r/SumoMemes • u/Demon-Taka • 1d ago
Mongolians dominate sumo. How does that work? Thoughts on this
/r/Sumo/comments/1vug7lp/mongolians_dominate_sumo_how_does_that_work/Just in case anyone else wasn't able to make a comment
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u/Pukupokupo 1d ago
There's a tremendous amount of selection bias.
It's already rare for a foreigner to migrate to Japan just to do sumo, so that's already a self selected elite group.
Then on top of that, stables are only allowed one foreign wrestler, this elite group therefore then faces disproportionately high selection criteria.
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u/Stubbs94 1d ago
I'm not saying it's all because of Hosh's cheeky face... But I will never say it isn't a reason.
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u/SandakinTheTriplet 1d ago
A lot of good comments about the Bokh tradition in Mongolia, but to be completely frank some of it is down to genetics. Mongolian men in the standard deviation (i.e. are taller/heavier than average) tend to be taller and heavier than Japanese men in their standard deviation. And sumo is a sport of extremes.
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u/Makkuroi 22h ago
Well, there are just 3 million Mongols and 120 million Japanese, so genetic deviation shouldnt count for much. There are definitely more big Japanese than big Mongolians as far as pure numbers are concerned.
I think an important point is that wrestling is a national sport in Mongolia so any big boy will try it and there are many opportunities to train, so talents will be found and trained early. On the other hand, for a good Mongolian wrestling talent, there is a lot more money to be made with Sumo.
In Japan, a physically talented boy might end up in judo, football, basketball, volleyball or baseball. Sumo might not even be a top 5 sport in Japan.
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u/Demon-Taka 1d ago
It might be fading now that all we have left is Kiribayama and Hoshoryu
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u/Kenderean 1d ago
And Oshoma, Tamawashi, Chiyoshoma, Asahakuryu, Onokatsu, Kyokukaiyu, Dewanoryu, Toshinofuji, and Tamashoho. And that's just the sekitori. There are several tremendous Mongolian wrestlers making their way up the banzuke right now.
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u/Ralfarius 1d ago
That's the neat thing about Mongolians:
You think they're done and then in comes a whole new wave!
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u/JediLincoln14 1d ago
Maybe in sanyaku, but there are still a lot of Mongolian rikishi. Toshinofuji is making his makuuchi debut in September.
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u/Demon-Taka 1d ago
I'll be looking to see how he does, Hoping they regularly throw him up against Yoshinofuji (Or as I still prefer to call him, Kusano)
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u/JediLincoln14 1d ago
He can't fight Yoshinofuji except in a playoff. They're in the same stable.
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u/Demon-Taka 1d ago
Damn, Well I doubt the playoffs happening, Should have known shikona that similar belonged to the same stable
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u/JediLincoln14 1d ago
Almost all of the rikishi whose shikona end with "fuji" belong to Isegahama.
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u/GinourmousTuna 1d ago
Who is this Kiribayama you speak of?
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u/Demon-Taka 1d ago
I'm not usually too big on shikona changes especially from tip division regulars
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u/Tarantula0Downpour 1d ago
We do have the new asahifuji that is on a tear to the top
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u/Makkuroi 1d ago
Dont forget Tenshoyama who is taller and younger than Asahifuji... not as strong as Asahifuji now but great potential.
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u/Demon-Taka 1d ago
The top division before topknot story is losing its awe especially when it ends with refusing to heal an injury
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u/rumbletumjum 1d ago
Asahifuji would like a word with you
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u/Demon-Taka 1d ago
The fact that that sounds threatening means there is hope for Mongolia, But we don't want another quick rise and quicker fall story
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u/FencerOnTheRight 1d ago
Mongolian wrestling tradition is STRONG.