Amanogawa

I found this cute little book in my library. 'I'll Become a Yobidashi'. By Hirotaka Nakagawa Illustrated by Eriko Ishikawa https://www.amazon.co.jp/おれ、よびだしになる-中川-ひろたか/dp/4752009080/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_ja_JP=カタカナ&crid=1FPWP9GQH0C3B&keywords=おれ、よびだしになる&qid=1688384417&sprefix=おれ+よびだしになる%2Caps%2C262&sr=8-1 The story is about a boy who loves sumo, admires yobidashis, and finally joins sumo and becomes a yobidashi. Narrated in a simple, yet humorous and emotional style. The illustrations are also simple and very charming. I wish I could put up some pages from the book, especially this one where yobidashis were holding kensho-banners and circling on the dohyo. One banner almost reads "Paul McCartney's album NOW on sale!!" - but actually it is not Paul ポール but Hall ホール・マッカートニー.

Thank you for your kind suggestion, Yamanashi. Yes, please move this to wherever it fits.

Hello, Didn't know on which forum I should put this little one: https://lineblog.me/kogawaaya/archives/3007968.html This is the blog run by Kogawa Aya, Okamisan of my forever favorite Wakanosato ( now Nishiiwa Oyakata ). She writes about their young boys, about the stable, about her husband, her daughter, the relationships between her family and the stable boys, the locals, supporters, etc. I always like her friendly and thoughtful style. The day's entry does not contain any big words, but it clearly conveys the heartache shared by the couple, and it was communicated with their young boys too. Some may find this song too classic, and as for the clip, opinions may vary. But still, as Aya-san says, what you see in your younger age will stay with you forever. Nishiiwa's goal is to train his boys to be strong, matured, honest and honorable not only as a rikishi but also as a man. It is being ( or going to be ) realized with sincere assistance ( and love! ) from his wife. Amanogawa

Just to add a tiny bit of information to Asashosakari-zeki's fine post. The term sekitori has two parts: seki ( gate ) and tori < toori < tooru = to go through/to clear, as one theory holds. When speaking to a sekitori person to person, you might want to start the conversation by "***-zeki, ..." "Sekitori ( if he is not Yokozuna/Ozeki ), ..." "Yokozuna / Ozeki, ..." , or you may even use those titles as a subject of the sentence you speak if you are Japanese - the Japanese language does not really use "you" referring to the person you're talking to. But if I come across my gohiiki walking in Kokugikan, Tokyo Tower, local jungyo tour, etc., I would probably not call out "Sekitori!" but "**-zeki!" or "Yokozuna/Ozeki!" to show my enthusiasm. And when it comes to cheering ( yelling! ) for your favorite man performing on the dohyo, you might want to call him just by his shikona, at the top of your lungs. :)

I found this topic really interesting, thanks Kaminariyuki (wow, roaring thunder and snow – what a dramatic image you evoke. As if ushering a relentless winter but eventually a bright spring again filled with hope and anticipation – just like this one. After a big “zombie limbo”, you’ll sure to enjoy the full-scale pleasure again ( well… just if there’s no vicious virus around…. ) Right after Senshuraku Musubi no Ichiban, I just feel “ki ga nukeru” - literally, “Spirit leaves me” like, what should I do with this empty feeling? And actrually the next day is worse - I feel more “gakkari( discouraged )” coming home from work realizing there’s no recorded bouts to watch after dinner any more. Then as the banzuke-announcment day approaches, it’s like a puppy dog put to wait drooling with a yummy meal right in front of him. That’s exactly the “oazuke” situation. So I really like “banzuke oazuke time”!! A nice playful rhyme. Of course “banzuke oazuke limbo” sounds really good too!

As growing up here in Aomori, I've known a number of local people related to/involved in sumo, or those who just have lived their lives as had been lived over the time. Sumo I say here is not just the sophisticated O-zumo type you members are familiar with but it also includes very crude, pristine one such as sumo played among little boys or practiced at local shinto festivals. To them, usually upper-middle aged, it may feel funny to be asked if they like sumo or not because sumo has just been imbued in their life ( I remember cheering for classmate boys when they did sumo in P.E. class on the school-dohyo - you know how girls are not allowed to step on there - the coaches were of course ordinary homeroom teachers or people living nearby, or somebody's relatives who could do a little good sumo ). People like that would call rikishis "sumo" or "sumotori", like "Taro wa sumo da ( Taro is a rikishi )", "Ano ie no musuko wa sumotori da ( A boy of the household is a rikishi )". A colleague, late 20's, who used to do sumo himself in college says, "Ima ii sumo ga ano koukou ni imasu yo ( There's a real sumo-hopeful boy in that high school now )". Here "sumo" referrs to a person who practices sumo. I'm afraid it doesn't sound right. As Akinomaki said, It is "o-sumo san" when we refer to a professional rikishi. I guess we don't say "o-sumo san" addressing amateur sumo practitioners though.

