Takamizakura

Also, does the Japanese press have the same disdain for Uchidate? Just curious.

Is it just me, or has just about every sport in the news lately mentioned something about getting rid of the old guard in their respective governing bodies? (Showing respect...) (Namely tennis, English football, sumo... what else am I missing?)

I really hope that this is the case, but it's hard to be optimistic in sumo's current state. Even though I only started watching Sumo this March, it's been made loud and clear from online pundits and NHK Eng/Jpn commentators that this has been an annus horribilis in their year-end roundups. Previously, I did think Asa's punishment was right, but the JSA reaction over Tokitaizan's death & the still ongoing investigations has made me rethink the fairness of Asa's suspension/witch hunt. And going back to Sasanishiki's quote, I think Uchidate's long-range vision should also include a rethink on getting injured rikishi to return competing ASAP. When I saw Baruto's great performance in Kyushu, I felt sorry for his future prospects in the top division since there seems to be no incentive to have surgery on his lower body. And Takamisakari w/a hairline fracture returning from kyujo to avoid Juryo was a desperate move, and should be made unnecesary IMO.

There was this Takamisakari DVD released in 2004: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cv4a-kwhr/taka...i/goods/01.html I'm trying to find a place to order it from, and emailed White Rabbit Press' special ordering dept. to see if they could source a copy, but they said it was sold out. I've Googled and found several shops like Tsutaya & Kinokyniya that list the DVD, but I can't figure out if they actually still have copies in stock. There's also a listing on amazon.co.jp from a Marketplace seller, but they're asking double the retail price. Would someone be able to help me hunt down a place to order from, or at least find a in-stock link to pass to White Rabbit Press? Thanks in advance (Shaking head...)

Thanks for your work rounding up the quotes. It's the first thing I read after watching the matches on TV.

Very entertaining & well-edited. Thanks for uploading it Kinta! One question: was there any discussion about the swimming shorts the guys wore on the beach? I recently watched the Junk Sports sumo special, where they wore mawashi on someone's boat in Hawaii because (I think) they didn't want to get tan lines from regular beach shorts. But if I remember correctly, they also showed Aminishiki wearing board shorts when he was surfing... (Tears forming...)

Clips from NHK's Sunday Sports the other night: Hakuho interview part 1: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=W1jjDx7e--I Hakuho interview part 2: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fn-wzaQ8w9E Special prize winners: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Xql1QB9HraE My Japanese isn't good enough to understand the Hakuho interview, but still worth watching, particularly for the appearance of his wife and daughter in the show. Would someone be kind enough to translate parts of it?

Hi Fay, Great photos as always, but FYI I got a some broken links of pics from some of the above posts, post #20 in particular.

I second Ama at 13-2; he seems safe, no?

Is it just me, or does the gyoji in Robo~Kaiho look like he's holding a gun?

I'm more worried that calling him "Mickey" wouldn't be as fun, or make any sense if the name change happens. (Whistling...)

A little late, but this was recorded when I was away in Japan: http://youtube.com/watch?v=MFpOQuo2fWU It's from NHK's News Today 30 Minutes, so it's all in English. Nice recap by Hiro Morita (one of the NHK English sumo commentators) of the tournament & prizes awarded, though. Enjoy!

(I'm not 100% sure if it was Musashimaru was in the NHK English commentary box w/Ross Mihara today, so please correct me if I'm wrong!) Towards the end of the NHK English broadcast Musashimaru commented the above regarding Hakuho's imminent promotion. It's obvious Hakuho will have to prove he is worthy of hacking it at Yokozuna, but Musashimaru said from his experience on his own promotion that this will be more difficult than getting there. It's an interesting thought... I'm not aware of other sports where the top rank is a demotion-free zone--notwithstanding who is Yokozuna East/West, etc--but there seemed so be so much pressure going into this basho for Hakuho. Psychologically, he must be relieved to get it 3rd-time-lucky, and will hopefully compete with a new & strenghtened spirit. We'll see in July (Sign of approval...) In the meantime, what a better way to celebrate the promotion than going to Hawaii for an exihibition & inaugural dohyo-iri??? Even better if wife & daughter can join him :)

Hi everyone, I started watching Osumo from the March basho in Osaka this year, but I only found out about Sumoforum today. I've been fortunate to be able to watch the English-language commentary on UK's JSTV in the UK, and now I'm hooked (my husband is slowly coming around, too!). The only other sport I'm into watching is tennis, so I admire how so much drama & skill can happen during one sumo match. I must admit I also enjoy the gossipy/celebrity aspects of the sport as well. If they made a sumo Top Trumps, I could probably talk myself into buying a set :-P Hopefully I can make it to Japan for a basho, but in the meantime I'll just shout at my TV lots!

And also the first set of National Geographic man boobs, too.

Robo needs to start a blog, complete with the thousands of emoticons from Sumoforum :-)

Mine was JSTV showing "only" the last 2 hours of each day's bouts. I suspect the NHK sumo broadcasts have some sort of feature at the start of the broadcast, plus I don't get to learn about the up-and-comers unless it's someone as impressive as Baruto. Anyone know how long the NHK broadcasts are in full?

Top pics, well done! :-)

Thanks for the photos! They really capture the festive mood Hakuho's family must be having!!

Just uploaded this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWGkpe0CgEw Recap of Hakuho's run the past 2 weeks from NHK's News 7 (English audio from Ross Mihara). Nice summary of his wins, and includes quotes from Mongolian fans, the procedure for yokozuna promotion by the Sumo Association, and clips of Hakuho in various states of happiness :) Enjoy! Ironically, Youtube decided to thumbnail the video with Asashoryu's face (Sign of approval...)

I can't wait either! Hakuho looks like a man on a mission every day in this tournament, so focused. Fingers crossed for a straightforward promotion (after Day 14, hopefully).

Yeah, like aderechelsea said, the tachi-ai was almost nonexistent. The fall must've really tw*tted Asa because he looked like a completely different man today, especially after his first failed attempt to twist out Kaio. No sign of his famed quickness in today's match. Can't help but think his mental strength has been compromised, not helped by his physical injuries. Also, can't help but think that Chiyotaikai's win yesterday was more impressive/had more finesse than Kaio's today. But a win's a win.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! (Showing respect...)

I dig the sumo man-bag action. Is there a name for them, or are they just bundled-up cloth?