[sumo] [Rikishi Talk Senshuraku Nagoya basho 2007
Joe Kuroda
joe_kuroda at yahoo.com
Sun Jul 22 20:36:22 EDT 2007
Kihonoumi, Sandanme East 28 losing to Minami by
uwatenage (Yusho Kettei sen)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Hoping to win the yusho for the people back home in
Kariwa Village, Niigata severely damaged by the last
week's major earthquake but losing to Minami in the
Sandanme Yusho Kettei-sen by uwatenage)
"I desparately wanted to provide some cheer to folks
back home. I am so disappointed."
"It has been a great learning experience. The next
time I want everyone to know the good thing about my
hometown, Kariwa Village by my sumo, rather than by a
quake."
Iwakiyama (12-3) losing to Kyokutenho by uwatenage
(Tomoe -sen: (1) Iwakiyama over Goeido by unannounced
kimarite (2) Iwakiyama over Kyokutenho by yorikiri)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Losing in his regular Juryo bout and only getting
Juryo yusho after beating his junior at his heya
Goeido and Kyokutenho)
"Last night at the heya Goeido pleaded to me to decide
the whole thing by winning in my regular bout. I feel
really badly. But it wasn't easy at all going against
one of my heya mates for the yusho."
Toyohibiki (11-4) over Hakurozan by yorikiri, 4.9
seconds
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Awarded Kanto-sho by getting 11 wins in his Makuuchi
debut basho)
"I am really happy. But to be honest I expected to get
a Sansho award myself."
"I was really nervous on day 1 but since then I was
able to relax and compete without getting too tense. I
was really able to move forward. I gained a lot of
self confidence after getting a 4 win and 1 loss in
the first five days, making me realize I can really
compete at the level. But 11 wins is far more than I
can be reasonably expect myself to get. My opponents
next basho will be a lot tougher so I will have to
work that much harder."
Asasekiryu (8-7) over Hokutoriki by hikiotoshi, 0.7
second
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Obviously I did not win by a henka but....I am really
happy to get Kachikoshi at a high rank. Sekiwake? Sure
I will be lying if I say I don't want to be one."
Takamisakari (3-12) losing to Tokitenku by yorikiri,
7.9 seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This has been totally the worst. It all comes down to
this, I am nothing but a weakling. "
(Asked about his Nihon University's sumo club mate,
Kotomitsuki)
"You must be kidding. I am in no condition at all to
be able to comment on someone else at the moment."
Tochinonada (10-5) over Kaiho by yorikiri, 15.5
seconds
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"I was able to experience all the excitement of the
basho by getting a bout with a high ranking rikishi
(Kotomitsuki) this basho that I didn't expect. It
helped me taste a good tension. I am looking forward
to the next basho all the more now."
Aminishiki (8-7) losing to Miyabiyama by tsukiotoshi,
1 min 0.2 second
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Winning the second Shukun-sho in as many basho)
"This is the award you really cannot win even if you
want it so much. First you need to beat a yokozuna and
then you still have to get Kachikoshi."
"But I sure like to have celebrated all this by
winning on the senshuraku."
"I was able to get Kachikoshi at a Sanyaku rank so I
want to do the same again next basho. From now on I
will be working hard to maintain the rank where I
won't get a Kinboshi even when I beat a yokozuna."
Kisenosato (11-4) over Kotomitsuki by tsukiotoshi, 8.9
seconds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Disappointing local Nagoya fans by beating
Kotomitsuki)
"It was such tremendous support he had. I got really
tense too so I tried to take deep breaths several
times. But it's a priviledge to be given this
opportunity.
Actually I really don't mind playing a villain."
Kotomitsuki (13-2) losing to Kisenosato
----------------------------------------------
(Putting a towel over his eyes, unable to speak for a
long time after his loss)
"I really don't remember how I lost. By the time I
realized I've already lost it."
(Seeing Asashoryu beat Hakuho on a TV monitor)
"I have no regret. I went all out with my sumo. But I
was hoping I'd still had a chance to decide it in the
yusho ketteisen round."
"I never went out eating or drinking this basho. I had
a massage done every night instead. There was so much
pressure that I felt like I lost a year out of my life
(finally showing some smiles). I kinda amazed that I
have come this far wtih this feeble heart of mine. I
learned from my past experience by not getting myself
too passive and focus myself to go aggressively
against my opponent this basho."
"I try to never forget the bitterness I feel now. And
I want to show a sumo that fulfills everyone's
expectations of myself as an ozeki."
"My immediate goal? To beat the yokozuna (to stop his
27th losing streak against him)."
Setsuo Tamiya, 65 (Kotomitsuki's father)
-------------------------------------------------
(Came over to see his son's possible second yusho)
"I don't know if it was his mental weakness surfacing
again but he still has a lot to go for from now on.
For once he appeared to have given up on becoming an
ozeki. I must admire his tenacity and enduring so much
to get to this point. This is like a dream come true
for me. Now I want him to do all he can to aim for
yokozuna."
