4 yaocho bums, a undesirable Nakabi prize (of the null variety), but also won the KK and the MCP (an achievement anybody would want  Fuseigou’s final career record was 323-307 (0.513), and the Izzie  managed winning 0.548 KK rate. 

o   Izzie Fuheika leaves us after joining in bench in Aki 09.  Fuheika participated in 24 contests, and KK’d in 13 of those.  Fuheika goes out with a winning career record at 187-173 (0.519). Prizes included 2 sd yusho, a jd yusho, an sd jun-yusho, an Oyakata Prize win, 2 yaocho bums, two tech prizes, a KCC quarter-final and a coveted Nakabi prize for going 8-0 (finishing 12-3 in Aki 14). Having never made it to the paid ranks, with a high rank of ms4e, Fuheika will have a haircut in the ballroom of the New Santo Hotel. 

·         Just 1 ichimoner fell off the banzuke this time:  Izzie Zichi.  Let’s hope that Zichi reapplies before the deadline, so they can we can have our alphabetical Bench Sumo cornerstone back.

 

Overall Banzuke Tidbits

·         There are 70 sekitori (66.1%) & 36 toriteki (33.9%).

o   That is down by 50 players since 2010!!!

o   When just ichimoners are tallied, there are 55 sekitori ichimoners and 44 non-sekitori ichimoners.  That’s 67.1% sekitori ichimoners.

·         SumoTalk edges out MassaSHEgawa as the largest ichimon.  The Talkers have 15 Centipedian benchers in the mix. 

o   If you’d like to mix your own centipedes, try here.

o   The smallest ichimon (“unofficial” with an asterisk) is Sakura, who have just 6 on the banzuke.

·         How are each ichimon’s members spread across the banzuke?

o   SumoTalk has the most salary-workers.  The STI team have 10 total sekitori: 4 Makuuchi and 7 Juryo.

o   The ichimon with the biggest bunch of tsukebitos are the MassaSHEgawans.  The M’s are spread evenly across paid & unpaid workers, though, at 7, apiece.

·         17 BSers changed divisions this banzuke (16.0% of all BSers).  .

o   Just 8 of those division changes were in the downward direction, which, I’m sure made for some good discussion in the banzuke-makers

o   Juryo, of course, has the most new faces.  9 of the ten-ryos (32%) will make the GG’s reach for their copy of the Bench Sumo Who’s Who.

·         14 BSers are at their high rank (13.2%).  9 of those are ichimoners.  Moral of the story?  Become an ichimoner, and get your high rank. J

·         If you are looking at tweaking the design on you Bench Sumo, try this bench.  I’m not sure that you could get five on that one, but it would certainly make the Guest Gyoji sit up and take notice. :-p

·         Let’s check up on those cheeky, streaky banzuke-makers.

o   The longest streak of Ichimoners in rank order (e.g., J1e-J1w-J2e, etc) from the same ichimon is 4 ichimoners!  From ms15e to ms16w,  all you will see are MassaSHEgawans.

o   If you look at streakers on the same side of the banzuke (e.g., J1e-J2e-J3e-J4e, etc.), the B-M’s really shuffled the deck well, too.  The biggest group of ichimoners are 3 Thre are three Polers on the west side from ms10-ms12, and 3 Sakurans (also on the west) from ms7-ms9). 

o   Noboy controls the gateways to the divisions.  The ichimoners are sprinkled liberally in those areas.

o   SumoTalker Haidouzo is a bit lonely, being the only West-side STIer in Makushita, while 5 of his heyamates are on the East-Side.  Can you imagine how long Haidouzo has to wait on the bus to get to asageiko?

·         This basho’s soloists…  Doitsugoan Frinkanohana will be the sole Doit in the Juryo division. 

·         This basho’s blanks…  Sakura has no hope of ICF bonuses in Juryo, as there aren’t any Blossomers there.

·         In the Ichimon East-West game, it’s a tie!  Ichimoners are evenly spaced East & West – 41 apiece.  I wonder what the tiebreaker rule is for that?

·         Heyagashira: Who are our ichimons’ heyagashira this basho?

o   Just 2 ichimons without sanyaku heyagashiras. 

Ichimon

Top dog

Doitsugo

O1w Itachiyama

Info-Sumo

S1w Kaiowaka

MassaSHEgawa

O2e Randomitsuki

North Pole

M4e Boltbutthamma

Sakura

M4w Saruyama

SumoForum

S1e Kitakachiyama

SumoTalk

K12 Oskanohana

 

·         Career Records: The top w/l career record in Bench Sumo is held by Unaffiliated Ganryu (or is he unaffiliated?). 

o   See the Career Record Stats for everyone (click here).

o   Of the top 10 career records, 4 of them are owned by SumoTalkers!  The other 6 belong to Unaffs. (Boooo!!! Hissss!!!).

o   The low career record in all of BS is 0.330, owned by a MassaSHEgawan ihopeso.  ihopeso’s record is the low for all BSer’s ever!

o   72 active BSers (67.9% of all BSers).have career winning records, as 34 have losing records

o   No BSers have a 0.500 record, though 5 are 1 win away from that mark.  Jejima, Maguroyama and Fujisan, all of team North Pole, are 1 win high of the 0.500 mark.  MassaSHEgawan Takanorappa and SFIer Anjoboshi need an 8-7 to get from a losing record to an even record..

o   How about a list of top career records at each ichimon?

Ichimon

Top dog

Career Record

DeSuGi

jd9w asafan

152-133 (0.533)

Doitsugo

S1w Mariohana

54-36 (0.600)

Info-Sumo

jd9e Fuheika

35-25 (0.583)

Massashigawa

O1e Randomitsuki

267-198 (0.574)

North Pole

M8w Boltbutthamma

268-242 (0.525)

Sakura

J14e Saruyama

82-53 (0.607)

SumoForum

J9w Gohansazae

179-151 (0.542)

SumoTalk

M4w Sokkenaiyama

122-73 (0.626)

 

·         There have been 3352 active bashos among the current crop of BSers on the banzuke.  That means the average BSer has been active 31.6 bashos.

o   89 BSers on the banzuke participated last basho. 

·         The current BSers have amassed 605 double-digit bashos (or 1 double digit basho for each BSer every 5.71 bashos).

o   14 double-digit scores were earned in the past basho

o   All-time, there have been 1894 double-digit scores earned (out of 11552 total scores). That’s means you have a 16.4% chance of scoring 10-5 or better.

·         Still, just 2 BSers have been active in each & every BS basho: NPIer Jejima and SFIer Doitsuyama. One of them has been Ozeki.  Both are presently in Makuuchi, and both have winning records.

o   SFIer Kintamayama (currently in M) has missed just 1 basho – A decision that has haunted him every day of his Bench Sumo career, ever since.

o   Just 7 active BSers (all ichimoners) were present at the birth of Bench Sumo (Aki 1999):  NPIers Chijanofuji, Marushiki & Jejima, SFIers Doitsuyama, Kintamayama, Nekonishiki, and MassaSHEgawan Gaijingai

·         Over the span of Bench Sumo, 590 shikonas have been registered and played the game.

·         38 active BSers (35%) have been in all 5 divisions (when we had 5 divisions).

·         13 BSers (12.3%) on the current banzuke have not missed a basho since their debut!  Just 2 are not ichimoners.

·         As Bench Sumo grew, so did the divisions. How many active BSers began in which division? 

Number of Active BSers

Where are they now?

who started in division

Makuuchi

Juryo

Makushita

Makuuchi

13

5

3

5

Juryo

6

2

2

2

Makushita

13

3

4

6

Sandanme

25

11

4

10

Jonidan

51

21

15

15

 

·         ‘KK/MK Streaks: So… Who holds the longest KK and MK streaks in Bench Sumo?

o   Check out all-time streaks here:  Chijanofuji (NPI) and Kotononami (ISI) have 12 KKs in a row. 

o   Check out streaks for current BSers here: 

§  SFIer kuroimori has 7 KKs in a row. Will there be an ocho?

§  MassaSHEgawan ihopeso has 19 MKs (& has never KK’d).  That dubious mark is a bench record.

 

·         High Ranks: How high has everyone rise and where are they now?

What are the High Ranks
 for Current Bsers?

What division are they in now?

High Rank

Total

% of total

Makuuchi

Juryo

Makushita

Sandanme

Jonidan

Yokozuna

2

0.9%

-

2

-

#REF!

#REF!

Ozeki

14

13.2%

11

2

1

#REF!

#REF!

Sekiwake

19

17.9%

12

5

2

#REF!

#REF!

Komusubi

7

6.6%

4

1

2

#REF!

#REF!

Makuuchi

32

30.2%

15

9

8

#REF!

#REF!

Juryo

21

19.8%

 

10

11

#REF!

#REF!

Makushita

12

11.3%

 

 

12

#REF!

#REF!

Sandanme

0

0.0%

 

 

 

#REF!

#REF!

Jonidan

0

0.0%

 

 

 

 

#REF!

 

·         Starters: How many BSers (all-time) were promoted to each division, based on their starting division?

Starting
Division

No. of Starters

Promoted to Division

M

J

ms

sd

jd

M

50

100%

 

 

 

 

J

65

48%

100%

 

 

 

ms

64

39%

64%

100%

 

 

sd

182

24%

35%

62%

100%

 

jd

229

19%

31%

47%

72%

100%

 

Other Bench Stats:

·         See all the stats at http://takanorappa.com/BenchStats/BSStatsMenu.htm.  There are just too many oopsies to list.

·         Money, money, money!!!  Look at how much you made last basho and all-time here: http://takanorappa.com/BenchStats/PayExplain.htm

 

 

Makuuchi

·         The Mighty Makuuchian division ™ stayed even in Ichimoner numbers from Natsu, fielding 37 Ichimoners.  You can be sure that most ICF bonuses will go to ichimoners of color here.

o   The big M division easily holds on to its #1 spot among all divisions in ichimoner concentration (88.1%), staying a 12 percentage points above ms.

