<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">I think both are true. JT registration is free but they also limit the # of articles/month. PW also expires periodically, so resetting it meant I could again enjoy John’s great insights and expertise! <div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Carol <br class=""><div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Jun 2, 2021, at 2:59 PM, Barbara Ann <<a href="mailto:barbara.a.klein@gmail.com" class="">barbara.a.klein@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" class=""><div dir="auto" class="">All you have to do is register for free. But here it is anyway<div class=""><h1 class="title" data-reader-unique-id="titleElement" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 1.95552em; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; max-width: 100%;">Dual yokozuna promotion could join list of recent rare events in sumo</h1><div class="metadata singleline" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: -0.75em; margin-bottom: 1.45em; max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/john-gunning/" title="Posts by John Gunning" rel="nofollow" data-reader-unique-id="216" class="byline" style="text-decoration: none; margin: 0px; color: var(--body-font-color); max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; display: inline !important;">John Gunning</a><span class="delimiter" style="margin: 0.07em 0.45em 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; display: inline !important;"></span><time pubdate="" datetime="2021-06-02T16:07:48+09:00" data-reader-unique-id="217" class="date" style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; display: inline !important;">Jun 2, 2021</time></div><figure data-reader-unique-id="212" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: -apple-system-font; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.67);" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui: 'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Ozeki Terunofuji (left) and Takakeisho clash during their championship playoff bout at the conclusion of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on May 23 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | KYODO" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90586.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="213" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class=""><img src="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90586.jpeg" alt="Ozeki Terunofuji (left) and Takakeisho clash during their championship playoff bout at the conclusion of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on May 23 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | KYODO" draggable="false" pinger-seen="true" data-reader-unique-id="214" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto; display: block; height: auto;" data-unique-identifier="" class=""></a><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="215" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.8em; width: 657.78125px;" class="">Ozeki Terunofuji (left) and Takakeisho clash during their championship playoff bout at the conclusion of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on May 23 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | KYODO</figcaption></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">It’s been a bountiful few years for anyone interested in sumo’s more archaic elements.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="2" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">While the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have long endured a tough time from a public relations standpoint, the games did lead to the revival of one sumo’s most seldom-seen ceremonies.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="7" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">In October of 2016, at a government-funded, Olympic-focused event entitled “Оzumo Beyond 2020 Basho,” yokozuna pair Harumafuji and Kakuryu performed the first <em data-reader-unique-id="8" style="max-width: 100%;" class="">sandangamae</em> seen in 20 years.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="9" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">The three-part ceremony had only taken place on 24 occasions since the Meiji Era and was normally reserved for the most significant of occasions.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="10" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">One year later Hakuho and Kisenosato repeated the performance at a similarly named event in front of an invited audience.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="11" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">With a large proportion of the free tickets in both 2016 and 2017 being distributed to embassies, international schools and similar institutions, it was also the first opportunity many foreign fans had to witness the unique ceremony.</p><figure data-reader-unique-id="13" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: -apple-system-font; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.67);" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Yokozuna Kisenosato (left) and Hakuho perform a rare sandangamae ceremony on Oct. 4, 2017, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | JOHN GUNNING
" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90679.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="14" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class=""><img src="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90679.jpeg" data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90679.jpeg" alt="Yokozuna Kisenosato (left) and Hakuho perform a rare sandangamae ceremony on Oct. 4, 2017, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | JOHN GUNNING
" pinger-seen="true" data-reader-unique-id="15" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto; display: block; height: auto;" data-unique-identifier="" class=""><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="17" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.8em; width: 657.78125px;" class="">Yokozuna Kisenosato (left) and Hakuho perform a rare sandangamae ceremony on Oct. 4, 2017, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | JOHN GUNNING</figcaption></a></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="19" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Yokozuna Kisenosato (left) and Hakuho perform a rare sandangamae ceremony on Oct. 4, 2017, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | JOHN GUNNING
" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90679.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="14" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">Another even rarer sight occurred in March of 2020 when the first <em data-reader-unique-id="20" style="max-width: 100%;" class="">yokozuna-ozeki </em>in almost four decades appeared on the <em data-reader-unique-id="21" style="max-width: 100%;" class="">banzuke</em> rankings.</a></p><p data-reader-unique-id="22" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Yokozuna Kisenosato (left) and Hakuho perform a rare sandangamae ceremony on Oct. 4, 2017, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | JOHN GUNNING
" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90679.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="14" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">One of sumo’s lesser-known rules is that while there is no requirement for a <em data-reader-unique-id="23" style="max-width: 100%;" class="">yokozuna</em> to exist, there must always be at least two <em data-reader-unique-id="24" style="max-width: 100%;" class="">ozeki</em> at any one time.</a></p><p data-reader-unique-id="25" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Yokozuna Kisenosato (left) and Hakuho perform a rare sandangamae ceremony on Oct. 4, 2017, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | JOHN GUNNING
" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90679.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="14" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">If retirements leave the sport short of ozeki, one of the existing yokozuna normally covers both ranks until the next promotion occurs. That’s exactly what Kakuryu did for one tournament between the retirement of Goeido and the elevation of Asanoyama.</a></p><p data-reader-unique-id="26" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Yokozuna Kisenosato (left) and Hakuho perform a rare sandangamae ceremony on Oct. 4, 2017, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | JOHN GUNNING
" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90679.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="14" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">While sandangamae and yokozuna-ozeki have re-emerged in recent times, some formerly common sights in the sumo world are unlikely to come back anytime soon.</a></p><p data-reader-unique-id="27" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Yokozuna Kisenosato (left) and Hakuho perform a rare sandangamae ceremony on Oct. 4, 2017, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. | JOHN GUNNING
" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90679.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="14" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">All the various </a><a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/07/07/sumo/sumo-101-tied-bouts/" data-reader-unique-id="28" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">ties of yesteryear</a> seem to have been consigned to historical curiosity, with all bouts since 1974 ending in a win for one <em data-reader-unique-id="29" style="max-width: 100%;" class="">rikishi</em> or the other.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="30" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">Likely gone for good as well are <em data-reader-unique-id="31" style="max-width: 100%;" class="">hari-dashi</em> slots on the banzuke, where third-ranked yokozuna or <em data-reader-unique-id="32" style="max-width: 100%;" class="">sanyaku</em>-level wrestlers were offset outside the normal border of the official ranking sheet.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="33" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">Although ties and overhanging ranks have been abandoned, there is still a slight possibility that yet another of sumo’s rarely seen occurrences may be about to take place in the very near future.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="34" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">Takakeisho’s loss to Terunofuji in a playoff for the Emperor’s Cup last time out technically gives the younger ozeki what is known as a <em data-reader-unique-id="35" style="max-width: 100%;" class="">yūshо̄</em> equivalent. That’s significant because if the same situation were to reoccur in July (with the opposite outcome), it’s conceivable that both men could be promoted to yokozuna at the same time.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="36" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">There is precedent for two wrestlers concurrently earning the sport’s ultimate rank, with double-yokozuna promotions having taken place on three occasions in sumo history.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="37" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">The first such instance occurred after the summer 1942 tournament, when a 13-2 record was good enough to see both Akinoumi and Terukuni receive the white rope despite there already being two yokozuna present. Interestingly, Terukuni had not yet won a title before promotion, and Akinoumi had just one championship to his name.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="38" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">Under the current six-tournaments-a-year system, double-yokozuna promotions have taken place just twice — in 1961 Taiho and Kashiwado earned the nod, and nine years later rivals Tamanoumi and Kitanofuji reached sumo’s summit.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="39" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">The last name on that list will be familiar to current fans, as the almost 80-year-old Kitanofuji is one of the sport’s most prominent television commentators.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="40" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">Whether the ten-time champion will see his half-century-old mark equaled in 2021 seems like a long shot, but a double promotion for Takakeisho and Terunofuji after the July meet cannot be ruled out entirely.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="41" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">Terunofuji — with three Emperor’s Cup wins and two runner-up performances in the past six tournaments — is clearly in pole position, and discussions of his promotion chances by both the media and those inside the sport would seem to indicate another championship in Nagoya will seal the deal.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="42" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">By the same token, the silence surrounding Takakeisho’s chances mean the Tokiwayama stable man’s odds of reaching sumo’s highest rank before autumn aren’t great.