[sumo] Dinner with Barbara and Asashoryu

[Joe Kuroda]

--- smk1 at columbia.edu wrote:

> The Yokozuna
> greeted Barbara with
> the warmth of a very close friend, and was most
> welcoming to me. 
> He was so much fun, making sure that Barbara and I
> were well taken
> care of, kind, and humorous, especially when he and
> Barbara were
> joking around together.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience. I am
sure many people here are all envious of your time
with Asashoryu.

When you are with a celebrity (and you must admit he
is one) and you have an opportunity to see their
private face, you can really tell what the person is
really like.

Just like yourself, I was fortunate enough to see
Asashoryu close (though with other reporters) for
three days, thanks to Barbara's efforts as well.  I
was able to gain much more respect of him as yokozuna
and man.

On the last day of the Vegas tournament, when all the
other rikishis were hurrying back to have their free
time and not even one official nor oyakata remained,
Asashoryu stayed back and talked to American reporters
and even thanked the hotel people and organizers
personally on behalf of the Kyokai. No one asked him
to do that and it happened quite spontaneously. 

Whenever I hear any criticism of him as not fulfilling
the duty of yokozuna, I remember that occasion when he
tried everything in his power to present the good
image of sumo and be a goodwill ambassador of the
sport. 

There were no members of YDC like Ms Uchidate or
tabloid reporters to witness the event but he wasn't
doing any of that for show. You could have tell his
sincerety and he was really enjoying doing it.

For me, more than any achievements he may have
established on the dohyo up to that point. that proved
to me he was on the way to becoming a great yokozuna. 


Unfortunately the public image of him often
contradicts his private side.

.....Jonosuke 
  <  Heart  Technique  Physique      &#24515;&#12288;&#25216;&#12288;&#20307;&#12288;>

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