Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Three: MITAKEUMI (2-1)

Mitakeumi 
had high expectations when 
he entered sumo 

collegiate champion, 
fast-tracked his way to juryo 

five tournaments in 
to professional career, 
he made the big stage 

this is his tenth tournament 
at sekiwake ranking 

each time before, an 
injury halted further 
growth up pyramid 

this fifth sekiwake stint 
begins with high hopes (again) 

hoping to traverse 
to next level finally, 
become ozeki 

it won't happen this month; it 
takes multiple tournaments 

day three, he battled 
Hokutofuji, who was 
unbeaten thus far 

Hokutofuji had our 
hero at brink of defeat 

Mitakeumi 
powered back, pushing his foe 
across whole dohyo 

Hokutofuji did not 
relent, third tussle ensued 

again at dohyo's 
edge, Hokutofuji's feet 
fighting for balance 

Mitakeumi gives one 
final thrust forwards - both fall 

Hokutofuji's 
heel hitting outside the ring 
before both men crash 

our young hero showing his 
potential fighting spirit 

even as larger 
personas dominate main 
events, tales unfold 

Mitakeumi's chase for 
beyond sekiwake rank 

fifteen times his name's 
been written on banzuke 
scroll, in that third tier 

never has he transcended 
one row up to ozeki 

the scroll weighs heavy 
the larger your name's written, 
the further up top 

good luck Mitakeumi... 
may your potential be reached 

[the full match]

Aki Basho 2018 Honour Tanka Day Seven: MITAKEUMI (6-1)

[everything that is great about giant dudes slap fighting in a ring] 

if there were any 

doubts young Mitakeumi was 

a beast, this squashed them 

of course he won last basho, 

of course he's a budding star 

my friend Dan (who is 

an accurate sumo star 

rater) had forewarned me 

this was perhaps sumo match 

of the year (at least thus far) 

Takakeisho - 

an even younger star, full 

of promise as well 

perhaps this was two young men 

fighting for yokozuna 

Takakeisho 

came hard as fuck - constant and 

most aggressively 

Mitakeumi persevered 

through hard slaps and strong throat thrusts 

Takakeisho 

stepped aside, Mitakeumi 

flirting with ring edge 

somehow after absorbing 

all that punishment, he spun 

as Mitakeumi 

looked to be finished, he did 

one-foot pirouette 

Takakeisho gave push, 

missed spinning Mitakeumi 

Takakeisho - 

perhaps sumo's future - dropped 

both palms to the sand 

Mitakeumi had survived 

toughest bout seen yet this year 

with one loss, still in 

striking distance after one 

week; crowded leaders 

Hakuho, Kakuryu, and 

Takayasu all ain't lost 

one week into this 

autumn basho, four men still 

sit undefeated 

and young Mitakeumi grows 

his legend more, one loss back 

Hatsu Basho 2018 Honour Tanka Day 13: MITAKEUMI (8-5)

[a gif, built off sumo] 

the sumo basho 

has wound down and I’m still three 

days back - such is life 

at this point, on day thirteen 

two men still could’ve won it 

lone yokozuna 

Kakuryu though, started 

to lose his control 

two losses in a row as 

he stared at Mitakeumi 

Mitakeumi was 

one win from kachikoshi 

as sekiwake 

ahh Mitakeumi… the young gun 

having to adjust his game 

makuuchi is 

not juryo; there are fewer 

weak ass opponents 

against Kakuryu, he 

showed that young atomic burst 

Kakuryu seemed 

stifled by some psychology 

which has hobbled him 

13 and 0 was easy; 

after that, don’t fuckin’ know 

Mitakeumi took 

control straight away, bossing 

his yokozuna 

Kakuryu defeated, 

basho was Tochinoshin’s 

props Mitakeumi - 

you conquered an overlord, 

getting your name up 

with so few yokozuna 

left, young lions are needed

[the full match] 

Nagoya Basho 2017 Honour Tanka Day 6: MITAKEUMI (4-2)

(I guess I've established captions here as process) 

day six Nagoya 

was epic day of sumo - 

great bouts abounded 

number of rikishi got 

first win ever against foes 

Kisenosato 

withdrew (as was expected) 

due to injury 

perhaps I speculate too 

much, but shifts are happening 

top yokozuna 

are aging, and there’s slew of 

youngsters on the rise 

Mitakeumi came in 

sekiwake for first time 

day six saw my man 

matched against Yoshikaze, 

who’s been tough of late 

ahh… Yung Mitakeumi 

who hath sumo swagger strength 

Mitakeumi 

whose gentle baby-faced smile 

has not yet hardened 

think of Harumafuji 

or Hakuho’s face like this 

both grizzled Mongols 

display faces lacking in 

tender emotion 

the baby has been beaten 

out of them over the years 

Mitakeumi 

has endured sumo process, 

slowly climbed the scroll 

yet somehow he still appears 

to be child-like in spirit 

this is no diss (though 

likely would be read as such 

by hardcore sums) 

Mitakeumi batter 

rams head first to begin bout 

his missile misses 

direct hit; Yoshikaze 

attempts to toss him 

Mitakeumi maintains 

footed grip, and attacks more 

in three previous 

meetings, Mitakeumi 

has never beat him 

are these men notorious 

dorks, knowing these types of things? 

do their servants have 

notebooks with records on-hand, 

secrets tips from past? 

is this Japanese past-time 

on par with baseball’s nerd shit? 

it doesn’t matter - 

this day Mitakeumi 

said “fuck all that’s passed!” 

Yoshikaze’s basho has 

been strong; today wasn’t his 

after spirited 

shoving, they end up at ring’s 

edge - nowhere to go 

Yoshikaze’s back controlled, 

two thick arms cobra clutching 

all energy stops 

momentarily - one man 

takes simple step back 

Mitakeumi crouches 

in proud victorious stance 

never ranked higher, 

and yet performing so well - 

young star being made 

perhaps a changing of guard 

is taking place; perhaps not 

sumo officials 

would certainly welcome more 

Japanese at top 

Yung Mitakeumi seems 

positive about his path 

Natsu Basho 2017 Honour Tanka Day 7: MITAKEUMI (3-4)

perhaps Japan’s top 

two native sumo square off 

inside a circle 

Kisenosato well-known 

as brand new yokozuna 

Mitakeumi’s 

much-loved, always referred to 

as “up and coming” 

these are the native heroes 

of xenophobic culture 

before sumo bout, 

kensho banners of sponsors 

parade around ring 

before bout between these two, 

sixty-one banners marched round 

two undefeated 

Mongol yokozuna sit 

atop leaderboard 

nationalist pride worldwide 

still spreads like cultural mold 

Kisenosato 

and young Mitakeumi 

faced off with much hype 

two Japanese sanyaku 

battling to carry more hope 

a spirited fight 

ensued, two large men tussling 

for control (of hope) 

in the beginning, no one 

gained clear advantage (of hype) 

Mitakeumi 

the young sensation held his 

own against the king 

the Village of Rare Force won 

though, backing out the upstart 

Mitakeumi’s 

day may come, but not today; 

still he’s well-sponsored 

commodifying our hopes 

and selling us detergent 

traditions become 

avenues to our wallets; 

Mishima was right 

“revolutionary new” 

things always on horizon 

the young sensation 

known as Mitakeumi 

still up and coming 

transcending komusubi 

rank - his sponsored destiny