Chienoshima

This one should be fit Jonosuke's translation. Cordialement, Chienoshima

Hum, I guess you forgot Maru's one for his last yusho, after the last bout between 2 yokozuna. When will we see that again ? Greetings from Paris, Chienoshima

Just wondering... Is that the joke Dustin Hoffman said all the time in the RAINMAN movie with Tom Cruise ? In french, I did not get it, but they may screw the translation. End of off-topics, Chienoshima

According to Yomiuri shimbun, the new shikona of Hagiware is KISENOSATO : 「稀勢の里（きせのさと）」 Here is the link with the ONLY news up to date, featuring hiragana : Kisenosato news Au revoir, Chienoshima

I also observed the same thing when I worked for the french embassy in Japan. At that time, one pharmacist in our science department told me that the japanese did not have the enzyme, that destroy alcohol in the blood. Hence, they can get drunk with a single glass of beer !! However, I also knew some strong drinkers in Tokyo, but most of them told me that their familiy came from the North of Japan to Tokyo. This leads to an another key fact, the ainu people. Indeed, people from Hokkaido are descendants of Ainu people, who were different from people living in Honshu for example. So, generally speaking (people migrate to the south), japanese people in the north have not the same genetic as other japanese people, and this may explain the drastic differences in drinking alcohol. Best regards, Chienoshima

Which Nadaam are you talking about ? I thought that Asashoryu's brother made the semi-finals in the Nadaam wrestling tournament this year. Am I wrong on this point ? On this topic, do you a website where I can find the results of the wrestling tournament (in roman alphabet if possible) ? Did the great avarge Bart-Erdene compete ? For you information, the Hokkaido/Tohoku jungyo will start on the 30th of July and will finish on the 5th of August. So, Asashoryu might be in Mongolia around the 7th of August. Regards, Chienoshima

Here is a picture of Asashoryu, taken in Narita today (26 th of July), on his arrival in Japan from Mongolia. He seems to know already he is in big trouble, before attending the Hokkaido jungyo. Remember what happened before the hatsu basho this year : Absence of Fujinoshiki funeral, missing the first training and tsuna uchi without oyakata's permission. All of this external pressure made him clinched the yusho in great way. So, my guess is another clean zensho yusho for yusho in the next Aki basho. Regards, Chienoshima

Who beat him the first time? That's the thing-I maintain he got a bye for winning day 1, to which I received many answers stating that there is no such thing as a bye. I disagree. Who knows?? I'm sure if he would have lost before the quarterfinals, it would have been a mini-sensation, and we would have heard details. So I say- a freebie, unless someone can prove otherwise. This is not something new anymore, but as I just read this piece of news, I think you may be interested in. On day 2 in Shanghai Koen, Asashoryu did not get a freebie, but was beaten by Kyokushuzan in the 3rd round (just before the quaterfinals). The kimarite was Yoritaoshi, quite amazing isn'it !! Regards, Chienoshima

If you are interested to figure out how high Takanohana strech his righ leg, just see the following Dale's movies dealing the first yokozuna dohyo-iri made by Takanohana : Takanohana's first dohyo-iri Actually, this video freezes when Takanohana is at his strechiest. Cheers, Chienoshima

All this stuff is definitely a sad story, especially when you think that the Miyagino beya has one of the best prospect in ozumo right now. Hakuho has clearly the potentiel to reach yokozuna and to challenge Asashoryu. But, if former Chukubayama, his mentor, has to leave, it is quite reasonnable to think this will have a direct negative effect on Hakuho's career. Maybe, this is the reason why Kitanoumi is so pissed off. Hakuho is still young, but how will accept to take orders from a such relatively poor former rikishi like Kanechika (ranked sandanme in this Nagoya basho) ? This toshiyori-kabu is really dirty. Is it possible for Chukubayama (in case he found a lot of money of course !) to leave, to start a new heya by taking Hakuho in his "luggage" ? Cheers, Chienoshima

Here is another picture of Hokutoriki in poor shape, with Asashoryu slapping his face : Actually, Asashoryu was really mad when he realized that Hokutoriki was in such a poor shape. Sometimes, he yelled : "Bastard ! Go straight on me, and don't hold on your strength !". When all the keiko was finished, Asashoryu said : "I can't stand what Hokutoriki did today. As a new sekiwake, doing keiko like this is not something you can be proud of. Moreover, it is a complete lack of respect to train against a yokozuna while not going all out. Believe me, this story is not finished !" On the other hand, the surprise of keiko session came from Tamanoshima who was in a pretty good shape. Actually, Asashoryu had a very hard time against him, and barely took the edge on him in 5 intense bouts, winning only 3 of them. Asahoryu was in awe regarding Tamanoshima's excellente performance, and said "This rikishi is extremely good !". So, Tamanoshima may be a real ozeki run this time. Wait and see, Chienoshima

And here is a picture of the beating : When Hagiwara was down, Asashoryu yelled at him : "Get up now, and put more spirit in your bout !". When a journalist asked Asashoryu to talk about Hagiwara, he said : "He is not good. He has to fight with more intensity". Cheers, Chienoshima