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="43" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">In his favor is the fact that Hakuho’s career is almost at an end, and Terunofuji, for all his recent brilliance and overall ability, will turn 30 this year and has knee issues that could derail his wrestling career at any point.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="44" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class="">Meanwhile, Takakeisho is just 24 years old and could potentially hold down the yokozuna rank for a long time.</p><figure data-reader-unique-id="46" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 1.4em 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: -apple-system-font; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.67);" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Takakeisho (right) is unlikely to achieve promotion to yokozuna without a flawless performance in the Nagoya Basho. | KYODO" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90587.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class=""><img src="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90587.jpeg" data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90587.jpeg" alt="Takakeisho (right) is unlikely to achieve promotion to yokozuna without a flawless performance in the Nagoya Basho. | KYODO" pinger-seen="true" data-reader-unique-id="48" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto; display: block; height: auto;" data-unique-identifier="" class=""><figcaption data-reader-unique-id="50" style="max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0.8em; width: 657.78125px;" class="">Takakeisho (right) is unlikely to achieve promotion to yokozuna without a flawless performance in the Nagoya Basho. | KYODO</figcaption></a></figure><p data-reader-unique-id="52" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Takakeisho (right) is unlikely to achieve promotion to yokozuna without a flawless performance in the Nagoya Basho. | KYODO" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90587.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">Promotion would come with risk for the burly wrestler, however. A lack of consistency and susceptibility to injury has already seen him demoted once from the rank of ozeki, and the standards for yokozuna are far higher.</a></p><p data-reader-unique-id="53" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Takakeisho (right) is unlikely to achieve promotion to yokozuna without a flawless performance in the Nagoya Basho. | KYODO" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90587.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">Losing records are unacceptable at sumo’s highest rank and should Takakeisho struggle to reach double digits or have a run of performances similar to those in late 2019 and early 2020, he would likely face calls for his retirement.</a></p><p data-reader-unique-id="54" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Takakeisho (right) is unlikely to achieve promotion to yokozuna without a flawless performance in the Nagoya Basho. | KYODO" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90587.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">The prospect of one of the sport’s few young stars being forced into early retirement has to be on the minds of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council and Japan Sumo Association elders.</a></p><p data-reader-unique-id="55" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Takakeisho (right) is unlikely to achieve promotion to yokozuna without a flawless performance in the Nagoya Basho. | KYODO" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90587.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">Short of a dominating 15-0 title run with wins over Terunofuji and Hakuho, it’s hard to see Takakeisho being in the conversation for yokozuna promotion after July.</a></p><p data-reader-unique-id="56" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Takakeisho (right) is unlikely to achieve promotion to yokozuna without a flawless performance in the Nagoya Basho. | KYODO" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90587.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">Given the pressure of the rank and the Damocles-esque threat of forced retirement that hangs over it, it’s probably a good thing that Takakeisho likely won’t need to worry about such matter for a while more.</a></p><p data-reader-unique-id="57" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Takakeisho (right) is unlikely to achieve promotion to yokozuna without a flawless performance in the Nagoya Basho. | KYODO" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90587.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">If the burly ozeki does rule the roost in July however, we could see history made.</a></p><div data-reader-unique-id="177" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%;" class=""><div style="max-width: 100%;" class=""><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><h2 data-reader-unique-id="179" style="font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;" class=""><a data-fresco-group="inline-images" data-fresco-group-options="ui:'inside'" data-fresco-caption="Takakeisho (right) is unlikely to achieve promotion to yokozuna without a flawless performance in the Nagoya Basho. | KYODO" href="https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/np_file_90587.jpeg" data-reader-unique-id="47" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 200, 250); max-width: 100%;" class="">PHOTO GALLERY (CLICK TO ENLARGE)</a></h2></div><br class=""><div dir="ltr" class="">Sent from my iPad</div><div dir="ltr" class=""><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class="">On Jun 2, 2021, at 2:53 PM, R. Brown <<a href="mailto:brownro214@gmail.com" class="">brownro214@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br class=""><br class=""></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class="">Blocked on this one. Apparently I only get access to a couple of articles a month.<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Kodaiyama</div></div><br class=""><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Jun 2, 2021 at 12:41 PM Jeffrey Anderson <<a href="mailto:jpaitv@gmail.com" class="">jpaitv@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br class=""></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/06/02/sumo/terunofuji-takakeisho-double-yokozuna/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" class="">https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/06/02/sumo/terunofuji-takakeisho-double-yokozuna/</a><br class="">
<br class="">
Gaijingai <br class="">
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