[sumo] Rikishi Talk Day 7 Natsu Basho 2008

[Barbara]

Rikishi Talk Day 7 2008 Natsu Basho (Jonosuke)
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Tosanoumi (3-4) over Kotokasuga by hikiotoshi, 8.4 seconds
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(On his 1,100th Makuuchi appearence)
"I guess I lasted this long because I have blood type B. If you are Type 
B you apparently don't keep stress in your belly."

Toyonoshima (6-1) over Tochinonada by katasukashi, 10.3 seconds
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(Coming back clean shaven after getting beat yesterday)
"Obviously I did not want to shave but at least I didn't lose two 
straight. This one was big for me."

Baruto (1-6) over Kyokutenho by yorikiri, 20.1 seconds
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(On his first win this basho and getting a kensho)
"Well I got only one banner but you gotta have at least one in a basho. 
But then I am just happy I got the win."

Chiyotaikai (3-4) losing to Kotoshogiku by tsukiotoshi, 0.9 seconds
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(Fooled by Kotoshogiku's henka)
"I didn't think he would come out with a henka. It's all my fault for 
not being able to catch up to him. But at the same time it's really a 
shameful exhibition on the sell out day."
"Unless I can turn this around quickly, this could turn out to be the 
worst basho in my life. I can't even see a kachikoshi in horizon. "

Hakuho (7-0) over Miyabiyama by hatakikomi, 3.4 seconds
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(Couldn't get to Miyabiyama's mawashi so slapped him down)
"I was able to down him easily only because I had hit him hard first. It 
was one of those great timing things. I was also moving well."
(On facing Kisenosato tomorrow)
"Well today he had his bout ended rather abruptly didn't he? "

Kumagatani oyakata, Hakuho's oyakata
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(Implying Hakuho's opponent for the dull ending)
"I am sure you will see his best sumo against Kisenosato."

Kaio (4-3) over Ama by oshidashi, 2.1 seconds
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(Downing "hard to catch" Ama quickly. Asked if he felt if he was finally 
getting ouf of funk)
"Heh, heh, heh. I am not even close to displaying a sumo I can get out 
of anything. I need to keep focusing on each and every single day's bout."

Kisenosato (5-2) losing to Kotooshu by okuridashi, 1.6 seconds
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(Told by his shisho to face the ozeki like a man and go with everything 
fair and square but only to get himself taken care of by a henka move 
while his almost habitual Hari-Sashi move failing rahter miserably)
"I came up empty on the Harite. But I never expected his sudden move. I 
never even imagined the ozeki would come out with a henka. But this is 
about winning and losing so I can't say one way or another, can I ?"

Kotooshu (7-0) over Kisenosato
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(After being told by many his sumo has changed for better this basho, 
looking rather ashamed by the way he won today and making a comment 
sounding more and more like an excuse.)
"Actually when he slapped my face, his finger got in my eye so I 
couldn't see anything too well. You know I lost the sight of him. I 
couldn't see where he was or what he was doing really. By the time I 
realized what was happening, I just found myself with the uwate. After 
that it was more like my body was just reponding automatically without 
myself trying to do anything really."
"It just shows you I am moving well this basho. I am really having a lot 
of fun out there."
(One more bout to escape the Kadoban)
"And you have to remind me with that so I can feel more pressure, right? 
I don't want to think about kachikoshi. Today is today and tomorrow is 
tomorrow."

Sadogatake oyakata, Kotooshu's shisho
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"He looks like he is suffering mentally now. Pressure may be getting to 
him, winning seven straight, leading the pack and trying to get out of 
the kadoban. He must be feeling them all now."
"Prior to the basho I told him he has been pushed around a lot because 
he did not have enough weight. I felt he needed to gain 10 to 15 kg. He 
did gain up to 155 kg so he is on the way. I also talked to him about 
returning to the basic fundamental sumo too."

Tatsunami oyakata, commenting on NHK broadcast
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"I can hardly characterized that as a decent sumo."

Makiko Uchidate, YDC member
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(The great yokozuna Futabayama and ozeki Takanohana never even once 
attempted a tachiai henka sumo and even if Kotooshu continues with 
winning sumo, it may come back to haunt him at his yokozuna promotion 
time if it presents itself one day.)
"I figured all along Kotooshu would come out with a henka. I am deeply 
disappointed with his sumo as all he does is just henka, slapping his 
opponent's face and then slapping him down."
"His win will remain this basho but it won't give him any strength. As a 
screenwriter it becomes so apparent that some are only trying to get 
higher ratings too."
"We had great many young crowd here today because it's Saturday. We had 
as good chance as any to appeal to them today. But when you have the 
last three bouts(Kotooshu, Kotoshogiku and Hakuho) in the end like that, 
we just wasted the whole lot of efforts and great opporunity. It gets to 
be dark very quickly."

Asashoryu (6-1) over Kakuryu by yorikiri, 23.4 seconds
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(Bringing himself to Moro-zashi from a position his knees were almost 
touching the ground.)
"It's been a while I got it (Moro-zashi) in, For an instant I thought of 
Tsuri as well but I think it turned out well not to doing anything extra 
hard."
(Told all rikishi on West Side won up to his)
"Really? So I've done well then."
"I feel good physically now. I am having my lower back massaged so it 
won't bother me at all now."
(Talking about his new hobby of photography)
"Hey I got praised for it too. I will bring some photos for you guys to 
see tomoroow."