[sumo] [Spoiler] Rikishi Talk Day 14 Aki Basho 2007

[Joe Kuroda]

Wakakirin (8-6) over Katayama by hatakikomi
---------------------------------------------------------
(Getting kachi-koshi as Juryo West 2 and a possibility
of Makunouchi debut in the next basho.)
"Obviously I cannot get it out of my mind. I really
wanted to get the kachi-koshi yesterday as it was my
birthday. I guess I am not the one to make a news
around here."

Ryuo (3-11) losing to Tamakasuga by tsuki-otoshi, 2.1
seconds
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Losing his 11th)
"I know I will fall down to Juryo. I just want to
start all over again now."

Yoshikaze (10-4) over Roho by oshi-dashi, 7.5 seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------
(Getting a double digit wins in front of his shisho
doing TV commentary today)
"I've done it. The oyakata pushed me back from the TV
broadcast box."

Takekaze (9-5) over Tochiozan by oshi-dashi, 4.2
seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(Stopping his losing streak and getting his ninth win)
"Even though I have been losing, I was moving forward
well so I felt there was no problem. I never lost my
confidence."

Takamisakari (7-7) losing to Toyohibiki by oshi-dashi,
2.6 seconds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Losing decisively to Toyohibiki in their first
encounter)
"For some reason I haven't been able to do well
against recent newcomers. But I still don't want to
lose to these young kids yet. I'd say, 'Watch out'.
The next time I will go against them with no mercy."

Toyohibiki (7-7) over Takamisakari
------------------------------------------
(Approaching the senshuraku with renewed spiriit after
evening his record to 7 wins and 7 losses)
"I was able to stop him from moving. I didn't have too
much left to back down so I was lucky."

Kotoshogiku (9-5) over Kakizoe by oshi-taoshi, 2.6
seconds
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(Notching his ninth win as Maegashira 3)
"After the Kyushu basho we have a Jyungyo stop at my
home town (Yanagawa City Fukuoka Prefecture). So
considering all that I really want to do well this
basho. Because this will be a stepping stone to the
next plateau."

Homasho (8-6) over Kakuryu by yorikiri, 6.2 seconds
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Getting kachi-koshi and a possibility of Sanyaku
return)
"I moved out front with everthing I had. I am not
satisfied with my performance this basho. I still have
one more bout. I will go out with full concentration."
"Since I got promoted to Makunouchi, I didn't have a
kachi-koshi in Tokyo so I am happy about the today's
win. But I still have so much more I have to do. I
want to build my form while I am going after my
opponent."

Kyokutenho (11-3) over Ama by yori-taoshi, 4.1 seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(With so many reporters coming over to see him)
"Hey what happened? No, no I am not winning the
yusho."
(Beating Ama, also with three losses and still on the
yusho race board. Aiming to get 12 wins in Makunouchi
for the first time.)
"Ama has been energetic and has power. I didn't think
I could get a win actually. I feel really good.
Personally I think I've overachieved myself. More than
anything I want to get 12 wins, now that I am here at
this point."

Ama (10-4) losing to Kyokutenho
----------------------------------------
(Losing in the battle of three loss rikishi)
"Ah...I wasted such a good opportunity. From the
tachiai on, there was nothing good about it. If this
was a training session, I'd asked to have one more. I
figured I could stay in even he came out pressuring me
hard but I couldn't catch up to him. I am in a bit of
shock now."

Aminishiki (9-5) over Toyonoshima by hatakikomi, 2.1
seconds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Finally stopping his losing streak at five)
"I was on such a long losing streak, I was beginning
to worry they might even cancel my kachi-koshi. If I
kept losing, I'd have gone into a severe depression. I
was even thinking of going back to my home in Aomori
and go for a hotspring treatment."

Kasugao (10-4) over Kotooshu by kote-nage, 1.6 seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(Even though unleashing a powerful kote-nage to down
Kotooshu, not exactly happy with his performance)
"It wasn't a good sumo you know. I got lucky that I
was able to wrap my arm around to get a koto-nage. It
just so happened to go well today. But it really is
good to face a top rank rikishi."

Asasekiryu (8-6) over Dejima by hatakikomi, 3.4
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(Getting his kachi-koshi and fulfilling his duty as a
heya head in absence of Asashoryu)
"I am really pleased with my efforts. Actually I am
relieved. Even though you are facing the same
opponents, you feel like you cannot afford to lose to
lower rank rikishi once you are a Sanyaku."
"Winning against Kotooshu (on day 11) was huge for me
as at that point I was on a three bout losing streak."