·         Doitsugo, ISIS and SFI each have 7 big dogs in Makuuchi, so there is no clear M-leader in the race for Makuuchi bonus points.

o   All 7 of the ichimons have at least 1 member in Makuuchi. 

o   Five ichimons have the biggest parts of their membership in Makuuchi.  Doitsugo (64%) and SFI (64%) are tied for most M-heavy.  54% of ISI has been successful in reaching the Top Dogs.

o   The Unaffiliateds (5) make up just 21% of the top division.  There’s nothing to fear here. Move along.

o   The net gainers in M:  Doitsugo (+1) and SFI (+1) gained due to simple promotions.  Omedetou!

o   The net losers in M:  ISI (-1) and MassaSHEgawa (-1) each lost one due to a demotion.

o   The net zeros in M:  NPI, Sakura and STI sat on their duffs & did nothing in the promotion commotion.

·         The last of the “Makuuchiers who have never been in any other division” alone has long passed.  

o   Sakuran Rannohana was last of the BSers to never have left Makuuchi (59 bashos now!)

o   There are no longer any BSers who can say that they were M’s since the very first basho.  Chijanofuji was the last of the Mohicans.

·         Ozeki East Randomitsuki (ISI) holds the top spot on the banzuke for the 15th time & 2nd in a row.

 

Sanyaku

·         The Hatsu banzuke features 8 Sanyaku, which is a 1 sanyakuer drop from last basho.

o   8 sanyaku spots and not an Unaffiliated in sight.  I guess we finally scared them all off

o   There are 4 sekiwake and 2 komusubi this basho.

o   5 of our 7 ichimons are represented in the Sanyaku ranks: Doitsugo, Massashigawa, ISI, STI and SFI.  MassaSHEgawa is tops, with 3 sanyakuers, completely dominates here.  Only Doitsugo has two.

o   Of the 8 niyaku (i.e., S & K) from last basho, 3 didn’t stay there.   Two of the Natsu sekiwakes dropped out into “standard Makuuchi” positions, One Komusubi (a U) just missed KK, and sits at M2. the other K is now an S.

·         Rannohana (Sakura) holds the BS record for most time at Sanyaku.  The ol’ perennial Ozeki had 47 of his 84 bashos in sanyaku.  Flohru (Doit) and Randomitsuki (Mass.) are closing in at 43 bashos in sanyaku

·         Only 30 BSers (all-time) have held a sanyaku spot on the banzuke for 10 or more bashos.

o   Of the active sanyaku, five have 10+ bashos in sanyaku

 

Yokozuna

·         This is the 26th basho in a row without a Yokozuna

o   We last saw a Yokozuna (Charliki of the Izzies) on the Kyushu ’10 basho.

·         No new Yokozuna this basho.  It doesn’t appear that we have a contender this time.

o   The last Yokozuna promotion was Yokozuna Charliki’s (a.k.a., Yokozuna #3) in Hatsu 10.

o   The first Yokozuna promotion was Yokozuna Gernobono’s in Natsu ’04! He reigned till Hatsu 2006

o   How about a list of Yokozuna by ichimon?

Ichimon

Yokozuna/former Yokozuna

Qty

Doitsugo

Gernobono

1

Info-Sumo

Charliki

1

MassaSHEgawa

---

--

North Pole

Ekigozan

1

Sakura

---

--

SumoForum

---

--

SumoTalk

---

--

Unaffiliated

---

--

 

·         Gernobono holds the title of longest consecutive and/or non-consecutive run at Bench Yokozuna – 10 bashos!  He did that from Nagoya 04 to Kyushu 05.

·          

Ozeki

·         We have 2 Ozeki for first time since Kyushu 14. All Ozeki are ichimoners. J

o   There have been only 17 bashos with 4 Ozeki.

o   There have been two periods of 5 Ozeki: Aki 2003 to Haru 2004 & Kyushu 2006 to Hatsu 2007

o   There have been two periods of 6 Ozeki: Nagoya 2006 to Aki 2006 & Haru 2007 to Nagoya 2007

o   Only twice has Bench Sumo had a Yokozuna-Ozeki: Hatsu 2005 (Gernobono) and Haru 2008  (Ekigozan)

o   Here is the all-time list of BS Ozeki (and their stats).

§  17 of the 25 Ozeki/former-Ozeki are still playing Bench Sumo

§  5 active former-Ozeki are not in currently Makuuchi.  That means that 28.6% of the Makuuchi division is made of former Ozeki.

·         No Ozeki promotions this basho. L

o   The last Ozeki promotion was Aki 14, when Metzinowaka (Doit) was elevated after a three basho run of 30-15.

o   The fastest rise to Ozeki is 4 bashos (both Doitsuyama & Gaijingai)

o   The slowest rise to Ozeki is the 41 bashos it took Yokozuna Ekigozan (NPI) to achieve his penultimate rank.

§  If you want to get technical, it took Kintamayama 52 bashos since the last time he was Ozeki to be re-Ozeki’d.  That’d qualify for the longest Ozeki recycle time. J

·         How about a list of Ozeki by ichimon?

