Yagura

I hardly write in this forum, altough I enjoy it very much and I have a look to it at least twice a week. However this time at least I had to say that I am very happy that Harumafuji won his first Yusho; I really think he deserves it. To see Ama / Harumafuji in action is really great, regardless if he wins or loses, or even if you like sumo or not, it is simply beautiful. Congratulations Ozeki Harumafuji

I have followed Kokkai since he was in Juryo, and don't know why I think he looks tired, as if he had lost his joy for Sumo. Don't know I am very worried, I really thought he would become Ozeki one day. Regards.

You are very kind, thanks a lot for all the info. (Showing off...) Only one more comment, it is pretty surprising how the wages for getting a Yusho in Makuuchi grow from 750.000 y to 10.000.000... thats more than 1000% in ten years. I can imagine how Asashoryu (Showing respect...) would like to get again six out of six (Clapping wildly...)

Hello everybody. Does anybody know the current figures for rikishi salaries. I have only data of the 90s and would like to know the real salaries. This is what I have: Monthly Yokozuna 2,107,000 Ozeki 1,753,000 Sekiwake 1,264,000 Maegashira 977,000 Juryo 773,000 Makushita 120,000 Sandanme 85,000 Jonidan 75,000 Jonokuchi 70,000 25,000 yen for all sekitori after every Tokyo tournament. 150,000 yen to each Yokozuna before a Tokyo basho Bonuses after a tournament Yokozuna 200,000 Ozeki 150,000 Sekiwake 50,000 Komusubi 50,000 Yusho wages Makuuchi 750,000 Juryo 550,000 Makushita 250,000 Sandanme 100,000 Jonidan 100,000 Jonokuchi 50,000 Sansho wages: 550,000 yen And what about "hoshokin"? Is it yet working? How does this system exactly work? Thanks to all of you. Regards. Yagura

Would somebody please explain what is going on with Kokkai? Has he forgotten how to make Sumo? Is he tired? Maybe he thinks it is still to soon to jump to Sanyaku and prefer to rest during the next basho as Maegashira 16? He would rather start winning some bout soon, because otherwise he is asking for a demotion to Juryo. Regards. >:-(

Well, I am not saying that Asa is the all-times-best. But when we try to compare sportmen from different ages, we also must take into account that in modern times is quite more difficult to be "the very best" than in older times. I mean, in any sport, some forty years ago, if somebody was really good at it, he/she could simple pass over the rest. But nowadays, because of better training techniques, better health system... all the differences are narrowing. So I think it is quite more difficult to be overwhelming the best one. Just take cycling, e.g, I am pretty sure it was quite more difficult for Indurain to win five tours in the 90s than for Mercks in the 60s. Regards

Since I am really a beginner in this world, I did not have the oportunity to see myself Oyakata Futagoyama as the great rikishi he was. However, I want to join all the world wide Sumo community to say I am very sorry. I am sure his memory will last for ages. Thanks.

It seemed to me that this was going to be the first "European Basho", with Kokkai in good form again, ready to make his way to Sanyaku; Kotooshu in a very comfortable position to get a two-digits record; and Roho, after showing he is even able to upset Asa, ready to try his first assault for a Yusho or Jun-Yusho... But 5 days are gone, and it seems to me that none of them is doing really good sumo. It is not strange that I always get awful results at sumo games. (Whistling...)

Hi. My shikona means "tower" I think. Would anybody be so kind as to write it in kanji. Thanks a lot. Arigato. Danke sch

All of you are quite right. It is only that I felt a little bit sad, because I was hoping for a final day with Asa and Hakuho with 14-0. I must admit that Hakuho should have defeated all his rivals until today. And for Sumofan. You are also right, it was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, also knwon as Tokichiro, also known as Hiyoshi, or finally Taiko, who said that. I still bet Hakuho will get 11-4 (only one lost left, to Asa, of course)

I am pretty sure that Hakuho will overcome. He will defeat Asa (In a state of confusion...) , and will get a 12-3. He is just having a little bit rest before he notices the basho has really started. And I don't agree that he has just faced easy rivals. Kokkai is not easy at all. Thanks to everybody writting here, it makes the basho much more interesting. What to do if the birds doesn't sing? Tokichiro answers: Make the bird WANT to sing.

It was an honor and a pleasure to read such interesting answers and discussions. Arigato Sensei.

Hi everybody. This is a question for the elders, or for anybody who remembers this brave rikishi. I have been checking Konishiki's numbers and I wonder why he wasn't promoted to Yokozuna. If we have a look to the period May 1991 to March 1992, his figures were: 14-1 12-3 11-4 13-2 Yusho 12-3 13-2 Yusho I am pretty sure that, today, anybody with these results would be promoted inmediately, so why wasn't Konishiki promoted? Thanks.

Thanks a lot to both of you, and of course to Chiyozakura. Since I speak german too I will be able to enjoy this wonderful site, it's amazing, so well organized and with so much information. Great!!! (First prize...) Yagura.

Hi everybody. I was just trying to recollect photographs of all rikishi who have fought in Makuuchi during Heisei period. I am searching quite deep into Nihon Sumo Kyokai Official Grand Sumo Home Page, but I don't seem to be able to get all of them. I cannot read the official heya pages, since I don't read or speak japanese. Does anybody knows a place to get this photos? I am missing these ones (all of them retired): Chiyonofuji Asashio Ozutsu Ho-o Itai Daijuyama Hokutenyu Takamisugi Koboyama Kinoarashi Tamaryu Tagaryu Sakahoko Wakasegawa Jingaku Onokuni Asahifuji Tochitsukasa Hokutoumi Konishiki Kirishima Kotogaume Hananoumi Masurao Takanofuji Kirinishiki Sasshunada Fujinoshin Ryogoku Enazakura Hananokuni Kotofuji Kyokudozan Kasugafuji Takanomine Hoshiiwato Komafudo Kyokugozan Ryukozan Owakamatsu Daishoyama Kototsubaki Daikiko Tomoefuji Tsunenoyama Wakashoyo Tamakairiki Kiraiho Tatsuhikari Kenko Tachihikari Naminohana Kotobeppu Hitachiryu Rikio Any help would be very appreciated, and sorry if this was not the right place for such a question. Thanks to everybody at this forum for all the information for beginners like me. Best regards. Yagura.