Kotomitsuki (9-5) over Chiyotaikai by hatakikomi, 5.0
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Asked if he was nervous in front of Aiko-sama as the
Crown Prince, his wife and daughter were in attendance
as it's well known that Aiko-sama is a big sumo fan
and big Kotomtisuki fan.)
"Not really. But it's been a year since she was here,
isn't it? I won the last time too. I really have a
great winning perentage though with her around."
"As ozeki my first objective was to get a double digit
record. To accomplishi it, I have to move forward,
that's the only thing I am concerned about."

Chiyotaikai (9-5) losing to Kotomitsuki
----------------------------------------------
(Losing five straight and facing Hakuho tomorrow)
"My opponent vanished coming out of tachiai. I figured
he'd come out really hard. "
"I am exhausted already but there is one more bout. I
have to do the best I can. Tomorrow I will try to
squueze out any remaining power I still have."

Hakuho (12-2) over Goeido by tottari, 3.4 seconds
----------------------------------------------------------
(Placed in a no-win situation as he was expected to
win by everyone)
"I hated to face him today. To be honest I really
didn't think they would put me against him. Like
everyone was cheering for the young newcomer, you
know.
I thoght he was more flexible than I imagined and
lighter. I think I was moving well. In a way I think I
am relieved somewhat."
(Since the 1949 Natsu basho when the 15 day basho was
instituted, the only yokozuna who ever lost to a
Makunouchi debut rikishi was Kotozakura who lost to
Oonishiki at the 1973 Aki basho.)
"We have a good crop of promising rikishi coming up
like Tochiozan. But personally I have been following
Goeido since he was promoted to Juryo."
"As yokozuna I have to fulfill my responsibility for
the full 15 days."

Goeido (10-4) losing to Hakuho
--------------------------------------
(Facing a yokozuna as a Makunouchi debut rikishi for
the first time in 12 years but got rolled around the
dohyo by Hakuho)
"It was as if he absorbed all my power in. I think I
hit him well but after that I didn't even think of him
grabbing my arm. But this was a great experience for
me. I didn't feel as tense as I thought. I am happy
that I was able to appear in the Musubi-No-Ichiban
(the last Makunouchi bout). I felt I had the best
tachiai today. I have one more bout left. I go with my
full focus on."

Kitanoumi oyataka, Kyokai chairman
------------------------------------------
(On Goeido)
"He has performed exceptionally well up to this point.
I want to commend him for the job well done in
building up the yusho race and helped to contribute in
having an exciting finish."
(On Hakuho)
"I know he felt not easy to go against the newcomer as
he has no idea how Goeido would come out. I am sure it
must have been pretty nerve wrecking for him. It must
have been tough."
"This is his first yusho opportunity as yokozuna. He
must be thinking he has to win the yusho at all
costs."

Kokonoe oyakata, chief dohyo judge
-------------------------------------------
(On Hakuho)
"It's never easy going against a Makunouchi debut
rikishi. He is far from perfect but he should realize
that the bout he had today is his reality."


Yusho Race Board
----------------------
Makunouchi:
2 losses - Hakuho
3 losses - Kyokutenho

Former sekiewake and Makushita West 2 Takanowaka (real
name: Yuki Ozaki from Nagasaki Prefecture), 31, of
Naruto beya announced his retirement and forwarded the
paper to the Kyokai on September 22. He will not be
staying with the Kyokai.

Takanowaka made his dohyo debut at the 1992 Haru basho
and made Juryo debut at the 1999 Natsu basho and made
Makunouchi debut at the Kyushu basho the same year.
Using his 190cm tall frame to his advantage, he made
it to sekiwake and had two basho as sekiwake. He also
had two basho as komusubi and was seen as a future
ozeki one time.

Takanowaka has been suffering from knee injuries (torn
cartilages) and this basho he lost four bouts and
withdrew. He had three Kanto-sho awards in his 34
Makunouchi basho. He had a career 505 win, 470 losses
and 66 kyujo.

++++++++++

Ozeki Kaio has indicated he would not participate in
the Aki Jyungyo tour. He has injured his left thigh
and withdrew from the current basho on day 6.

"He said he would not be joining the Jyungyo until he
could move around without any problem," Tomozuna
oyakata, his shisho said. "He will need more time
before he can resume training. Even after he recovers
from his injury, it will take some more time before he
can regain muscle strength."

Kaio is currently receiving treatments in Tokyo.


.....Jonosuke 
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