Ichimon

Ozeki/former Ozeki

Qty

DeSuGi

--- (for historical purposes)

0

Doitsugo

Flohru, Gernobono, Itachiyama, Metzinowaka, Pitinosato, sashimaru

6

Info-Sumo

Charliki, Konosato

2

Massashigawa

Gaijingai, Randomitsuki, Takanorappa, Takatamale

4

North Pole

Chijanofuji, Ekigozan

2

Sakura

Rannohana

1

SumoForum

Doitsuyama*, Kintamayama

2

SumoTalk

Oskanohana

1

Unaffiliated

Awomaru, Hakajusakari, Haraiboshi, Igiski, Norizo, Sertorishiki, Susanoo

7

 

* SFI didn’t exist during Doitsuyama’s Ozekiship,  but Doitsugo is now his home

 

o   We have has a total of 25 Ozeki.

o   Doitsugo is the only ichimon to field 3 Ozeki at the same time

o   Info-Sumo, Doitsugo & NPI are the only ichimons to ever field 2 Ozeki at the same time.

o   Doitsugo is the king of O’s. The German-sprechers have had 6 Ozeki, the tops among all ichimons.

o   10 Ozeki have dropped from O, only to come back at some point in their career.  They are: Gaijingai, Kintamayama,  Chijanofuji, Rannohana, Takatamale, Flohru, Randomitsuki, Itachiyama, Norizo &  Pitinosato

o   Only Randomitsuki (Mass.) has come back to Ozeki 3 times.

·         No Ozeki demotions this time!

o   The last Ozeki demotion was at the end of the Haru 15 basho.  Ozeki Metzinowaka became former-Ozeki Metzinowaka after losing the battle with the MK demon on day 9 of Haru 15.  It’s a shame, too, as he closed out with 6 consecutive wins, too. 

o   The last (& only) Ozeki to step down while at the rank was Ozeki Sashimaru, who unexpectedly intai’d in Natsu’ 10.

o   Rannohana-zeki and Norizo are the only BSers to recover Ozeki status with 10 wins immediately after falling to Sekiwake

o   Gernobono is the only Bench Ozeki to never have gone kadoban.  Of course, he went on to better things after just 2 bashos…

·         All Ozeki positions are occupied by ichimoners.

o   O1e Randomitsuki (Massashigawa) is riding a 6-basho KK streak, easily earning KK on day 13, and finishing with a 9-6.  This is the 15th time Randomitsuki been at the top banzuke spot (2nd in a row).

o   O1w Itachiyama (Doitsugo) vacationed during the warm month of September, so missed Aki.  Itachiyama, while kadoban, scored a 9-6 in Haru to avoid demotion (and a nasty Banzuke decision for the BMs).

·         This is Randomitsuki’s 29th (3rd since re-promotion), Itachiyama’s 24th  (20th since re-promotion) basho at the rank of Ozeki.

o   Rannohana holds the title of longest consecutive and/or non-consecutive Bench Ozeki – 29 bashos!  He did that from Natsu 03 to Hatsu 08.

o   Rannohana also holds the most time at Ozeki with 32 bashos!   Randomitsuki is closing in on that record, at 29 bashos, though.

 

Sekiwake

·         There are 4 Sekiwake this time – down one from last basho. All are Ichimoners: Two are MassaSHEgawans, one is a Forumer, and the other an Izzie.

o   S1e Kitakachiyama (SFI) took home Makuuchi yusho number 2 (and the QA, Tech and MCP-4 prizes), after bypassing all others with an 11-4 in Natsu.  He gets an instant Sekiwake East promotion, and achieves his highest rank ever!  It’s just the second time at Sekiwake for the Forumer, who last saw S in front of his shikona in Hatsu 14.

o   S1w Kaiowaka (ISI) moved up from K2W with a 9-6 in May. It’s the third try, and fourth time, on the banzuke for the Izzie.  Kaiowaka was last here in Hatsu.

o   S2e Gaijingai (MassaSHEgawa) had a rare kosho, and fell from the top sekiwake spot for the trouble.  Look for the traveling Gai to be especially genki this coming basho.

o   S2w Roundeye (MassaSHEgawa) likewise set the last basho out. 

·         Gaijingai (Massashigawa) holds the BS record for most time at Sekiwake.  The nicest guy in Bench Sumo™ has 19 bashos as sekiwake

 

Komusubi

·         Two Komusubi adorn the banzuke in July.  Both of them knows the joys of fabulous Ichicolor ™ .

o   K1e Oskanohana (SFI) turned around back to back 7-8 bashos with a double digit jun-yusho in May.  You can be sure that Oskanohana will be outstanding again, just like in July.  This is the Talkie’s third try at komusubi.

o   K1w Flohru (Doitsugo) stumbled a bit in May with a 7-8, and falls back to the last komusubi slot.  This is the sixth basho in a row, where the former Ozeki is ranked in sanyaku.

