[sumo] [Spoiler] Rikishi Talk Day 1 Aki Basho 2007

[Joe Kuroda]

Goeido (1-0) over Hakurozan by yorikiri, 23.seconcs
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Winning his first Makuuchi bout)
"I am relieved for sure. But I wanted to go on
offensive much quicker."

Kyokutenho (1-0) over Ryuo by yorikiri, 3.4 seconds
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Finally back in Makuuchi after his suspension)
"When you are ranked at a low Makuuchi, you need to
prepare yourself so soon after the Makuuchi dohyo-iri.
So in that sense, it's tougher but you know it's
awfully good to be back up here in Makuuchi."

Toyohibiki (0-1) losing to Miyabiyama by oshidashi,
13.1 seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Pushed out by Miyagiyama)
"He was way too heavy for me to push out of the dohyo.
But at least I got my tachiai in."

Miyabiyama (1-0) over Toyohibiki
----------------------------------------
"I was able to push him with my arms quite a few
times. As well I was able to keep putting pressure on
him. He is in a way like me, going strictly with
oshi-zumo. He moves forward with power and comes out
straight. I admire guys like that."

Takamisakari (1-0) over Iwakiyama by yorikiri, 6.6
seconds
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"It's been quite a while I won going with my own sumo
style. He is heavy so I really had to go against him
the way I did today."
(Now adorned with a new pair of glasses)
"I decided to change my specs. For myself, that's a
drastic move. I tell you when I started wearing the
new pair initially, physically I couldn't keep my
balance at all. I kept tripp all over the place. I
can't even rememberlhow many times I fell down."

Asasekiryu (1-0) over Hokutoriki by yorikiri, 2.7
seconds
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Winning his first bout as a sekiwake)
"I was able to grab his left so I was able to move
forward. On the last Senshuraku, I ended up pulling my
opponent. I told myself I would never ever want to
compete that way again.
"I had a good bout today. Hopefully I can keep going
on like this to a 10 plus win basho."

Aminishiki (1-0) over Kakuryu by oshidashi, 2.4
seconds
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Easily pushing out Kakuryu who can be competitve in
an oshi-zumo as well)
"When I have the good start like this, I get worried
actually. Like I have a tendency to start thinking I
am a real big shot."
"Initially I thought I had to beat him, I cannot lose
to him but then I thought I couldn't afford to think
like that at all. Who do I think I am thinking that
way? Right? And I think that helped me change my
attitude."
(On living in a newly renovated heya building)
"I am (forced to) living a good clean life now." (His
room being next to his shisho, he is worried the
oyakata would know immediately if he comes back home
late).

Tochinonada (0-1) losing to Kotomitsuki by
uwatedashinage, 2.4 seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'He came out really hard that I couldn't do anything.
I think he was aiming to get his right in all the
time."

Kotomitsuki (1-0) over Tochinonada
--------------------------------------------
"I really couldn't put power into my tachiai.
Fortunately I was able to seize the moment to get the
win. "
(On Homasho bout tomorrow)
"I am well aware that if I go with a tachiai like
today, I will have a lot of difficulty. The tomorrow's
opponent is dangerous."
(As an ozeki he was able to enter from the Kokugikan
underground parking lot for the first time today)
"When I went in, I said to myself, 'Wow! It's the
basement.' But then I couldn't figure out how to get
to the dressing room from there."
(Remembering the old Sadogatake oyakata, he wore a
kesho mawashi presented by Dew Soekarno, TV
personality and socialite who is a friend of the old
oyakata's wife. She indicated she wanted him to be the
next yokozuna)
"The old oyakata was a tough teacher But inside the
tough demeanor he had a gentler side. I understand I
have not completed my path yet, I still have a long
way to go."
"I was tense today but compared to the last basho, it
was infinitely better."
(Starting this basho, the Kokugikan shops started
selling Kotomitsuki bento lunch box. By 2:30 PM all
140 boxes were sold out).

Kaio (0-1) losing to Homasho by oshidashi, 4.7 seconds
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Sounding all passive)
"My leg (injured left thigh) is better but I pulled
him in. I couldn't really grab his mawashi. I only had
my fingers in a little bit. If I can get into more
offensive posture..."

Homasho (1-0) over Kaio
----------------------------
(Finally downing Kaio in his third attempt)
"He almost got the right uwate. Before he could have a
good grip, I was able to cut him off. I knew if we got
into a yotsu, I'd never be able to beat him so I
wanted to keep pushing him out. It was a good sumo for
me. I am happy about the win."

Chiyotaikai (1-0) over Kisenosato by hatakikomi, 1.9
seconds
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I couldn't really hit him hard. I just couldn't
position my lower back well. I could feel him wanting
to beat me badly. "

Ama (1-0) over Hakuho by kubinage, 6.6 seconds
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Beating Hakuho after having lost in all six previous
encounters)
"I was really psyched up for this bout as I never got
a win from him. I think I responded to him extremely
well today. I think he may have rushed himself too
much after I slapped him."
(Asked about Asashoryu's suspension)
"All I could do is to go out there and do my sumo.
Because my life depends on it."

Hakuho (0-1) losing to Ama
----------------------------------
(Shouldering the responsibility as a lone yokozuna and
expected to win the yusho)
"I know I needed to have moved out decisively. The
fact that I couldn't means that I need to learn more.
I lost it. But I thought I could have stayed up at the
end little bit more."
(Since the end of World War II, out of 30 yokozuna,
twelve experienced a basho as a lone yokozuna. Out of
the twelve, only five managed to win the yusho. As a
lone yokozuna Yokozuna Kitanoumi in the 1975 Nagoya
basho finished with 9 win and 6 loss record. Hiramaku
Kongo (the current Nishonoseki oyakata) won the
yusho.)

Kitanoumi oyakata, Kyokai chariman
-------------------------------------------
"The basho is all up to how Hakuho does whether it
will be one man running away or several fighting over
it."
(On the first day without suspended Asashoryu)
"I believe we hardly felt his absence. I didn't notice
anything different."
(The musubi had a total of 31 Kensho banners, the
second most on day .)

Takasago oyakata
---------------------
(Returning the Yusho Cup for absent Asashoryu amid
jeers and cheers)
"I was extremetly nervous. The cup was really heavy."
(Asked about Asashoryu)
"Please talk about the current basho."
(The oyakata indicated Asashoryu would start a
hotspring treatement from September 10 at a nearby spa.)

.....Jonosuke 
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