[sumo]Hatsu Basho Day 13 Rikishi Quotes

[Chisaiyama]

Sumo Forum’s Jonosuke translates the Rikishi Quotes for
Day 13, enjoy:



Kitazakura (Juryo West 11, 4-9) losing to Hakuba by
yorikiri
--------------------------------------------------------
--------------
(Tricked by Hakuba's henka and losing his ninth. 37 year
old, the oldest sekitori looks certain to fall down to
Makushita and unable to hide the shock)
"I can't even find words to describe my sorrow. I will
have no comment today."
(While having his Mage done after the bout, his Tokoyama
dropping a comb.)
"See, even the comb is displaying regret..."

Toyohibiki (4-9) losing to Kimurayma by oshidashi, 11.2
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------
-------------------
(Unable to do sufficient training since he suffered a
left retina detachment and now certain of demotion to
Juryo)
"I haven't been able to do any decent training since
last October. I will be working more and harder so I can
come back up quickly."

Tokitenku (8-5) over Tochinonada by kakenage, 4.4
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------
---------------
(Became only the fourth Makuuchi rikishi to suffer
Makekoshi all six basho in one year last year but
starting out with Kachikoshi at this year's Hatsu Basho)
"Over how many years now? A year? Of course I am happy."
(Apparently always conscious of the losing record)
"You know on TV they keep talking about it all the time.
I was thinking they didn't have to keep mentioning it
every time. It was getting to me so bad last year that I
got too tight every time I was out there."
"I have two more days. If I let myself get satisfied
with this, I will probably get only one rank up."
(Asked if he would be aiming for all Kachikoshi this
year."
"Exactly (a big smile)."

Homasho (10-3) over Hokutoriki by hikiotoshi, 6.9
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------
-------------
(Not pleased with himself despite getting his first
double digit win record since the Haru Basho two years
ago as he won by pulling.)
"I am still far from solid. I have to constantly keep
going with a sumo that can lead into the next level."

Yamamotoyama (7-6) over Dejima by oshidashi, 7.4 seconds
--------------------------------------------------------
----------------
(Getting pushed hard but remained patient and winning at
the end.)
"See, I wanted to show I could stay in there hard too. I
am at a point where I can't afford to say I am exhausted
anymore. I bite into a lemon and then go to bed."

Iwakiyama (7-6) over Bushuyama by yorikiri, 7.9 seconds
--------------------------------------------------------
------------
"Just as I hit him out of tachiai, I felt a sharp pain
running through my neck and I thought that would be the
end of it but I suppose there was an extra power coming
from the child."
(Celebrating the first victory as a brand new father of
baby, his first child and son last night. The baby
weighed 3512 grams and both mother and baby are doing
fine.)
"I am incredibly happy. Like when I got married, it will
give you motivation to try harder. I hope I can keep
competing until he will know what I am doing."
(On his son's name)
"I have been thinking about it for a while but right now
it's a secret."

Kyokutenho (7-6) over Baruto by yorikiri, 9.5 seconds
--------------------------------------------------------
--------
(Winning his sixth straight since Day 8 and one more
step to Kachikoshi)
"Aren't I strong or what? Six straight! My opponent
today wasn't too shabby either. You gotta know there has
to be something going on. You bet something big is
coming."

Baruto (7-6) losing to Kyokutenho
---------------------------------------
(After winning seven straight, suffering five straight
losses)
"I am unable to move at all. Like Mr. Obama, I wonder if
I can make CHANGE at all...."

Geoido (10-3) over Kaio by yorikiri, 5.1 seconds
--------------------------------------------------------
-
(Learned the lesson from last basho when he injured his
left arm getting locked in by Kaio's kotenage by going
with a henka to right to grab the right uwate this
basho.)
"Everything went as I expected. I really feel good about
it too."
(Asked about what changed from the last basho but not
wanting to get into a debate on his tactic.)
"I don't know really."
(Now a strong possibility of return to Sanyaku)
"I am not particularly conscious of it. I have two more
days left, I will do my best."

Harumafuji (7-6) over Takekaze by uwatenage, 10.9
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------
-----------------
(Finally one more win away from Kachikoshi by winning
his fourth straight.)
"Somehow I am still hanging in there. When you are
small, you have to work hard on everything. Anyway now I
have two more days to do it."
"You know I never imagined I would suffer this much
after becoming ozeki. Sumo is so hard."

Chiyotaikai (7-6) losing to Asashoryu by sukuinage, 5.1
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------
-------------------
"It may have looked to you as if I was attacking him
hard. But the fact is that he basically forced me into
that position."
(On facing Hakuho on Day 14)
"I have nothing left to lose anyway so I will go out
just about risking everything I have now."

Asashoryu (13-0) over Chiyotaikai
-----------------------------------------
(Not even being bothered by Chiyotaikai's sharp thrust
to the throat, calmly swinging his injured left arm over
to take care of him by Sukinage. Appears to have his
sumo sense coming back fully now.)
(On his 13 bout winning streak from Day 1)
"It's just a usual thing."
(On a possibility of winning the yusho on Day 14 if he
wins and Hakuho loses.)
"Doesn't matter to me. Why should I care?"

(Despite a ban on outside visitors to the dressing room,
Asashoryu keeps inviting his guests with impunity. This
day he shook hands with his guests Hajime Ishii,
Democrat member of Upper House and Shuzo Matsuoka,
former professional tennis player.

