[sumo] [Spoiler] Rikishi Talk Day 4 Aki Basho 2007 (plus
resolutioon of Press Card fiasco, )
Joe Kuroda
joe_kuroda at yahoo.com
Wed Sep 12 15:48:51 EDT 2007
Kasuganishiki (4-0) over Kitazakura by sukuinage, 10.4
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Winning his fourth straight but forgetting to pick up
his kensho envelope)
"Actually you know the gyoji, he is my senior at the
heya so I was thinking, like please take it for me
(laughs)."
"I am moving and responding against my opponent's
moves so well."
"We just finished the day 4. All I do is to just keep
going out as if I am just a challenger."
Kasugao (4-0) over Ryuo by uwatenage, 14.2 seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------
(On his 300th Makuuchi appearance)
"I am happy about that. And then on the memorable day
like this, I get a win so I am more than happy."
Kyokutenho (4-0) over Takamisakari by uwatenage, 3.0
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(On a four bout winning streak since the start)
"I have been doing a lot of shiko and training hard
during my suspension so I didn't think I'd lost so
much."
"I have to keep on winning when I can. But I hope I
can compete in the last half of Makuuchi soon."
Aminishiki (4-0) over Kotoshogiku by yorikiri, 5.4
seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(Displaying superb series of moves and overwhelming
Kotoshogiku)
"Well I guess I am not doing so badly. I am glad I got
the win though."
"Actually I felt I was going so well that I almost
rushed myself too much. I was moving well there."
"The oyakata's instruction is always 100% you know."
Ajigawa oyakata (former yokozuna Asahifuji),
Aminishiki's shisho
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(On instructing Aminishiki)
"Because with his knee injury, I told him to always
move one step and two steps forward from tachiai."
"As for Kotoshogiku, he holds his arms so tight to his
body, it's almost impossible to put your arm through
to his mawashi. So I told him to start with a thrust
to the throat and then go after him."
Asasekiryu (2-2) over Kisenosato by yorikiri, 21.7
seconds
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(On hearing from a report of Asashoryu starting his
hotspring treatment)
"Really? That's great. The yokozuna introduced me to
the facility when I was injured last year. I am sure
he can really get a good relaxation there."
(On seeing the other sekiwake doing so well)
"I sure think about how he is doing all the time. He
is really motivating me too."
Ama (2-2) losing to Kaio by tsukiotoshi, 7.0 seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------
(Losing even though he pushed Kaio to the edge)
"I really can't stand it. I had to keep moving forward
more."
Kaio (1-3) over Ama
------------------------
"I knew I had to move at any cost. But when I do,
after a little while I feel my leg getting pulled. I
just don't have a good feel in my leg. But I know I
have to keep doing my best."
Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai
--------------------------------------------------
(On Kaio tying the fourth best Makuuchi winning
record)
"I am hoping he ties Taiho's record of 746 wins next."
Homasho (2-2) losing to Kotooshu by yoritaoshi, 4,4
seconds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Losing badly against Kotooshu)
"It was a total loss."
(On hearing Prime Minister Abe's resignation, Abe also
from his home of Yamaguchi Prefecture)
"He became the PM at the wrong time. You can't do much
about it."
(His local fans were hoping for him to win the yusho
and receiving the PM Cup from the prime minister from
Yamaguchi Prefecture)
"Please let him know to do his best if he gets a
chance to be back as a prime minister as I will do my
best to win the yusho at that time."
Kotooshu (3-1) over Homasho
-----------------------------------
(Got a win but still)
"I had my head too low. During the 15 days, you are
getting different opponents all the time. It's really
tough to keep your focus."
Chiyotaikai (4-0) over Hokutoriki by yorikiri, 3.5
seconds
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Displaying his displeasure at Hokutoriki's lack of
Tachiai manners)
"I was on guard for his 'bit down' tachiai so I waited
for him to bring his hands down to the line. But he
never did."
"I was able to stay one step ahead of him. I kept
going after him while trying not to get slapped down.
I have been able to focus well."
"So far I am taking care of each individual bout. I
have to keep reminding myself to do it every day."
Kotomitsuiki (3-1) over Tokitenku by shitatenage, 12.1
seconds
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Not losing two straight after remaining patient
through Tokitenku's leg tricks)
"For a moment I thought I'd lose it."
"I didn't want to get into a Tsuppari bout. I'd
preferred to get inside but I think I am responding
well to the opponent's moves."
"I am relieved not losing two days in a row."
Tochinonada (1-3) losing to Hakuho by sukuinage, 4.1
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(His first yokozuna bout since the 2005 Natsu basho
but to no avail)
"I got completely sukui-naged. I was hoping I could
stay in there little bit longer. ".
Hakuho (3-1) over Tochinonada
------------------------------------
(Displaying a powerful sukinage for his third win)
"I was able to get the right mawashi so I was trying
to raise him up, not letting have the left mawashi. I
think I am doing more or less the same thing."
(On Prime Minister Abe's resignation)
"I was able to talk to him at length when I visited
then PM Koizumi. I heard it on the news at noon. I
really don't understand why he needed to resign at
all."
