[sumo] [spoiler] Rikishi Talk Basho 4 Day 06

[Barbara]

Rikishi Talk Nagoya Day 06 (Jonosuke)

  Kimurayama (5-1) over Tamanoshima by okuridashi, 13.9 seconds
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(Notching his fifth win in front of his shisho, Dohyo judge, Kasugano 
oyakata, former Sekiwake Tochinowaka)
"I looked at him after Tochiozan lost his bout and his face looked 
pretty scary. It made me more determined."

Takamisakari (3-3) over Kokkai by hikiotoshi, 2.2 seconds
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(Getting his record even)
"Once we get into the middle rounds, we start experiencing more feeling 
of exhaustion. But for myself every single day is my 'climax' day so I 
can only go all out with everything I have."

Miyabiyama (5-1) over Tochinonada by oshidashi, 13.0 seconds
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(Figuring no need to face the top ranked rikishi ranked at M5 this basho 
but unexpected withdrawal by Asashoryu, may force him to face them again)
"You know I was thinking of finishing off this bahso as quietly as 
possible but now this happens. Woes is me..."

Kotomitsuki (5-1) over Toyonoshima by yorikiri, 2.0 seconds
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(Having done a Matta twice against Toyonoshima but had no trouble once 
started.)
"Normally he would put his hands down first so I couldn't get into my 
rhythm. I was concerned about him getting my mawashi if I went in to get 
his mawashi. I thought I'd rather want to keep pushing him without even 
getting the mawashi."
(Now with Asashoryu's withdrawal and his heya's Kotooshu's yokozuna 
chance diminished, the attention gets shifted over to him as the local 
hero).
"Oh I doubt it. In three days they will be forgetting all about me."

Sadogatake oyakata, Kotomitsuki's shisho
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On Kotomitsuki
"Contrary to what he may profess, I have a feeling he has within himself 
saying, 'Perhaps I can do it too'."

Ama (5-1) losing to Kotoshogiku by yoritaoshi, 5.8 seconds
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(Losing his first this basho against another sekiwake)
"It was my perfect loss. I was late getting out of tachiai. I have no 
complaint to make whatsoever. I lost today but I will be facing him 
again and again dozen of times in future. All I can say is that I am 
really looking forward to the encounter with him the next basho."

Kotoshogiku (3-3) over Ama
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(Not getting psyched out by his opponent's hard stares prior to the bout 
and proceeded to follow business as usual as his past record of 12 wins 
and four losses against Ama proves.)
"Oh, he does that stare always but it will never work on me. I just kept 
my cool."
"He is one of the opponents I hate to lose the most. The bout like this 
one is a real confidence builder."

Kotooshu (4-2) over Kisenosato by yorikiri, 2.7 seconds
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(Freed from the pressures?? showing his overwhelming power against 
powerful Kisenosato)
"I went forward and went after him quickly. Once you are moving forward 
your whole body follows."

Chiyotaikai (4-2) over Aminishiki by hatakikomi, 4.0 seconds
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(Getting his fourth win by pulling in his opponent)
"The result speaks for itself. At this point in my life I can't afford 
to say it's a bad or good sumo or whatever."

Hakuho (6-0) over Futeno by tsukiotoshi, 1.1 seconds
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(On the bout today)
"The opponent came way too low so it ended up like the way it did."
(Not showing even a slight sign of weakness since Day 1 and on the top 
all by himself)
"Well, isn't it what expected of me?"
(On Asashoryu's kyujo)
"I was so surprised when I heard about it. It appeared that mentally his 
will to win was not in harmony with his body."
"Anyway it's not that he retired or anything so sooner or later I will 
be facing him again. I am hoping he recovers from injury quickly."

Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai
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(On Hakuho)
"I feel he is keeping his lower back too high but as a yokozuna he 
should prepare himself to finish the basho without any loss."

Asashoryu (3-3) losing to Wakanosato by Fusen
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(Diagnosed with left elbow ligament damage requiring three weeks of rest.)
"It's regrettable and I should be apologizing to the fans. This is the 
same area which I hurt two years ago. When I woke up this morning, I 
experienced so much pain that I knew I was in no condition to go back 
again today. I will try to recover from it without rushing too much and 
make best efforts to come back by the start of summer jungyo season."

Takasago oyakata, Asashoryu's shisho
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(On Asashoryu)
"I will get him to focus on the treatment in Nagoya and prepare himself 
to participate in the summer jungyo (Aug 5 -17). Both physically and 
mentally he has been a real mess this basho."
(On his possible return to Mongolia after the basho)
"Well at this point I can't tell you anything about what may or may not 
happen after the basho."

A unnamed senior oyakata
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(On Asashoryu's return to Mongolia)
"He should never be permitted to go back to Mongolia to treat this 
injury. That should be out of question. I urge Kitanoumi oyakata to show 
more leadership in this area."

Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai
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(On Asashoryu)
"It's natural when a yokozuna keeps missing winning the yusho more and 
more, he will be judged more harshly. He will need to act with more 
urgency than ever before. He will need to put on the mawashi constantly 
and keep training so that he would not lose his muscle mass or the 
result will not be there."