Tokiyoshi Ishiura (Sumo manager with Tottori Johoku
High school, Kotomtisuki's alma mater)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I came here to tell him and thank for all he has
done. I am sure he is all exhausted now. I am looking
foward to his first ozeki basho at the Aki.".
Sadogatake oyakata, Kotomitsuki's shisho (former
sekiwake Kotonowaka)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(On Kotomitsuki this basho)
"I really wanted him to win the yusho. I want him to
use this basho's regret as a springboard to do all his
best in the next basho. He could still win a yusho as
ozeki. I commend him today for the job well done. I am
so happy as if I have become ozeki myself."
Old Sadogatake oyakata (former yokozuna Kotozakura)
------------------------------------------------------------------
(On Kotomitsuki missing the yusho)
"In real life everything doesn't go your way all the
time. But I am so happy for him, now that he became an
ozeki. Even being over 30 years old, he has done so
well. He has gone through so much, so much hardships.
But now that he got this far, he should aim for
becoming a yokozuna. He must work hard and persevere."
Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai
-----------------------------------------------------
(On Kotomitsuki)
"He displayed a quality sumo of constantly moving
forward this basho. He distingushed himself by staying
in the yusho race till the last moment and helped to
make the basho a resounding success here in Nagoya."
Hiroshi Wajima (54th yokozuna and graduate of Nihon
University)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(On Kotomitsuki)
"I am really happy to hearing Kotomtisuki becoming the
first ozeki from Nihon University since myself. I
understand he is the oldest to become an ozeki but as
far as I can tell his physique and his sumo are that
of a rikishi in twenties. I hope he takes good care of
himself physically and try to aim for one step
higher."
Chiyotaikai (9-6) over Homasho by hatakikomi, 8.5
seconds
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Barely managing to beat spirited Homasho)
"Actually I was scared. When you look physically at
both of us, you can't tell who is an ozeki. He is
undoubtedly a thoroughbred."
Hakuho (11-4) losing to Asashoryu by yorikiri, 2.9
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"So I suppose this is what sumo is all about. I was
late getting out of tachiai. I proceeded to display my
worst sumo today. 15 days went by so quickly."
"In a way I've been always chasing after him but
finally I can be called on at the same time on the
same donyo on the Senshuraku so I was happy."
"I didn't feel any additional pressure but I felt
there was a difference between yokozuna and ozeki."
"So this result became the start of my yokozuna
career."
"But I feel now it's morel like I'd be coming back
real strong next basho. I will have to fulfill the
responsiblity as yokozuna. I need to put more pressure
on myself."
Asashoryu (14-1) over Hakuho
------------------------------------
(Hearing so much cheers for Hakuho from local Nagoya
fans who wanted to keep the dream of Kotomitsuki
yusho)
"Well Kotomitsuki got beaten already so I felt I had
to win right then."
"I knew I had to move forward. It was one of my dreams
to win in a yokozuna to yokozuna bout. I felt like I
had to show them this is what being yokozuna is all
about. It was for half fun and half wanting to win."
(Not winning a yusho in two straight basho and a
pressure to win this basho mounting despite suffering
from an old left elbow injury so severe that swollen
ligaments could be hidden only by tight taping and
being told by a doctor if he was a baseball pitcher he
will need a surgery as well as suffering from acute
lower back pain, and for a week being hit by a 38 C
degree fever requiring IV treatment at a hospital)
"I wasn't in my best physically. Actually far from it.
But a yokozuna shouldn't be making any excuse. I
showed a sumo totally unlike my own this basho but I
did my best. It has been a basho unlike any other."
"It was the first experience for me so I felt it was
something I really had to overcome. It has been so
tough mentally as yokozuna is expected to win all
time. But I couldn't let myself get beaten down so
long as that definitely is not like Asashoryu. "
(His third consecuitve yusho at Nagoya basho)
"I will really need to keep working hard and do all my
best."
"I also like to add my congratulation to Kotomitsuki
in becoming an ozeki. I am happy for him."
Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai
--------------------------------------------------
(On Asashoryu)
"He displayed more solid and calm sumo in the last
half. It was like he had a strong will and commitment
to win at all costs. Hakuho must have never expected
Asashoryu would come out trying to get left uwate.
Asashoryu put his head down and pulled Hakuho in
sharply. There was no way Hakuho could counter the
move. "
Takasago oyakata (former ozeki Asashio), Asashoryu's
shisho
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(On Asashoryu)
"This basho Asashoryu showed his unbeatable strength
whenever it really mattered. He lost on day 1 and he
has been chasing the leaders all along so it must have
not been easy at all for him mentally. It was as if he
was telling us 'I am the greatest' in truly crucial
and meaningful matchups. I imagine he wanted to make
the basho more exciting by Hakuho and himself leading
the way. The basho turned out to be Asashoryu letting
the whole world know that Asashoryu is still the real
yokzouna."
+++++++++++++++
Kotomitsuki was awarded both Kanto-sho and Gino-sho on
July 22. This is the 13th time he was selected for a
Sansho award, tying Musoyama and Tosanoumi.