Takasago oyakata
---------------------
(On Asashoryu starting a hotspring treatment)
"I got a report from there that he has started a
treatment for his elbow and lower back at the
hotspring facility today. My understanding is that he
would be going there daily. Once he goes outside like
this, I am sure things will change for him. I feel
gradually he is making a good progress."
Juryo West Daimanazuru has withdrawn from this basho
after suffering an orbital floor fracture diagnosed to
require one month treatment and rest. He injured his
left eye during Koryu bout on day 3. His opponent on
day 4, Satoyama got a Fusen win. This is his second
kyujo and the first since the 2002 Aki basho.
"He is bleeding from nose and feeling sick," Asahiyama
oyakata (former ozeki Daijyu) said. "If he does not
improve soon he will have to undergo a surgery."
According to the oyakata, Daimanazuri injured his head
and face just prior to the basho as well.
Records:
Kasugao - 300th Makuuchi appearance
Iwakiyama - 200th Makuuchi win
Top 10 Rikishi with most Makuuchi Wins
---------------------------------------------
1. Chiyonofuji 807
2. Kitanoumi 804
3. Taiho 746
4. Musashimaru 706
4. Kaio 706
6. Takanohana 701
7. Takamiyama 683
8. Konishiki 649
9. Akinoshima 647
9. Takanonami 674
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Kyoka chairman Kitaonumi oyakata has returned a
Kyokai's press pass back to Kunihiro Sugiyama, former
NHK announcer after a meeting wtih Mr. Sugiyama and
Sumo Club executives on September 12. Kitanoumi
oyakata requested Mr. Sugiyama to surrender his press
card after Mr. Sugiyama appeared on TV shows as a sumo
commentator and sumo journalist while holding a press
card as a Sumo Press Club honorary membership.
Since the news broke, the Kyokai executives have been
receiving outcries from media outlets and public for
their dictatorial handling of this issue. The Kyokai's
office has had all their 13 phone lines ringing all
morning by irate sumo fans telling them not to
suppress press freedom and silence their critics.
Kyokai office employees were saying they could not get
any work done trying to answer all phone calls.
As a long time member of the Sumo Press Club, Mr.
Sugiyama was given a honorary membership which has
equivalent press privileges as accredited sumo beat
reporters to the Kokugikan and dressing rooms.
"We have issued his press card based on his status as
a Sumo Press Club honorary member but he has been
appearing on TV shows as a sumo commentator and
journalist. We can only continue to provide the
privileges to working reporters or those who keep
their activity strictly as a Sumo Club honorary
member," Kitanoumi oyakata stated.
Mr. Sugiyama responded to the oyakata by saying, "A
misunderstanding resulted from TV producers providing
my title for the shows. I have never called myself a
sumo commentator or journalist. I will be working from
now on as a capacity of Sumo Club honorary member."
Then Kitaonumi oyakata said, "I have no problem with
that," and returned his press card.
The card will enable the holderr the venue access and
entry into the dressing rooms to interview rikishi and
others."
The Kyokai executives may have been especially upset
over his appearance in a TV program which also had
Yorimasa Takeda, a journalist who has been publishing
a series of articles alleging yaocho bouts by
Asashoryu and highly critical of the Kyokai conduct.
Mr. Sugiyama was also known to have nodded in
agreement with another guest's opinion that the Kyokai
executives should have had lawyers and other experts
present in the meeting when they decided Asashoryu's
suspension and penalty.
Kitanoumi oyakata said he did not request personnally
to have the card from Mr. Sugiyama but
he initially directed the head in charge of issuing
press access to have his card revoked. "If Mr.
Sugiyama had something to say about this, he should
have come over and spoke to me personally," Kitanoumi
oyakata added. "However from now on if we deem an
individual to be violating the principles of the
honorary membership, then we will contact the Press
Club directly," Kintaoumi oyakata said.
Sumo Club "Kaiyu" (Honorary membership status)
---------------------------------------------------------
To qualify, a reporter must be with the club for over
10 years and over the age of 55 years old. He will
submit his application to the club and the club
executives may approve the membership based on past
contribution and merit.
Mr. Sugiyama's comment: Today I bought a ticket to
enter the Kokugikan. We were planning to ask the
Chairman to review the video with us to ask him what
he found to be so objectionable but the situation
changed suddenly overnight for better. Perhaps it was
my oversight not to think of all the implications so
from the next time I'd insist to be known as a Sumo
Club honorary member. After all I am one of the
Kyokai's cheerleaders. And as I did not want to cause
any more troubles or inconvenience to anyone, I have
decided to go along with them today and have my card
return to me.
Kitanoumi oyakata's comment: We do accept criticisms
against the Kyokai sincerely. We are more than aware
of Mr. Sugiyama's contributions for many years. What
we want him and other members to know is that they
keep clear of the dividing line set for the honorary
member.
The oyakata was further questioned by reporters about
why he as the Kyokai chairman did not apologize to
sumo fans about the whole uproars in his opening basho
address on last Sunday:
"Fundamentally it was the problem solely triggered by
Asashoryu himself. We, the Kyokai, already handed down
the penalty and have taken care of the matter. So why
should I had to apologize for it now?
.....Jonosuke
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