Grand Sumo Breakdown

Mokarimakka! Everyone ready for the "Ghost Basho" this month? Join us as we discuss the details and implications of one of the strangest tournaments in recent years. Also in memory of the recently departed Byamba, we are putting out a call for your favorite stories/cameos/acting roles/etc. about the big Mongolian. Byamba was the face of sumo outside of Japan for many years and we want to hear what he meant to each of you. Leave us a voicemail at 805-613-SUMO (7866) or find us on social media, we'll be compiling responses into an upcoming bonus episode.

Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Join Ryan and Jake for a review of Haru's (or Natsu's?) wonky banzuke. This banzuke has a yokozuna-ozeki AND a maegashira 18, two things that haven't happened in decades. Leave us your thoughts on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook/Whatever or leave us a message at 805-613-SUMO (7866).

Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Due to his demotion and retirement in January, we figured it was a good time to cover sumo "Hall-of-Famer" and Ryan's all-time favorite rikishi, Goeido Gotaro. Feel free to tell Ryan how much you love Goeido on our social media or leave us a voice mail at 805-613-SUMO (7866)

Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

As a companion to last week's results post, check out our discussion with the whole team. As mentioned before, we plan to keep an eye on how these results change over time with future polls, probably once each summer and once each winter.

Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

The January basho is over, so it's time to predict what the rankings will look like in March. Ryan and Jake discuss the mysterious (and overblown) yokozuna-ozeki rank, how high Tokushoryu will climb up the banzuke, and the first appearance of the M18 rank in quite some time.

Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

There's so much to cover this recap that our episode clocks in at a new GSB record of 2 hours! Since not everybody has 1/12 of their entire day free to sit around and listen to podcasting dorks, here's a few timestamps to help you skip to your favorite bits:

Around 8:35 we finally decide who is the fantasy sumo winner and get on to talking about the sport itself.
41:40 is when we get around to talking about someone other than Tokushoryu.
We have a preview of a reality show at 1:24:48.
Fantasy sumo punishment #1 is around 1:36:30.
And finally, 1:53:56 is when we get to punishment ##2.

Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

*This is the weirdest disclaimer we've ever had for this show, but this episode contains spoilers for 2019's Little Women movie*

Other than Little Women, we are also here to talk about the final day of juryo matches for the January tournament. Enjoy 80 minutes of exhausted nerds doing a terrible job staying on topic whatsoever.

Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

*DAY 8 SPOILERS*

Halfway in and we have a real weird pack of front runners. Join us as we try to come to terms with Tokushoryu being tied for the lead and hear from our new clairvoyant sponsor at 51:48. After the break we introduce our new injury tracking project.

Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

The first sumo of the year is nearly upon us. Join the GSB crew for a (long-ass) episode on what we expect to see. We have a new sponsor at 1:15:20 and after that we review our new fantasy sumo rules that we're going to try. Find us on social media or leave us a message at 805-613-SUMO (7866).

Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

With approximately 38 Christmas gatherings and 11 bouts of sickness, it's perhaps a wonder we were able to get anything together at all. Ryan and Jake review this weird banzuke, the first of the new year. Keep an eye out for our preview episode for the full tournament, should be out tomorrow night.

Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud