[sumo] [spoiler] Stunning developments

[Barbara]

   Even I am more than a bit shocked.  I watched over and over. In the 
Kotooushuu-Asashouryuu match, the telling moment was the smile.  By that 
I mean Asashouryuu's smile at the end.  You've possibly noticed there 
are two ways that A. reacts after losing.  One, is angry - angry at 
himself mostly.  If someone is angry at oneself, it is because they feel 
they could have done better.  That implies that they felt they should 
have won, but just didn't execute their sumo to their own satisfaction. 
When he is angry you can see it in his scowl, his stride, and his 
perfunctory (if that) bow. The other reaction A. has is a smile. When he 
smiles, it means "you got me that time".  He doesn't necessarily blame 
himself for the loss.  Instead A. appears to be acknowledging that his 
opponent took him down fairly and that A's sumo was actually beaten that 
day.  That's the smile I mean.  That was the smile on his face after 
Kotooushuu forced him out in a match in which the big Bulgarian kept his 
composure and remembered to keep his knees deeply bent until he had an 
unbreakable grip.  What a moment!  Now K. has a decent shot at the 
Junyuusho, and indeed the yuusho itself - depending on what happens 
against Hakuho tonight.

   The other smile was Kotooushuu's, but it was delayed.  He kept his 
face solemn until he was off the hanamichi, then he grinned and shook 
the hand of someone, possibly Sadogatake stablemaster (former) 
Kotonowaka.  That showed good form on his part!  It might also indicate 
who has been supplying him with the key coaching which has paid off so 
well this tournament.  If so, the handshake meant more than 
"congratulations" it also meant "you were right!"

Barbara Murasakihana