Mark.Buckton

something of a coup for Tochiazuma getting so many up to Tamanoi.

he is into alternative forms of medicine.

"Watching keiko at the old heya was difficult, but this day even tourists were welcome." never had a problem.

Ibaragi, Ibaraki.

They used to have non-sekitori running back and to up the stairs to the communal room just at the back of these weights.

pounding mochi - in Feb or later? Going on just down the road from me this morn with the Sakaigawa lads.

not exactly Matsudo proper and was always a tricky one to get to - station wise and walk from the station. Mihogaseki as was a much better place and the rikishi will be far happier closer to the action. A move out to Edogawa-ku though........bit inconvenient again if not along the Sobu Line.

keep an eye out for a new TV show on sumo in the New Year. Probably a couple of months away at least but you should see a show on Mongolians looking to enter the sport pop up some time. Very switched on person putting it together, very well researched, not one for going with all the stereotypes. Spent 30 mins on phone with her yesterday and I should get a link when wrapped so will post here if it is online.

in Tokyo it is now on DVD too.

Sky Sports (UK as far as I know) will be in Japan in the new year doing a football feature that will also include time covering sumo, heya life etc. For those that might be interested.

some decent keiko below makushita today at Kokonoe. Nothing much for the juryo guys / makunouchi Chiyotairyu. Lots of fun and joking around under the not very watchful eye of former Chiyotaikai. Seems he is now into practicing karate moves against non-sekitori.

rather large announcement to be made next Spring re. the Kokugikan as we know it. Thus looking for anyone with memory of the Kuramae Kokugikan to ask a few questions and use in an article. Anyone out there?

forum ain't the place mate. Agreed timing with article schedule.

if I am reading it correctly I think it is Yatsuguruma. (right to left on the kesho) According to records I have seen he was only a jonidan rikishi back in the 1930s and wouldn't have had a kesho to the best of my knowledge. That box and kesho do, however, ring bell. I saw one similar many years ago for a really large sum at a small shop in Kurame Tokyo. At the time I think it was confirmed as belonging to an amateur and not a professional but the memory is hazy. Perhaps someone else will know more. Mark

a growing sport in Japan now, particularly in N. Tokyo.

he left Japan some time ago IIRC.

dawned on me today that Mitsuki and before that Wakanoho have a common denominator! ;) Now, if Mr. Sandstorm goes off the rails .......... ;)

Monday 9th very hardcore keiko.

some great pics.

Lol. Can I use this interpretation elsewhere. Not chuckled so much for a while.

for 'allegedly' employing........ - the guilty till proven innocent concept is far too commonplace in Japan.

Hak will not lower himself

No, but his mother sure did blame him directly.. she should be nicknamed teflon. Did TV show discussion panel with her - shocked at how easily denial came on various topics. Angels have nothing on her.

classic Japanese TV shite. Eg. You learn the history of a village dating back to the Edo-era (1603 - 1867) and a few of its inhabitants. Quite interesting really. At the end, the quiz question is something like - 'what is the current mayor's favorite type of tempura'. Completely unconnected.

not all his Dad's fault.