[sumo] [spoiler] Rikishi Talk Basho 4 Day 11

[Barbara]

Rikishi Talk Nagoya Day 11 (Jonosuke)

Hokutoriki (1-10) over Wakanoho by hikiotoshi, 1.6 seconds
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(The 11 bout losing streak finally coming to an end)
"It's not that I wasn't really concerned about winning or losing or 
anything but I felt as long as I have been going out hard every single 
day, I could have accepted losing all the bouts and could have perfectly 
lived with it."

Toyohibiki (8-3) over Tamanoshima by oshidashi, 5.3 seconds
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(Winning his seventh consecutive bout and getting kachikoshi)
"I am staying so calm that I can even get scared of myself."
(During his winning streak, he stayed at his heya in evenings so that 
his luck would not stop but he went out last night to check the Nagoya's 
busy night scenes.)
"I started feeling maybe it's all OK now. Actually I couldn't stand it 
any longer so I had to go out and enjoy a bit you know."

Toyonoshima (7-4) over Futeno by yorikiri, 24.6 seconds
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(Almost getting to kachikoshi in his second time around as komusubi and 
hoping to see his name appearing on the banzuke ahead of his rival next 
basho)
"Just getting one more win and if (Sekiwake) Kotoshogiku ends up getting 
makekoshi..."

Kisenosato (3-8) losing to Asasekiryu by shitatenage, 26.4 seconds
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(Suffering makekoshi already on Day 11 after recording 10 wins last 
basho and was aiming for sekiwake this basho. A habitual bad habit of 
Hari-sashi often seen recently led to his downfall again. Unable to hide 
his shock and make any comment.)
"....."

Kotomitsuki (8-3) losing to Chiyotaikai, hatakikomi, 5.7 seconds
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(Losing his third and betraying all the expectations placed on him by 
almost everyone)
"I was just thinking about hitting hard out of tachiai....I don't think 
the flow was bad...but"
(No more responses to any questions)
"....."

Chiyotaikai (8-3) over Kotomitsuki
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(Seizing a win in "Away" bout and escaping his 12th Kadoban, the most in 
sumo history, by getting kachikoshi. Doing it so often, getting used to 
supplying comments to reporters)
"Thank you, thank you. Thank you all again. Finally. I managed to do it 
once more. But I was just so tensed up there. This has been all tiring 
as you might have guessed by now.""
"I heard the calls (of Kotomitsuki) and they were so loud too(in the 
sold out arena on a weekday). Obviously this isn't my local basho and it 
was like a big away game. But I figured there were lot of people back in 
Tokyo and home in Kyushu who were supporting me and watching me on TV."
(On facing Hakuho)
"Let me make it clear to you guys. Tomorrow I won't let him have it his 
way like he does usual. I will show him something."

Kaio (7-4) over Tochinonada by yorikiri, 3.1 seconds
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"I have been able to get into my own form more often this basho. I also 
feel I am moving better."
(On tying the great Yokozuna Taiho's Makuuchi winning record of 746)
"I am not really concerned about any records. Right now the most 
important thing for me is to come in here, all prepared and show good 
solid sumo."
"There is no point in thinking about records during a basho. You have 
all the time to look at them after you leave your active career."
(Still keep going on while suffering through a myriad of chronic injuries)
"I accept them. You know everything won't return to what they were 
before unfortunately. If I can go out with, maybe around 60 or 70% 
condition, I am all satisfied."

Tomozuna oyakata, Kaio's shisho
----------------------------------------
(Coming to aid of his deshi sounding more and more like a broken "record")
"To reach the significant milestones in your career is something the 
fans have been wishing for too. I am hoping they could all enjoy seeing 
him accomplish and achieve more goals as he goes on."

Takanohana oyakata, chief dohyo judge
----------------------------------------------
(On Kaio)
"Despite carrying injuries all over his body, I am really impressed that 
he is doing so well."

Ama (7-4) losing to Hakuho by kimedashi, 2.6 seconds
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(Messing up his tachiai after trying to get Hakuho to jump out early 
twice and failing)
"For the third time around all I could think about was to get my timing 
matched with his and I couldn't even think about the bout anymore. I 
wasn't even thinking about hitting him hard. Obviously I need to educate 
myself more."

Hakuho (11-0) over Ama
-----------------------------
(No problem with Ama's taichiai antics and remained calm throughout)
"It's obvious that as a yokozuna you really can't afford to keep losing 
to the same rikishi. And you all know how sticky he can be if you let 
him. He has an ability, you know, extraordinary talent all of his own. I 
basically tried to stay calm. I had a good flow."
(Asked if he is up to winning all his remaining bouts this basho)
"If you put it that way, I guess I can get such a feeling."
(On a possibility of deciding on the yusho on Day 12, the earliest day 
since the introduction of 15 day basho system.)
"Oh. The earliest? Is that true? That sounds good but then we are not 
there yet you know. It's still a way to go."
(The great Yokozuna Futabayama won the yusho at the 1939 May Basho on 
Day 12 of a 15 day basho but at the time the rikishi with highest rank 
won the yusho and the other three rikishi with three losses were all 
lower ranked and they had no chance of winning the yusho at that point.)

Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai
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(On the bout today)
"Hakuho didn't go deep in the mawashi today. It helped him to perfect 
the execution that much more. He exploited a typical weakness of light 
weight rikishi so well."
(Without another yokozuna present and leading by three wins)
"He is so steady. There is so much a gap separating him and others)

Kumagatani oyakata, Hakuho's shisho
--------------------------------------------
(Implying Ama is not even close to the level of Hakuho)
"Don't tell me Ama is Hakuho's rival. Simply not true."

Takanohana oyakata
------------------------
(On Hakuho)
"So it's possible he would win it all on Day 12. He displayed the real 
sold yokozuna sumo today."


Yusho Race Board
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Makuuchi:
0 loss - Hakuho
3 losses - Kotooshu, Kotomitsuki, Chiyotaikai, Toyohibiki
Juryo:
2 losses - Kitataiki

Record:
Kaio - 746th Makuuchi win (tied with Taiho as the third most in sumo 
history)
Tosanoumi - 1119 Makuuchi appearance. Pulling ahead of Takanonami as the 
ninth most in sumo history.

Top 10 Most Makuuchi Bout Winning Rikishi
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1. Chiyonofuji - 807
2. Kitanoumi - 804
3. Taiho - 746
4. Kaio - 746 (active)
5. Musashimaru - 706
6. Takanohana - 701
7. Takamiyama - 683
8. Konishiki - 649
9. Akinoshima - 647
9. Takanonami - 647