Shukun-sho:- Aminishiki (2nd time)
Kanto-sho: Kotomitsuki(4), Toyohibiki(1)
Gino-sho: Kotomitsuki(7)
In Juryo Iwakiyama came in top after Tomoe-sen Yusho
Ketteis sen against Kyokutenho and Goeido. Iwakiyama
had a 12 win and 3 loss record and got his second
Juryo yusho.
Iwakiyama Juryo East 1 Sakaigawa beya
Real name: Ryuta Tsushima from Aomori Prefecture. 31
years old.
Dohyo debut: 2000 Nagoya basho as Makushita Tsukedashi
Higest rank: komusubi. 184 cm tall, 174 kg.
Favorite techniques: Oshi, Hidari-sashi, yori.
Sandanme Minami (from Kumamoto Prefecture, Onoe beya)
beat Kihonoumi (Niigata Prefecture, Dewanoumi) by
uwatenage in the Yusho Ketteis sen on the Senshuraku.
Both rikishi had 7-0 record this basho.
Minami Sandanme East 92 Onoe beya
Real name: Takayuki Minami from Kumamoto Prefecture.
22 years old.
Dohyo debut: 2007 Hatsu basho.
182 cm, 174 kg. Favorite techniques: Migi-yotsu, yori.
Director of Judges Hanaregoma oyakata formally
requested to convene a special Directors meeting on
July 22 and subsequently Kitanoumi oyakata has
accepted the request. At the Banzuke Arranging
Committee and Directors meetings scheduled for July
25, Kotomitsuki's ozeki promotion will be officially
go into the record.
Kotomitsuki has won 35 bouts in the last three basho
and he has already cleared the milestone of 33 wins in
the three prior basho benchmark. "His record or sumo
performance speaks for itselt," Hanaregoma oyakata
said.
Kotomitsuki becomes the oldest rikishi to be promoted
to ozeki since the installation of six basho per year
system on 1958, overtaking the record held by
Masuiyama, current Mihogaseki oyakata.
The last ozeki promotion occured after the Haru basho
last year when Hakuho became ozeki. The last
Sadogatake beya ozeki was Kotooshu when he was
promoted after the 2005 Kyushu basho. The last
Japanese born rikishi to be promoted to ozeki was
Tochiazuma (current Tochiazuma oyakata) after the 2001
Kyushu basho.
++++++++++++
For the first time in seven years this Nagoya basho
recorded eight sell-out days out of 15 days. This
year's basho was the fifty year anniversary of Nagoya
basho. As a result of Hakuho's yusho promotion,
advance ticket sales were more brisk than normal and
coupled with Kotomitsuki winning 10 straight days from
day 1 generated more interest. Even day 12 and 13,
regular weekdays, recorded a sellout.
"We forecasted that we could get more people coming in
here for Saturdays and Sundays but having a soldout on
day 12 was huge. We can't be happier to be able to
achieve this in such a milestone year," Hidenoyama
oyakata (foremr sekiwake Hasegawa), Director of Nagoya
basho Operations said.
According to Tomozuna oyakata, ozeki Kaio will miss
this year's summer jyungyo tour starting on August 3.
Kaio injured his left thigh on day 13 and withdrew
from Nagoya basho. The oyakata is still holding a hope
that Kaio could join later in the tour, perhaps around
August 10.
Meanwhile 20 year old phenom Tochiozan who separated
his left shoulder will miss the whole jyungyo tour.
"He could lift his shoulder now but he still has
internal bleeding. In a condition like he is in right
now there is no point for him to participate in the
jyungyo," his shisho Kasuagano oyakata said.
Active Rikishi Yusho Total
-------------------------------
1. Asashoryu - 21
2. Kaio - 5
3. Chiyotaikai - 3
4. Hakuho - 3
5. Dejima - 1
6. Kotomitsuki - 1
All Time Yusho Total
--------------------------
1. Taiho - 32
2. Chiyonofuji - 31
3. Kitanoumi - 24
4. Takanohana (II)- 22
5. Asashoryu - 21
6. Wajima - 14
7, Futabayama - 12
8. Musashimaru - 12
9. Akebono - 11
10. Tsunenohana - 10
10. Tochinishiki - 10
10. Wakanohana (I)- 10
10 Kintanofuji - 10
Jiji Press Aki basho Forecast
----------------------------------
East yokozuna Asashoryu
West yokozuna Hakuho
East ozeki Chiyotaikai
West ozeki Kotooshu
East ozeki Kaio
West ozeki Kotomitsuki (new)
East sekiwake Aminishiki (new)
West sekiwake Asasekiryu (new)
East komusubi Ama (demoted)
West komusubi Kisenosato (return)
M1 East Tokitenku (demoted)
M1 West Homasho
M2 East Tochinonada
M2 West Kakuryu
M3 East Hokutoriki
M3 West Kotoshogiku
M4 East Toyohibiki
M4 West West Dejima
M5 East Wakanosato
M5 West Toyonoshima
.....Jonosuke
< Heart Technique Physique 心　技　体　>
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