2012 Nagoya Basho banzuke released.

**Swami** · 06-25-2012, 07:21 PM

The Nagoya banzuke was released today - no major surprises to report!

Swami

**Mrs. JR Ewing** · 06-26-2012, 07:40 PM

Let's hope Hakuho's injury has healed and he is ready to go!

**Swami** · 06-26-2012, 08:59 PM

Hakuho set for Nagoya tournament

Kyodo

NAGOYA — Hakuho will appear as the lone yokozuna for the 14th time as he aims to put behind him a disappointing tournament as the Japan Sumo Association released the rankings for the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.

The Mongolian, who had a lackluster 10-5 mark at the summer basho in May, will match former yokozuna Haguroyama for holding the rank in his 30th basho — the 10th longest on the all-time list.

Ozeki Kisenosato has secured his position on the prestigious east side for the first time since making his debut at sumo's second-highest rank at the New Year meet in January.

Estonian ozeki Baruto also sits on the east wing along with Bulgarian Kotooshu, who is competing as an ozeki for the 39th basho, placing him in a tie with Konishiki. Ozeki trio Kotoshogiku, Harumafuji, and Kakuryu fill out the west.

Swami

**Swami** · 06-26-2012, 09:00 PM

Nagoya Preview: No Sanyaku promotion for Kyokutenho

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Kyokutenho got the inevitable promotion that comes with a tournament title. But he didn't rise as high as some might have expected. The Mongolian-born wrestler was installed as the No. 1 maegashira--an improvement of six places--for next month's Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, according to the rankings released Monday by the Japan Sumo Association.

Last month at the Summer Grand Tournament in Tokyo, Kyokutenho became, at 37 years 8 months, the oldest wrestler in modern sumo history to win a first championship. He secured the title in a playoff with Tochiozan after the two finished tied for the lead with 12-3 records. There was speculation that Kyokutenho would be elevated into the sanyaku, the three ranks below yokozuna. "The letters are bigger, so if I'm going to be promoted anyway, I wanted to get there," Kyokutenho said of the banzuke, or rankings list, where the higher the wrestler is ranked, the larger their name is written. Kyokutenho became the first wrestler since 1961 to not be promoted to the sanyaku after winning a title as a maegashira.

Speaking at the Tomozuna Stable's lodgings in Nagoya, Kyokutenho said he was dealing with his new-found fame. "There are many people who now know me," he said. "It makes me nervous because I don't want to disappoint them". Asked about the possibility of back-to-back triumphs, he quickly replied, "None," eliciting laughs from the assembled media.

Hakuho will appear as the lone yokozuna for the 14th time as he aims to put behind him a disappointing tournament.The yokozuna, coming off his worst showing since reaching the top rank when he was limited to 10 wins, will occupy the rank for the 30th time, tying him for 10th on the all-time list with Haguroyama.

Among the ozeki contingent, Kisenosato, who compiled an 11-4 record in Tokyo, was moved over to top slot on the more prestigious east side for the first time. Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu, who struggled to an 8-7 mark and forfeited his final match due to an injury, will fill that rank for the 39th tournament, putting him into a tie for the fifth-most at that level with Konishiki.

Tochiozan, who lost the playoff with Kyokutenho for the title, returned to the sekiwake rank for the first time in nine tourneys, making the leap from No. 4 maegashira. A victory in the playoff would have made Tochiozan the first Japanese-born wrestler to win a title since 2006. Meanwhile Goeido retained his place as the sekiwake on the east side and Myogiryu was promoted into the sanyaku for the first time, rising from No. 2 maegashira to komusubi after beating four ozeki en route to a 9-6 record at the summer tourney.

Swami