[sumo] Hakuho article

[Barbara Ann Klein]

>From the Japan Times, by SFM's Ed-in-Chief. Link here, too, if you want to
see the photo.

BRTK
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/ss20060905a1.html


Lights, camera, action -- 'Hakuho for Yokozuna' -- Take II!

By MARK BUCKTON
Special to The Japan Times Online

September's Aki Basho approaches and as was the case prior to Nagoya in
July, with it comes the talk of how Mongolian ozeki Hakuho will fare;
whether or not he'll be performing the yokozuna dohyo-iri alongside yokozuna
Asashoryu at the next tournament. 

Realistically not many would bet against him (again!) were flutters on the
rikishi legal in Japan and when push comes to shove, the ozeki still only
has one obstacle to overcome to reach the top of the banzuke -- himself.

Ranked alongside Hakuho on the banzuke, the quartet of 2006 also ran ozeki;
Tochiazuma's 14-1 Hatsu Basho yusho with Chiyotaikai and Kaio dropping out
and Asashoryu turning in a below par scorecard notwithstanding, have been
planted firmly in the Mongolian's shadow. Between them they have managed to
scrape together just over half a dozen tournament victories over the past
five years and all will yet again serve to merely make up the numbers come
senshuraku. 

Slightly lower down at sekiwake, Miyabiyama's July failure to return to the
ozeki rank he vacated in September 2001, (as the world's eyes were centered
on New York) will be a point thrashed about by 'what if scenario' fans
everywhere as he is still riding the carry over concept we have seen the
Sumo Association (NSK) use several times this year. 

The Musashigawa Beya man from Ibaraki Prefecture was dealt a post Nagoya 'Do
Not Pass Go' hand -- even with an above average win/loss ratio over three
basho that would normally see promotion a given -- a victim of the NSK not
wanting the rank clogged up for the next couple of years especially as five
of six, should Hakuho not get to yokozuna this time, (would) have little or
no chance of ever going further. 

With Hakuho (and Tochiazuma in May) though, by failing to win back to back
yusho, the hand dealt becomes more of a 'Get Out of Jail Free' option in
providing a second shot at the cherry. At the same time, the NSK injects
itself with another chance to pray to the sumo gods for the rival yokozuna
money spinner so lacking since Musashimaru's retirement in 2003.

Ideally, in the 15 days following on from September 10th, Miyabiyama should
be looking for wins in the 12/13 range but Hakuho needs the title plain and
simple. Anything less taking him to a tsuna fitting pre-November and his
detractors will forever hold it against him.

At the foot of sanyaku Kokkai will be making his komusubi debut and might
well eke out a respectable 8-7 or slightly better if the ozeki slack off in
light of none of their number being kadoban and in danger of automatic
demotion. Kokkai has been a couple of years getting to the rank so is more
experienced than many in the upper maegashira ranks which will, should, help
him cope if fit.

Kisenosato remains at komusubi despite a winning record two months ago, the
result of unfortunate timing in that neither man at sekiwake, Miyabiyama and
Kotomitsuki, are ready to give up on their rank and the banzuke makers
haven't been overly keen on more than two sekiwake at rank recently. 

Featuring at the head of the maegashira ranks will be the 198-cm, 168-kg
giant Baruto. Following on from the Taiwan Jungyo, the Estonian managed to
get home for a few days to appear at a junior sumo event in late August
where, as star of the show, results and the event itself played second
fiddle to his presence. Whether or not a couple of days spent in the air and
milling about airports during the month will show itself in his performances
is yet to be seen. 

Near the top of the makushita division is the teenage Russian Wakanoho. He
has had his mojo slapped about in recent months but to be so high based on
just 18-months of experience would indicate he is not one to be written off.
Sekitori status will come sooner rather than later for the young man
training under former yokozuna Wakanohana II at Magaki Beya and hopefully
Aki will see him correcting the 'give-up and lose' mentality he displayed
several times in Nagoya when his right hand was prevented from grabbing his
opponent's mawashi. Onoe-Beya rikishi Shiraishi -- heading the division --
has been staying quiet as he recovers from an injury that saw him fall from
the salaried ranks after the 2005 Kyushu tournament, and like Wakanoho will
soon be donning the white sekiwake practice mawashi -- 'Take II'.