·         Leonishiki (SumoForum) holds the BS record for most time at Komusubi.  The Lion of Spain has been at the junior sanyaku rank for 18 bashos.  The closest is Doitsuyama (SFI), who has 11 bashos at K

 

Maegashira

·         The BS Kyokai presented the key to the fancy washroom to 4 lucky BSers, as a promotion present. .  All, but one, are ichimoners, and all are returnees! Welcome back to the top division, Makuuchians!!!

o   Susanoo (Unaff) makes a second appearance in the top division. Of course, that is just after a 3-basho stint in Juryo (after a 52-basho run in Makuuchi!).  Susanoo had the third best record in Natsu with a 12-3. That gave the former-Ozeki a 7 rank jump back into the Maku-ranks.   I would’ve expected more. Just sayin’

o   Hana-ichi (MassaSHEgawa) returns to Makuuchi after a short, 1-basho stay in the 10-ryu division.  A 9-6 at J1w will always get you the nod.

o   Kintamayama (SFI) broke a 63 basho streak (yes, 10-1/2 years) in the Makuuchi division after suffering just his second 3-12 in Haru.  He obviously wasn’t content with his Juryo privileges, and stayed in J just one basho, after posting a jun-yushoing 11-4.  One of the amazing facts about Kintamayama, is that, despite being in Juryo for only 11 bashos, he’s jun-yusho’d in four of them!

o   mischashimaru (Doit) crept into the last spot in Makuuchi by doing the least – an 8-7 at J1e.  It’s enough to graduate from chuck to sirloin, though. mischashimaru breaks a 6-basho streak in Juryo.

·         4 new Juryoans were Makuuchians in Sept.  All, but one of the demoted ones, are ichimoners.  Among the demotees are an Izzie, two MassaSHEgawans and an Unaffiliated..  You’ll easily recognize them in the heyas. They’ll be the ones clipping the coupons to make ends meet with new lower salaries.

·         What are the fastest climbs to Makuuchi? Well, that’s tough, since we added divisions as the game grew, and not everyone started at the same division… So here’s a try:

o   Starting from Makuuchi:  Hey, Einstein, care to guess? :-p

o   Starting from Juryo: Unaff. Awomaru was in Juryo (J1w start) just 1 basho before ascending to Makuuchi.  SFIer Manekineko reached Juryo after 4 bashos (from J16w).

o   Starting from Makushita: Tominishiki (of the U’s) made the climb to Maku in just 4 bashos.

o   Starting from Sandanme: Frinkanohana (Doit) went from sd to M in 7 bashos.

o   Starting from Jonidan: Former SumoTalker Captain Sokkenaiyama did it in 11 bashos.

·         How many starters from each division made it to the Big Leagues? 

o   21 of the current Makuuchians made their start in Jonidan.

·         What are the slowest climbs to Makuuchi? Again, that’s tough…

o   Starting from Makuuchi:  Ummmm…

o   Starting from Juryo: It took Takanorappa (the slug) 20 bashos to reach the top division.  His record is safe, as nobody has topped him again this basho. There is only one Juryo starter still active that hasn’t reached Makuuchi.  Massie Sherlockiama (86), currently in ms can overtake the ICF gyoji.

o   Starting from Makushita: Tenkuukaikatsu (Unaff) holds the record for slowest climb (43 bashos) to Makuuchi from ms.  With new ms starters still cropping up, this record could fall. There are only 6 ms starters on the current banzuke, though, who could catch the record.

o   Starting from Sandanme: SumoForumer Kitakachiyama (47 bashos) is the most stubborn to get from sd to M. He tried from Haru 03 till Kyushu 10 to get to the big dressing room, and has finally made it! There are only 8 left from the extinct sd Division, who could overtake him.

o   Starting from Jonidan: Doit Holleshoryu got  his shin-M on after 57 bashos!  15 BSer jd-starters can catch him, though.

·         The most trips to Makuuchi? NPIer Jakusotsu has done it 12 times. He’s at M13 now, so should be safe for a basho, or so.

·         The most time in Makuuchi? Doitsuyama (SFI) has 89 bashos at the highest division. Leonishiki (SFI) has 87, and is the next closest.

·         Old vs. new?

o   The Makuuchian with the smallest number of active bashos in Bench is m9w Yamashade (Unaff).  The mid-M  has been active for only 11 active bashos (w/no koshos).

o   The Makuuchian with the highest number of active bashos are the venerable Doitsuyama (SFI) and Jejima (NPI). They have, of course, seen every BS basho (95 of them, counting the upcoming basho)

·         The best career win-loss record among current Makuuchians is still 0.587 (2nd best in BS), which is held by Yamashade (Unaff).  Amazingly, Yamashade went 9 straight KKs before falling to a narrow 7-8 MK.   

o   The low career win-loss record among current M’s is 0.497.  A Frostie and a SFIer each owns that frosty/hairy record.  Each of them could break even on Nakabi, if they win them all. A 12-3 will bring each to 1 win over 0.500. 

o   2 BSers in Makuuchi (4.8%) have career losing records.

 

Juryo

·         We remain at Natsu the numbers for ichimoner humans in Juryo.  Juryo fields 18 ichimoners.

o   9 spots are devoid of color (i.e., filled by transparent/colorless/boring BSers).

o   The Juryo division now ranks third in the most ichimon-populated division contest with 66.7% ichimoners

·         It’s onsie-twosie time in Juryo, in terms of Ichimon presence, except for STI. While the other ichimons have 1,2, or 3 ichimoners representing them, STI fields 7 Juryoans.  Look for an STI theft of bonus points this time. Sakura is the only ichimon with a Juryo presence.

o   STI has the biggest chunk of their membership in Juryo.

o   The net gainers in Juryo were… SumoTalk (+3) had three promotions into the paid ranks.  MassaSHEgawa (+1) from a demotion

o   The net losers in Juryo were… Doitsugo (-2) lost one to a Makuuchi promotion, and another to a demotion.  SFI (-1) had a joyful loss, as some hair made its way into Makuuchi. ISI (-1) dropped an Izzie into tsukebitoland.

o   The net zeros in Juryo … Sakura NPI (0) and Sakura (0) had no movement.

