[sumo] L.A Sumo In News

[Gillogly, James]

--- Kosekiryu wrote:
> Many thanks for posting those!  I especially like the ones where you
> captured the salt in the air.
> 
Glad you liked the photos. It was a bit funny when the shimpan got 
covered with salt from an especially enthusiastic toss.  I had 
never seen a yobidashi sweep anything but a dohyo before, till 
then. :-)  Had I been thinking, I would've snapped a photo...


> However, doesn't one of them show Asashoryu in shorts and a shirt?  
> He is certainly bedecked properly in a photo a few frames later, 
> but I hope this doesn't cause a stink.  I don't much follow the ins 
> and outs of the scandals, and I have to say I really like that guy.  
> His manners in the ring here in L.A. and in Vegas a few years ago 
> seemed exemplary to me, and he certainly showed more fighting spirit
> than Hakuho (imho). 
>
Yes, shorts & shirt (but notice, a nice topknot).  It appeared he 
got locked out of his room after golfing. He quickly came down to 
catch the bus, and was dressed as you would expect. There were not 
too many folks from the press around, so probably no stink. 

As for Asashoryu's manner... He was as nice as could be from my
point of view.  He paused for photos with fans, signed autographs & 
even endured numerous taps on the shoulder as he was seated & 
awaiting his next bout (something, I imagine would be unthinkable at
a hon-basho). At one point, while waiting for his bout, he spotted
a little boy in the crowd, who was holding a camera, and gave him 
a big smile & wave.  What I saw was a Yokozuna who truly looked 
like he enjoys the fans & wanted to be part of the whole event - 
a far cry from the portrait the press tries to paint. I suspect 
that the whole deal that was proviously reported on this list as 
to Asashoryu's attitude at the welcome party was a bit overblown 
by the press (eager for a bad boy?), too.  

Hakuho appeared a bit sleepy. That could be from jet-lag, but I 
suspect that his baby, who came along for the trip, may have been 
needing some attention in the middle of the night.  In all, every 
one of the rikishi were very approachable - talking with fans, 
taking photos, etc. The sole exception, that I saw, was for a certain
Ozeki who likes yogurt.  Perhaps jet-lag or late nights, but 
definitely a change from Vegas.
 

> I keep forgetting many of the terms, but before the match when both
> yokozuna come out and do a traditional opening set of movements, that
> thing...I recall reading here that Asashoryu and Hakuho have different
> styles, but I have a question for the experts.  Back when we got some
> ESPN coverage many years ago, I seem to recall liking Takanohana's
> better than Akebono's, by a long shot, and I don't think I ever got to
> see Musashimaru.  But my recollection of Takanohana's is that it is
> better than either of the two current ones.  Is that just selective
> remembering, or might other people agree?
> 

The term you're looking for is yokozuna dohyo-iri.  Asashoryu
& Hakuho have different styles.  Asashoryu does a Unryu style, which
features a single loop in the tsuna and a one-handed style (defensive).
Hakuho does a Shiranui style dohyo-iri, which has a tsuna with 2 loops
and a two-handed style (offensive). Supossedly, there is a bit of bad
luck associated with Hakuho's style (though he seems to have overcome
that jinx). 

I'm a bit biased (note my shikona), but I always enjoyed Takanohana's 
style of dohyo-iri. He was able to get that leg so high...  Dale's 
excellent site has a few dohyo-iri videos, including Musashimaru's &
Takanohana's. (http://www.banzuke.com/~movies/yokodohyoiri.html)


> And from a relative newcomer to all of this, as I only get bits and
> pieces of things, I have to say that if any of you have wondered about
> going to any of these, my suggestion is that you run, don't 
> walk, to get tickets for any future ones.  The weekend was FABULOUS.  
>
I couldn't agree more.  heck, I was grinning from ear-to-ear the whole 
time. 


> I know it's not like a real Basho, but to be able to see the taiko 
> drums, and opening ceremony, and the variety of top notch rikishi 
> battle multiple times in just 3 hours is great. 
>
Drums! Those Drums!  Being 2 meters from a taiko drum is a bit too 
close for my taste...  Seriously, though, it is an real treat to see 
multiple bouts in a single day. The kids'- and comic- sumo peformances
were a nice touch, too. 


> Oh, and there were cracks in the sides of the dohyo--I don't recall
> seeing that before!  
> 
Yep, they're usually there.  Just as long as the thing doesn't 
collapse...  It was nice to see that they used real clay, as opposed
to the carpet on the side of the dohyo at Vegas.

Cheers, 
Takanorappa
(gushing, too)