[sumo] [Spoiler] Rikishi Talk Day 5 Hatsu Basho 2007

[Joe Kuroda]

Tamakasuga (5-0) over Tokitsuumi by yorikiri, 28.4
seconds
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(The only Makuuchi rikishi without any loss)
"I am getting a good quality sumo. I remained patient
today and overcame a difficulty. I kept moving forward
rather than falling into a temptaion to pull him down.
I was able to make it my sumo all the way. Right now I
am trying not to think about the winning streak or
such things. I tend to get more passive once I start
thinking about something like that. This could be over
in a day. You never know."
(Reminded of the 2005 Natsu basho when he won six
straight to start but ended up losing the next four.)
"Exactly That's a bitter memory for me. So that's the
reason I will be approaching each bout, one at a
time."

Toyozakura (1-4) over Toyonoshima by yoritaoshi, 13.3
seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Beating undefeated Toyonoshima and gettting his first
win this basho)
"Actually I find it easier going against a guy who is
winning. I am happy to win the battle of Toyo by the
way. And of course I got a kensho money as well. No
wonder I am so happy."

Toyonoshima (4-1) losing to Toyozakura
------------------------------------------------
(Winning streak coming to an end.)
"Even after losing today I am still 4 and 1. It's not
that bad at all. I'll just go home tonight and come
back clean shaven tomorrow."

Takamisakari (4-1) over Takekaze by hatakikomi, 2.5
seconds
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"For a moment I thought I lost it. "
"You never know how he would come to you. I had
training sessions with him prior to the basho so I
knew some of the things he could do but you have to
realize they are all strong. I don't have any strategy
or anything. I just go out as hard as I can and figure
whatever would happen, happens. I will do anything to
win. That's all."
"Everyone already figured out my Migi-yotsu style. But
I hate to change my style now. What I am trying to do
is using Migi-yotsu as my base. I want to mix things
up and build on it. I want to be able to do all kinds
of different things."

Sumiko Kato (Takamisakari's mother who tends to the
family's apple orchard)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(All mothers are alike)
"Up here in Aomorri, we had an unusually warm winter
and we didn't have any snow. We were really concerned
as apple trees needed snow to grow. Then the basho
started and along with my son's winning, we've started
getting a good snowfall. "
"He hasn't come back here or called in to talk to me
for a long time. I understand he had a dinner with his
brother in Chiba during the New Year holiday but
nothing here. But that's all OK as I still can watch
him on TV."
"He is already 30 years old. More than anything else I
want him to get married and settle down. On the New
Year's Day I went to a shrine to especially pray for
him finding a new bride this year. "

Takekaze (1-4) losing to Takamisakari
---------------------------------------------
"Even in training sessions I can never figure out
Takamisakari-zeki. Does he come with Migi-yotsu or
Hidari-yotsu? And today was no different. He just
leaves me befuddled. I gave him enough time to pulll
me down and slap me out."

Homasho (2-3) over Dejima by hikiotoshi, 3.7 seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------
(Concurring with Takekaze as he got beaten by
Takamisakari on the previous day)
"He is an amazing man. He lets you believe he is
totally clueless about everything but in fact he is a
profound thinker."

Dejima (2-3) losing to Homasho
------------------------------------
(After beating Asashoryu then losing two straight.
Again getting splashed out by a pulldown)
"I don't know what to say really. I wonder if my
execution isn't sharp enough or not but obviously my
feet are not catching up..."

Ama (4-1) over Futeno by yorikiri, 2.9 seconds
------------------------------------------------------
(Easily pushing out Futeno)
"I was able to step out well and push him off,
especially because he came in with a slap. "
(Due to his father's death just prior to the basho,
unable to do any training and lost 6 kg but saying he
gained it all back now.)
"And all I need for now is more speed."
"I feel just like usual. I haven't faced any ozeki or
yokozuna yet, remember?"

Futeno (1-4) losing to Ama
--------------------------------
(Being bulldozed out easily by Ama)
"I feel like I am too light. The moment I hit my
opponent, I am floating up. Definitely I think I am 5
or 6 kg lighter."

Miyabiyama (1-4) losing to Kisenosato by yorikiri,
18.9 seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Losing decisively to a young turk)
"Ah....I feel dreadful. My sumo is awful."

Chiyotaikai (4-1) over Aminishiki by hatakikomi, 2.0
seconds
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Winning makes the world go around)
"I watched him too carefully and too long after the
tachiai but it was all OK."
(Hearing a TV program theme song from a TV set in the
dreesing room as he came out from the bath and started
singing)
"Hey now you know I am a fantastic singer. Did you
know when you can time how your opponent is coming
out, it means you are moving exceptionally well? If I
build up the wins in the first half to keep my engine
warm, I can really show something in the last half."