·         Five Natsu Makushitans were able to fit into the little Juryo division.  All are returnees. Two-thirds of the new J’s are ichimoners.  Welcome aboard, 10-ryo Sekitori! J

o   Gurowake (Unaff) made Bench history with a 14-0 run, before falling to on Senshruaku!  Thanks for a great ride.  The Natsu ms3wer gets a 13 rank bump up to J5e, putting him in range of a Makuuichi promotion, should the luck hold.

o   chishafuwaku (STI) put together a 13-2 run, which, ordinarily, would have been good for a yusho, but the amazing run Gurowake put together submarined that.  chishafuwaku had to settle for a J-Y and a 10 rank bump for that record.

o   Yassier (Unaff) makes a second trip into Juryo after a MK in Hatsu pushed the Colorless One to the underworld division.  A Natsu 9-6 brought the U back to the pad ranks.

o   fujiyama (SumoTalk) posted an 11-4 to get a 4th trip into J.

o   Gawasukotto (SumoTalk) returns to Juryo after an 8-basho run in Makushita.  The returning Juryoan grabbed the ms Fighting Spirit nlast basho with 5 perfect scores.

·         Four Aki Juryoans rode the down elevator to Makushita for Kyushu – a Doir and three Unaffiliateds.

·         The title of all-time & current “BSer with the most time (not necessarily consecutive) in Juryo” is owned by Jejima.  The Frostie Rijicho has 47 bashos in Juryo He’s up in Makuuchi now, so won’t be adding to that anytime soon.

o   The Juryoan with the longest current Juryo streak is Chisaiyama (STI).  Chisaiyama has been in Juryo for 7 straight bashos.

·         Old vs. new?

o   The Juryoan with the lowest number of active bashos is Unaff. Gurowake, who has just 5 bashos

o   The Juryoan with the highest number of active bashos is NPIer Oshirokita, who’s been active  for 91 bashos.

·         The best career win-loss record among current Juryoans  is owned by Gurowake (Unaff).  The 51-24 (0.680), is Bench’s best.

o   23 of the 28 BSers in Juryo (82.1%) have career winning records.

o   The low career win-loss record among current msers is 0.489 by an Izzie.

 

Makushita

·         Makushita had a net decrease of 4 ichimoners from Natsu. Nagoya’s Makushita division features 26 ichimoners.

o   Even losing one, the Toughest Division™ is the second most ichimoner-populated (72.2%).

·         In Haru 08, we witnessed another Banzuke Stimulus Package, in which Makushita was re-shrunk to 30 members. 

o   The Makushita Division has seen 8 periods of growth and shrinkage.  We are in the “But I just got out of the pool” stage now. :-p

A Short History of the Makushita Division

Aki 99 - Hatsu 01

0 msers

(Pre-Makushita Epoch)

Haru 01 - Kyushu 01

up to 45 msers

The heady days of Unregulated Makushita

Hatsu 02 - Haru 03

30 msers

The ms is down-sized to make way for lowered paid tsukebitos (i.e., Sandanmers) Era

Natsu 03 - Nagoya 04

40 msers

The Growth Era

Natsu 04 - Kyushu 07

50 msers

The Fat-Cat Tsukebito Era

Hatsu 08 - Hatsu 09

40 msers

"The Jejima Act" Days of Regulation Era

Haru 09-Nagoya 13

30 msers

The "No, it's just a Banzuke Correction" Era

Aki 13-present

Variable BSers

The “MS – the new bottom divison” Era

 

·         Old vs. new?

o   The current Makushitan with the lowest number of active bashos is tied between Senkoho (Unaff) and Kuroho (STI).  Each has 4 bashos under their mawashi. 

o   The current Makushitan with the most number of active bashos in Bench is none former Ozeki Chijanofuji (NPI).  that’s not really fair, though, as Chijnofuji started from scratch awhile ago.  Marushiki (NPI) has 86 bashos, and no intais.

·         The best career win-loss record among current Young Turks is owned by CM DaviD (ISI), a 50-40 (0.556), which is good for 10th best in BS.

o   9 of the 36 BSers in Makushita (22.5%) have career winning records.

o   The low career win-loss record among current msers is 0.330 by MassaSHEgawa’s anti-technician, ihopeso.

 

 

Sandanme (Historical)

·         The Sandanme division ceased to be after the Natsu 13 basho.  In Natsu 13, it had 26 members.

·         Longest time in Sandanme:

o   Consecutive:  The all-time record-holder is (now gone) Toschima (Unaffiliated), who had 33 straight bashos in sd before falling to Jonidan (& subsequently, banzuke-gai).

o   Non-consecutive: The BSer (& ichimoner) with the most time (not necessarily consecutive) is Kuramarujo (Sakura). K-jo spent 39 bashos (non-consecutive) ranked at sd.

