[sumo] Yaocho - Taiho and Kashiwado?

[Barbara Ann Klein]

Thanks, Joe. I knew you'd come through with this one!

Barbara 

-----Original Message-----
From: sumo-bounces at webtrek.com [mailto:sumo-bounces at webtrek.com] On Behalf
Of Joe Kuroda
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 1:14 PM
To: baklein at attglobal.net; Sumo Mailing List
Subject: Re: [sumo] Yaocho - Taiho and Kashiwado?

--- Barbara Ann Klein <baklein at attglobal.net> wrote:

> In yet another regurgitation of the yaocho story, Yomiuri refers to a 
> 1963 claim that yokozunas Kashiwado and Taiho fixed about (see below). 
> What is the background on this one?

Yokozuna Kashiwado was often considered to be a tragic yokozuna. For one
thing he came around about the same time as Taiho but despite his excellent
techniques and skills he was often overshadowed by Taiho's exploits.

Kashiwado also suffered from serious injuries. Just prior  to him winning
all-win Yusho at the 1963 September basho, he was on kyujo for four straight
bashos and had received stinging and harsh comments from sumo officials,
media and fans as he was accused not fully fulfilling his obligations.

More than anyone else, as Kashiwado's fierce rival, Taiho knew how hard
Kashiwado was training trying to come back and was suffering from all the
unkind remarks he was receiving. 

As most knowledgible sumo fans knew, even with injury fully recovered, it
would have taken a super human effort for Kashiwado to beat Taiho after
missing four straight bashos with his dohyo sense not fully back.
Kashiwado could have beaten the others with some efforts but not Taiho so
easily.

Shintaro Ishihara, the current governor of Tokyo, was a columnist for a
major Japanese newspaper at the time and he accused this 1963 September
basho bout between Taiho and Kashiwado which Kashiwado won to earn the all
win yusho to be yaocho.  

I suppose then still young writer Ishihara wanted to make a big name for
himself and wanted to becom a center of attention.  For whatever, I believe
enormous pressures were placed from everywhere and he soon realized what he
has done and apologized for "erroring". 

Was the bout really a yaocho? I doubt very much it was but I believe it was
one of those bouts Taiho found it so hard to crush his best rival and friend
so soon after coming back from his major injury and felt for what Kashiwado
had to go through during the absence. 

Only another yokozuna can truly understand what his fellow yokozuna has to
go through and Taiho knew it could have been easily him.

Incidentally about Itai.  If I recall Itai's accusation was not so much
about Chiyonofuji but Akebono as he implied he was the "nakabon", a
go-between during the era as well as claining he sold his bouts in his later
years.

The Kyokai threatened to sue Itai but decided not to as they said it would
take too long to settle the
issue.     

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

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________
Sumo mailing list
Sumo at webtrek.com
http://www.webtrek.com/mailman/listinfo/sumo