Due to a rather convoluted link to the sumo world, I have once again managed to bag a few spare banzuke, this time from the fairly recent New Year tournament. Keeping one for myself, it leaves me with two that I’m willing to post off to Tokyo Times readers — irrespective of where they happen to reside.
This particular banzuke (pictured above) has unique historic value as it records Bulgarian Kotooshu’s promotion to Ozeki — sumo’s second highest rank; an achievement that is set to feature prominently in the sport’s record books, with the tall and athletic wrestler becoming the first European to reach such dizzy heights.
Being good-looking (and foreign), the quiet and unassuming Kotooshu is often referred to as the ‘Beckham’ of sumo, although due to my seating position I couldn’t really capture this aspect of the man — a clear shot of his ‘attractive’ back and side being the best I could muster.
For those interested, leave a comment below, and the two that interest or amuse me the most will receive a banzuke. Given sumo’s traditional nature however, all comments should be made in the form of a haiku, which if nothing else will help give proceedings the air of a real competition — or at least a dodgy fairground tombola.
It’s five, followed by seven
Then five to finish
Good luck to you all
I hope you can do better
Than this poor effort