·         The most trips to Sandanme all-time (from any direction of course) is 9. Poler Marushiki crossed the line from both sides.

 

 

Jonidan (Historical)

·         The last time we saw anyone in the “Premier Division™” was in Nagoya 11.  After that, the division was rolled up into the sd division.

·         Who spent the most time in Jonidan?

o     ConsecutiveSakuran Sarunojima (now gone) has 32 bashos in the jd ranks.  Sarunojima (Sakura), now banzuke-gai) is, I believe the only BSers to have been promoted into two divisions without making KK.

·         The most trips to Jonidan is 7 (not counting mae-zumo entries). Ouchiyama (fomer Unaff) returned 7 times to Jonidan

·         Longest ever to get to Jonidan?  Of course, that takes a start above jd.  The all-time record is owned by vice-Rijicho Nekonishiki (SFI), who finally reached visited all divisions in his 58th banzuke appearance in Natsu 09.

 

 

Other Tidbits

·         Just 2 ichimoners have competed in all 94 ICF contests.J   1 Poler (Jejima) and 1 Doit (Doitsuyama) have never missed a basho.

o   Kintamayama (SFI) will forever be haunted by the kosho he took in Natsu 00.  That’s his only missing basho to-date.

·         The “backwards shikona of the basho” ™  (chosen randomly by a highly sophisticated random number generator that involves a blindfold and an index finger) is near-zenshoer Gurowake (U). Gurowake spelled backwards is, of course, “E kaw or ug, which is Crow for “Shall I caw or poop on your windshield.  J

·         The longest shikona in BS is my baby brother’s, Hidariashiyama, which is the BS automaton’s maximum

·         The shortest shikona is a toss-up between U Aome,, Forumer Taka, & U Bill.  You’d think there’d be a 3-lettered shikona out there…

·         The M’s Hana-ichi is BS’s only hyphenated shikona.

·         You need to go down 53 shikonas before you’ll be halfway through the banzuke alphabet-wise for all BSers. That places you in the split between Kintsubasa (Mass.) and Kitakachiyama (SFI).

o   If you’re looking for the middle-ranker, 85 spots down is ms4w Yangnomazuma (SFI) & ms5e Fatakiyama (ISI).  What is it with the Forumers and Izzies splitting things?

·         SFIer Achiyama is the first BSer, alphabetically.  Last on the banzuke is still Zichi (ISI.).  

 

=======================================================================================================

…all of the above, and stats, too! All for the low, low price of ¥1,999,999 Wow!!! J

Offer not valid in Arkansas, Djibouti, Tuvalu, or in countries without a “X” in them.  Valid only in certain sections of the North Pole for reasons unknown.  Mileage may vary.  This product may cause drowsiness.  Do not drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery after use.  Some users have found product causes bloating, gas, unexplained hair loss, unexplained hair growth, warts, boils, increased phlegm and/or a “slightly woozy” sensation. This product contain no Calpis. L  Has not been tested on humans, owls or llamas.  Do not use as a floatation device.  This product intended for recreational use only.  Do not eat.  Not machine-washable.  Dry Clean only.  Do not return to manfacturer.  Caution: Filling may be hot.  Some assembly required.

 

How Many Ichimoners and Where?

Total

Ranks

 

Doitsugo

Info-Sumo

Massashegawa

NPI

Sakura

SFI

STI

Unaffiliated

 

Ichimoners

106

All

 

11

13

14

12

6

11

15

24

 

82

Ichimoners

M

 

7

7

4

5

3

7

4

5

 

37

82

J

 

1

3

3

2

0

2

7

9

 

18

ms

 

3

2

7

5

3

2

4

10

 

26

 

Percentage of  Ichimon across all ranks

Doitsugo

Info-Sumo

Massashegawa

NPI

Sakura

SFI

STI

Unaffiliated

% Makuuchi

64%

54%

29%

42%

50%

64%

27%

21%

% Juryo

9%

23%

21%

17%

0%

18%

47%

38%

% ms

27%

15%

50%

42%

50%

18%

27%

42%

 

 

Average Move Up/Down the Banzuke by Score*

Record

 

Average Move

This basho

Last Basho

15-0

 

-

 

14-1

 

-

 

13-2

 

-

 

12-3

 

+14.3

 

11-4

 

+9.0

 

10-5

 

+6.9

 

9-6

 

+5.6

 

8-7

 

+3.4

 

 

 

 

 

7-8

 

-0.7

 

6-9

 

-3.4

 

5-10

 

-4.5

 

4-11

 

-7.4

 

3-12

 

-7.0

 

2-13

 

-

 

1-14

 

-

 

0-15

 

-

 

0-0-15

 

-16.7

 

Kosho

 

0.0

 

*(for all Bsers)

 

How Many Ichimoners

at each score?