Hi Ozumo experts and others, A few days ago, on the french forum, an Asashoryu fan asked an hoshitori of the yokuzuna (with all his opponents and kimarite) before he clinched his juryo promotion at the end of the Nagoya basho 2000. As I bought the first biography of Asashoryu written by Hazuki Takeda (here is the amazon link : Asashoryu's biography) , I actually got all the information she was looking for. However, as one may easily guess it, the precious hoshitori given at the end of the book is written in kanji, and even though I can read some japanese, I still can't be 100% sure about the reading of some shikona. So, in the hoshitori, I write in CAPITALS all the shikona I am not 100 % sure about the reading. You will find in bracket [] the shikona in kanji, and if some of you find some mistakes, I will greatly appreciate some feedbacks. So, here is the Asashoryu's early hoshitori. Legend : O = Win / * = Loss / a = Kyujo / - = No bout Hatsu 1999, Maezumo (3-0) : OOO Haru 1999, Jonokuchi 34 Est (6-1) : -O*-O-O--OO-O-- Day 2 : Win over TAMATSURUMI [ 玉鶴見 ] by hatakikomi Day 3 : Loss over TAYO [ 田代 ] by oshidashi Day 5 : Win over Tokukaizan ( 徳海山 ) by oshidashi Day 7 : Win over Yanagihara ( 柳原 ) by yorikiri Day 10 : Win over Seishiro ( 清城 ) by tuskitaoshi Day 11 : Win over MIDORIFUMOTO [ 緑麓 ] by tsukiotoshi Day 13 : Win over Shinyu ( 心勇 ) by tsukidashi Natsu 1999, Jonidan 85 Ouest (7-0 yusho) : O-O--OO-O--OO-- Day 1 : Win over TAMATSURUMI [ 玉鶴見 ] by yorikiri Day 3 : Win over SONONAMI [ 総ノ波 ] by yorikiri Day 6 : Win over Katsutanishiki ( 勝田錦 ) by yorikiri Day 7 : Win over KISENOSHIMA [ 木瀬の嶋 ] by yorikiri Day 9 : Win over IKIKOSHI [ 生越 ] by tsukidashi Day 12 : Win over Chiyonotaka ( 千代の鷹 ) by okuridashi Day 13 : Win over Wakaishikawa ( 若石川 ) by tsukidashi Nagoya 1999, Sandanme 75 Ouest (7-0, yusho) : O--O-O-O-OO-O

I've already said it, but the book is NOT an autobiography, but a biography written by Hazuki Takeda. Actually, this is not her first biography of a popular rikishi, because she made another one about Terao's life. Basically, she is a freelance writer coming from Yamagata prefecture, and she writes on sports topics like baseball, ski etc. Here is a tiny picture of her. Cheers, Chienoshima

Thanks Zentoryu and Doitsuyama for your help ! I've tried to check this shikona through NSK site, but a rikishi changed his shikona, I simply lost it. How did you manage to chase after them ? Do you have the link to get the complete bouts since Kyushu basho 1998. Regards, Chienoshima PS : The boof on Asashoryu feature many rare and excellent picture from his childhood in Mongolia, his high school days, etc.., and it is definitely worth of buying, if you are a fan of great Asashoryu. 1 year old Asashoryu with his older brothers

Actually, for his first keiko in a while with a sekitori, Tochiazuma beat up Iwakiyama with a fine 7-3 score (7 wins in 10 bouts). In spite of the fear of getting injured, Tochiazuma psyched himself up to use his favorite techinque ottsuke with his left arm. He also used dashinage techinque with his left arm. About his left shoulder, he siad : "I was scared but I felt nothing bad with my left arm". Tochiazuma planned to pratice with Iwakiyama till friday 18th of June, before his move to Nagoya on this sunday (20th of June). Take care, Chienoshima

For this time in 3 months, Tochiazuma resumed training this morning (15th of June) with a sekitori. His sparring partner was the heavy Iwakiyama (172 kg), but no result so far is available. After the keiko bouts, Tochiazuma said: "I was very anxious to fight against such an heavy guy, and I was quite afraid to get injured again after eating Iwakiyama's tachi-ai. There is nothing I can do about being scared, but I have to train again with sekitori till I get completely exhausted". Tochiazuma still gets 20 days to get back in shape before the beginning of the Nagoya basho. Regards, Chienoshima

I agree with Kitamayama-san, I read no news about someone deafeating the yokozuna on day 2. Asashoryu may have not been in the contest on day 2. One thing is sure, the yokozuna was not in a mood to participate in any tournament at all. As being the president of the rikishi-kai (assoctiation of the rikishi), Asashoryu made this comment : "Having two international koen in the same year is very tough. some guy may get injured in the process. [Asa did not want to injure anyone and he was not all out]. With this situation in reapeating tournament, we don't have any rest and no time to heal injuries or to get back to top shape. I understand diplomatic issues and friendship with neighboors are important, but we also need time to rest." In the article, it is said that Asashoryu is still ill with the cold he got in the Natsu basho and needed injeftion to fight. That may surely explain he didn't get out so muech with other sekitori (visit of the great wall, and so on). Even Kitanoumi wiesely understood what Asashoryu said. Indedd, Kitanoumi said : "This koen is a complete success, but I understand the schedule was tough for our rikishi, as there is no time for them to rest." Do not be surprised if you notice a high level of kyujo in the coming Nagoya basho. Regards, Chienoshima EDIT : Of course, I meant Nagoya basho in my last sentence, and the mistake is corrected.

I guess you were thinking of a bout between Kotomitsuki and Musoyama. This bout had two mizuuri, and eventually a torinaoshi was decided. Kotomistuski won that second bout. I don't rememeber exactely when this bout occured, but it happened during Takanohana's kyujo. Regards, Chienoshima

Hi everyone, Let me introduce me as this is my first post. I am a member of the french team who makes Le Monde du Sumo. I am the one who wrote the Raiden article and translate in french the rikishi quotes. Some of you may already know me as I occasionnally send some posts in the SML. So, as I am coming from a beautiful french island in the west indies (Guadeloupe), I will be known here as Chienoshima (island of wisdom). As Nikoshoryu said, I hope you will enjoy the reading of this fourth issue of Le Monde du sumo. For those who can't read french, be sure that the project "Le monde du sumo in engnish" is not dead... (Oops! ) Take care, Chienoshima