Tochiazuma (2-3) losing to Kotomitsuki by uwatenage,
5.5 seconds
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Beaten by his nemesis Kotomitsuki)
"I can't use my injured leg at all. What can I
do...this is a reality. I just have to accept it as
is."

Kaio (3-2) losing to Kotoshogiku by yorikiri, 3.8
seconds
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Unable to counter any moves against Kotoshogiku's
attack)
"Well you know my tachiai was so poor that I couldn't
recover from it. I made attempts to get an Uwate to
take into my form but it just didn't work."

Kotoshogiku (3-2) over Kaio
----------------------------------
(Finally defeating his one time hero from the same
home town in his fourth challenge)
"I am extremely happy. I knew once he got Hidari-yotsu
and going for a battle of strength, it would be the
game over for me."
"Before all I remembered about him was he was heavy.
This morning I got a training session from
Kotomitsuki-zeki, trying to figure out how to get the
win. Mitsuki-zeki then told me to go with all I have
forgetting about winning or losing, rather than going
with a henka or something. But you know this will be a
great confidence builder. "

Sadogatake oyakata (former sekiwake Kotonowaka)
------------------------------------------------------------
(On Kotoshogiku)
"Gradually and as surely like going up on steps, he is
gaining strength."

Kotooshu (3-2) over Roho by uwatenage, 13.1 seconds
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Finishing off Roho, normally a trouble for him, with
a power throw.)
"Today I was able to remain calm and execute well. We
don't have any top ranked rikishi without a loss so we
are just on the starting line. It's anyone's game
right now."

Hakuho (3-2) over Kyokutenho by yorikiri, 5.7 seconds
----------------------------------------------------------------
(Chasing the escape route out of Kadoban)
"I am glad that I was able to win today. Yesterday I
lost it in the last moment. I was aiming for Hidari
uwate but I ended up putting my arm in. I wonder the
reason I can't get the mawashi out of tachiai is
because everyone is studying my move. I guess I should
be satisfied as I was able to move around well. From
now till day 10, I want to win every bout."

Tokitenku (2-3) losing to Asashoryu by yorikiri, 19.4
seconds
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"If I had Migi-yotsu, I could have used my foot to do
something but not much I could have with Hidari-yotsu.
But then again I have been able to compete decently
against the yokozuna now. "

Asashoryu (4-1) over Tokitenku
-------------------------------------
(On Tokitenku)
"He has all sorts of leg techniques so you need to be
careful against him. Like you got to watch out for
Uchigake, for instance. Once I got the mawashi, I
didn't think I would get in a trouble at all."
(About the first five days)
"Well it's not one thing or another. I just don't
medidate deeply about a thing like that."
(Being angry about getting jeers and taunts during his
dohyo-iri ceremony)
"Some guy yelled at me to do more serious training
sessions. I laughed it off the first time but when I
heard it again, that really got me upset. I am
training when I needed. I just don't want to be told
by some guy who has no idea about it. I am risking my
life every day doing all this."
(But seeing a coach of bastketball japan league
Tokyo's coach Joe Bryant, father of Coby walking into
the dressing room and his mood picked up immediately
as he shook his hand)
"I met him once before. I love basketball, you know,.
this guy makes Kotooshu short."

Kitanoumi oyakata, chair of the Kyokai
----------------------------------------------
(Upon hearing Asashoryu's plight)
"The yokozuna dohyo-iri is a holy ceremony. I rather
want them to bash loudly against all those weakling
Japanese rikishis."

Yamamotoyama (233 kg Nihon University grad, beating
Russin Aran in the final day of Mae-zumo)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Winning all his three bouts to finish Maezumo
session)
"I have been able to display the perfect sumo for all
three days so I am well satisfied."
(Meanwhile High School yokozuna Lee/Ri finished with 3
wins 2 losses while Russian Aran had 2 wins and 3
losses record).


Wakatota has gone on kyujo after injuring his left leg
against Bushuzan bout on day 4. His shisho inidicated
there was a lot of swelling at the moment but Wakatoba
himself expressed his wish to come back later this
basho as he would likely fall down to Makushita if he
stays out the whole basho. This is Wakatoba's sixth
kyujo, the first since the 1998 Hatsu basho. His day 5
opponent Wakanoho had a fusen win.


Japanese Foreign Minister Aso participated in the new
dohyo opening ceremony at the National Sports Academy
in Bulgaria today. The new dohyo was built and
completed by a volunteer Japanese grass roots group at
no cost. Up to now the Academy only had a temporary
vinyl padded mat to do sumo practice.

Last February Foreign Minister Aso has presented to
Kotooshu with a sum of 6.3 million yen to purchase
dohyo material, equipment and mawashi.

"We look forward to seeing the second or third
Kotooshu coming out from this new dohyo," Aso said.


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

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