hypothetical sumo monster

[Darrell Wong <wongd012@hawaii.rr.com>]

Re. the Futataichiyobono question.

1. Yes, *if* his shin-nyumaku record was only good enough to move him up
to maegashira 1, and if the Sumo Association decided to promote him only
to komusubi after that basho, the correct decision would be to demote
him back to maegashira.  As the rule stands, only an ozeki may be
promoted to yokozuna.  Furthermore, lower-rank results tend to be
overlooked (or at least downplayed) for ozeki and yokozuna
considersation.  So absolutely no sanyaku promotion, let alone yokozuna;
at *best* I could see him being held at komusubi, but that's unlikely.

2. That said, I find it incredibly bizarre that he'd only be at komusubi
after two zensho yushos.  The *first* one would be sufficient to bump
him to komusubi, and the second would ABSOLUTELY be good for ozeki.  (I
know that "traditionally" it's not possible to jump from komusubi to
sekiwake, but come on, traditionally an ozeki had to go undefeated for
two tournaments *or more* to even have a chance of yokozuna promotion.
A lot of the bars in this sport have been lowered over the centuries.)
Remember that Kotomitsuki, and I think Takatoriki as well, could have
had ozeki promotion on the basis of two *non*-perfect yushos.

3. Even if for whatever reason he coudln't make komusubi, *nothing*
could keep him from sekiwake, no matter how well the rest of sanyaku
did.  It's true that the Sumo Association doesn't *like* excessive
haridashi competitors, but they're not forbidden outright, and they're
CERTAINLY not about to deny someone as dominant as Futataichiyobono.

4. And it's a moot point anyway, since someone that powerful is assured
of eventual yokozuna promotion.  It's the same with Kaio; you can keep
'em down for a while, but they always reach the top in the end.

Now, if injuries become a recurring problem...as they were with
Konishiki (and now Chiyotaikai), that's a mawashi of a different color.
Chronic injuries *are* sufficient to keep someone out of the highest
rank, since a yokozuna is expected to show up.

Hope that helps.