World Chanko Asashoryu restaurant was to open on January
23 but the schedule opening was delayed till February 1.
It will be located in a building across a road from the
Kokugikan's main entrance. The idea of the restaurant
came from his acquaintance who is planning business
opportunities in Los Angeles. Asashoryu gave his
approval on December 26 last year. As a Kyokai by-law
prohibits operating another venture by active members,
the contract stipulates he would be only loaning his
shikona.

The huge store front banner of his World Chanko
Asashoryu restaurant with stylized Ryu went up and it
even impressed Asashoryu himself. The board is 4.2 meter
wide and weighs 50 kg. It is reported that a company
that was involved for special effects in Star Wars
movies also had a hand in the construction and the price
tag was well over a few million yen. The Kyokai has a
rule prohibiting non-accredited news organizations from
doing reporting in the Kokugikan during a hon basho but
apparently they are getting requests from such news
media as CNN to cover Asashoryu's press conference for
the opening.)

Musashigawa oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai
------------------------------------------------------
(On Asashoryu)
"He appears to feel he should be all right once he can
stop his opponent from moving into him."

Tetsuya Chiba (cartoonist, creator of Sumo Manga,
"Notari Matsutaro)
--------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
"I like both Hakuho and Asashoryu personally. But if you
ask me who is more interesting to write a storyline, I
definitely have to say it's Asashoryu. If you create a
Manga on Asashoryu, it would be mesmerizing and
entertaining."

Kotooshu (9-4) losing to Hakuho by hikiotoshi, 6.1
seconds
--------------------------------------------------------
------------
"I had a good tachiai but....In the last two days I'll
try to step forward strong and hit my opponent hard."

Hakuho (12-1) over Kotooshu
-------------------------------------
(Unable to get into a Moro-zashi initially, instead
started going with Tsuppari when Kotooshu's legs
appeared to slip and stepped out of the dohyo.)
"He kind of slipped himself all on his own. Perhaps he
tripped on the tawara. I feel like I picked up a free
win."
(Now his solid sumo in the first half is deserting him
while Asashoryu is showing more vitality. Privately it
is said he has been suffering from lower back pain for a
while.)
"We are in battles of sheer strength so you never know
what will happen. Not yet anyway. But I have a pride as
a yokozuna competing all through the last year. I do
have a strong resolve not let it taken away that easily.
"
(Asked about a golfer he knows well, 17 year old Ryo
Ishikawa appearing in the Masters this year.)
"It's so important to go with a determination that you
would be going for the top. I myself have been doing it
ever since I was a teenager too."

Musashigawa oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai
------------------------------------------------------
(Asked about the yusho could be decided by Day 14)
"I am hoping Hakuho gets a win tomorrow. Certainly it
would make one thrilling finish."

Isegahama oyakata (fomer Yokozuna Asahifuji)
--------------------------------------------------------
"The most important thing in sumo is to prioritize
'heart' first. Because even if you get something as
petty as a thing hooked in your teeth, it will start
bothering you on the dohyo. That's the reason your
composure is so crucial."


Yusho Race Board
----------------
Makuuchi:
No loss - Asashoryu
1 loss - Hakuho
Juryo:　
3 losses - Shimotori, Hakuba
Makushita:
No loss - Fukuoka
(East 21 former High School Yokozuna Ri of Kasugano Beya
lost his bout to Kasugakuni by yorikiri and now both are
at 6-1)
Sandanme:
No loss -
West 30 Aozora (Tagonoura Beya from Osaka, Asahi
University grad)
East 59 Tokizakura (Nakamura Beya from Miyazaki
Prefecture)
Two will face each other in the Yusho Kettei-sen on the
Senshuraku.


Yusho
-----
Jonidan: 7-0
Kaisho (Shikihide Beya from Fukuoka Prefecture)
East 38. Real name: Masao Endo. 26 year old. Dohyo
debut: 1998 Haru Basho. 180 cm, 122 kg. Favorite move:
Hidari-yotsu.
"I am happy. I feel great about winning all my bouts.
The fact that I was able to do enough training did
contribute to my good showing this basho. I　worked hard
to strengthen my abdominal muscles and did basic
exercises like Shiko and that enabled me to win more
bouts.".

Jonokuchi: 7-0
Hisanotora (Tagonoura Beya from Wakayama Prefecture)
East 23. Real name: Nobuyuki Mori, 19 years old. Dohyo
debut:　2006 Hatsu Basho. 177 cm, 135 kg. Favorite
moves: Tsuki, oshi.
"I am really happy. My goal for this year is to
participate in every basho without getting injured. I
will make this as further encouragement to do my very
best in the next basho as well."
(Asked about a rikishi he was aspiring to most)
"It's Tochiazuma oyakata definitely."

--------------------------------

The Kyokai released the schedule of Haru Jungyo on
January 23.

April 5 - Ise Jingu Shrine Ceremonial Offering
April 10 - Yasukuni Shrine Ceremonial Offering
April 11 - Kanagawa Prefecture Fujisawa City (Akibadai
Bunka Gymnasium)
April 18 - Nagano City (M Wave)
April 19 - Tochigi City (Sogo Gymnasium)

Compared to last year when they had 44 Jungyo
tournaments domestically with two foreign tours in Los
Angeles and Mongolia, the Kyokai is saying they are
expecting only around 30 days of the tour dates this
year.

"Obviously the number of tour dates are reflecting the
current economic conditions. Most of the sponsors are
only asking for weekend dates. But with severe economic
conditions we are facing now, we can't really say the
number is too few," Oshima oyakata (former Ozeki
Asahikuni), Kyokai's Jungyo Director explained.



Hal "Chisaiyama" Shaver

極小山