 

This Basho

Record

 

Ichimoners

Unaffiliateds

15-0

 

-

-

14-1

 

-

1

13-2

 

1

-

12-3

 

3

1

11-4

 

3

-

10-5

 

6

2

9-6

 

13

1

8-7

 

15

3

 

 

 

 

7-8

 

14

4

6-9

 

4

3

5-10

 

8

2

4-11

 

4

2

3-12

 

1

1

2-13

 

-

-

1-14

 

-

-

0-15

 

-

-

0-0-15

 

-

-

Kosho

 

13

4

 

 

Which BSers had the biggest upward move?

Shikona

Score

Old Rank

New Rank

Change

Gurowake

14-1

ms3

J5

+12

Aminoumi

10-5

ms20

ms9

+11

chishafuwaku

13-2

ms3

J7

+10

Kitakachiyama

11-4

M2

S1

+7

Susanoo

12-3

J4

M14

fujiyama

11-4

ms6

J13

Anjoboshi

9-6

ms20

ms13

Taka

10-5

M16

M10

+6

Kintamayama

11-4

J6

M17

Bill

10-5

J10

J4

tokugawa

10-5

J11

J5

Sebunshu

10-5

ms8

ms2

sekihiryu

9-6

ms13

ms7

Kaiowaka

9-6

K2

S1

+5

Kaiomitsuki

10-5

M11

M6

Kuroho

9-6

ms9

ms4

 

Which BSers had the biggest slip down the Banzuke?

Shikona

Score

Old Rank

New Rank

Change

toonoryu

4-11

M9

J3

-11

Mariohana

3-12

J7

ms3

-10

Itachi

6-9

S1

M3

-8

Jejima

5-10

K1

M7

Leonishiki

5-10

M1

M8

-7

Norizo

6-9

M11

J1

Frinkanohana

4-11

J4

J11

VESHANA

5-10

J9

ms2

Bunijiman

4-11

J10

ms3

Sherlockiama

4-11

ms6

ms13

Holleshoryu

5-10

M4

M10

-6

Chimatayama

5-10

M5

M11

Fatakiyama

6-9

M9

M15

Watashi

7-8

M14

J3

iwakoko

6-9

M15

J4

Hokuyutaka

5-10

J2

J8

Wamahada

5-10

J14

ms6

Metzinowaka

7-8

S3

M2

-5

Maguroyama

7-8

M10

M15

Domichi

5-10

J5

J10

Nekonishiki

5-10

ms7

ms12

 

 

BSers with the best banzuke luck
(a.k.a., "Meet my uncle, the banzuke-maker")

Wins

Who's lucky?

Old Rank

New Rank

Best Move

15-0

 

I'd love to have any banzuke luck at this record ;-)

14-1

 

Gurowake

ms3

J5

+12

13-2

 

chishafuwaku

ms3

J7

+10

12-3

 

Susanoo

J4

M14

+7

11-4

 

Kitakachiyama

M2

S1

+7

 

fujiyama

ms6

J13

10-5

 

Aminoumi

ms20

ms9

+11

9-6

 

Anjoboshi

ms20

ms13

+7

8-7

 

kamogawa

ms12

ms8

+4

 

Kofujinokami

ms13

ms9

 

Fujiko

ms14

ms10

 

wolfgangho

ms15

ms11

 

 

 

 

 

 

7-8

 

Rikishimiezi

ms17

ms15

+2

6-9

 

Chisaiyama

J6

J9

-3

 

CM_DaviD

ms1

ms4

-3

 

Basoyama

ms11

ms14

-3

5-10

 

Domichi

J5

J10

-5

 

Nekonishiki

ms7

ms12

-5

4-11

 

Akokoneko

ms19

ms17

+2

3-12

 

Heiyu

ms18

ms18

0

2-13

 

Mercifully, No Ichimoners here :-)

1-14

 

0-15

 

0-0-15

 

None here. Move along.

 

Kosho

 

17 BSers - no moves

 

 

BSers with the worst banzuke luck

(a.k.a., "What? The check didn't clear?")

Wins

 

Who's lucky?

Old Rank

New Rank

Best Move

15-0

 

A nice icy cold Calpis to the 1st one here

14-1

 

Gurowake

ms3

J5

+12

13-2

 

chishafuwaku

ms3

J7

+10

12-3

 

Susanoo

J4

M14

+7

11-4

 

Kintamayama

J6

M17

+6

10-5

 

Oskanohana

M3

K1

+4

 

ScreechingOwl

M10

M6

+4

9-6

 

Randomitsuki

O

O

0

 

Itachiyama

O

O

0

 

Mmikasazuma

J3

J1

+2

 

Jakusotsu

M15

M13

+2

 

Hana-ichi

J1

M16

+2

8-7

 

Rubensan

M13

M13

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

7-8

 

Maguroyama

M10

M15

-5

 

Metzinowaka

S3

M2

-5

6-9

 

Itachi

S1

M3

-8

5-10

 

Jejima

K1

M7

-8

4-11

 

toonoryu

M9

J3

-11

3-12

 

Mariohana

J7

ms3

-10

2-13

 

Mercifully, No Ichimoners here :-)

1-14

 

0-15

 

0-0-15

 

Fuheika

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

 

asafan

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A

Kosho

 

Meyeryu

#N/A

#N/A

#N/A