I still can't believe or don't want to believe what I saw today after musubi. Nothing like that ever happened at least in my long sumo-watching time. The announcer kept saying, "This is not good... This is not what dai-yokozuna shoud be doing.. " Shinpan or gyoji did not make a move not because they were powerless, I think, but things they saw there were beyond their comprehension. Something that can't happen was happening in the real Kokugikan. And it was no one but dai-yokozuna that everybody should admire. In the victory interview after the bout, Yoshikaze said he tried a new tachiai timing because his usual rough and quick style had never worked. So he said he'd decided to go in "go-no-sen" timing ( meaning, he intentionally delayed the initial charge ): "Maybe I was being a bit arrogant, but somehow was thinking before the bout that I'd be just fine if I delayed my tachiai - was kind of sure I'd endure yokozuna's powerful impact". So his go-no-sen tachiai may have looked like a matta but it was not. "For a moment it felt like a matta, but I could hear 'Nokotta Nokotta' so I knew it was on and I did what I had to do - keep pushing until the bout was called". I don't understand why Hakuho thought it matta. If it was because of Yoshikaze's thought-out tachiai timing, I'd have to say he was not just as good ( as Yoshikaze, or as before, or as he should be ). We did see Yoshikaze fully ready for tachiai with his both hands firmly on the clay just waiting for his opponent. We also saw Hakuho did step in at his own timing, did even slap him, meaning Hakuho also knew the bout had been in motion. Knowing that, why? Just because he felt strange? Because he sensed he was to lose the match? Or was this instantaneous reacion by Hakuho revealing some piece of the opposite of yokozuna-dignity. Or his true personality.

Really truly poignant. Thank you very much for putting all these pictures, Akinomaki.

Toyonoshima's blog is a very hilarious one! Kintamayama already introduced the site, but it seems to have been moved now, and he's updating semi-constantly, not during basho of course though. In August he was giving guessing quiz. He puts a picture of a back shot of a rikishi only wearing an underwear ( usually perky and colorful! ) to have readers guess who the rikishi is. The next day he puts the answer ( and usually another quiz ). Kind of hard to guess right. Quiz: http://ameblo.jp/toyonoshima-daiki/entry-12060288876.html The answer (and the next quiz ): http://ameblo.jp/toyonoshima-daiki/entry-12060573759.html

I heard that Gan'yu will be taking over the heya as Yamahibiki Beya.. I am shocked. And very sad. Just like for some members here, Kitanoumi was my superman, though clearly much less popular than other "stars" back then. Incredibly powerful and rough. No looking back at the opponent he blasted away ( "That's the way a winner should show respect for his aite. It's rude to sport your victory by giving a hand to someone you've beaten up." ). Seriousness taken at times as rigidness and stubbornness. His conservative, seemingly even too simple renditions and measures on Kyokai issues which often drew criticism. And he was the one who committed a good reprimand on that dai-yokozuna for practicing that nekodamashi twice, no less. Futabayama ( Tokitsukaze ) died while serving as rijicho, and Kitanoumi was the first one ever since that passed away as incumbent rijicho. Futaba's death was followed by his junior mates Haguroyama's ( and Wakahaguro's ) shortly afterwards. Kitanoumi's junior deshi Hokuten'yu is already "there" -- they might be sipping sake and watching this Senshuraku together. Thank you very much, Kaiomitsuki, for putting these movies here. They put tears to my eyes.

>ith the upcoming jungyo tour passing through Aomori, word is that Wakanosato will delay his official retirement until the end of the tour so he can have one last hurrah as an active rikishi in front of his home crowd. How I wish I could come to see this.... A guy I work with ( one of "Aomori sumo guys" ) says that this is really going to be his last so I must go... but I can't (Weeping...) (Weeping...) Akinomaki, inhashi, thank you for putting up those nice pictures. His smiles really break my heart though. .. it's been almost 20 years now since I started following him.

She had a tasteful singing voice. Cute, smart girl with a good sense of humor, she was not only on song shows but frequently on popular variety/comedy shows. At the press conference on their engagement, asked what she liked ( loved ) about him, she answered, "He never lies" - so impressive a line that I still remember that.

Here's a short Wakanosato interview on Aomori local newspaper on July 27th: Q: (As for the last bout ) Do you think you were able to give all you had? A: Yes, but my sumo was no good even with the uwate I managed to get.. So hard to admit but that was yet another moment I realized I am not as good any longer. Q: Now it’s likely that you’ll be demoted to makushita.. A: My heart is torn in two – one part says I can still do this, but the other says I could not keep going if I am to lose the sekitori status. I am still not ready to make the decision, but to be honest, I do know I am not going to do sumo in makushita. It’s very difficult but I think I will have to accept this [ = being not capable any more ] in the end. So I want to talk to Oyakata, and many other people involved as well. I know I should be deciding even today, at this very moment, but you sometimes need time before you can swallow the reality. Me being indecisive, taking time here when everybody is anticipating "the announcement" is probably my last wagamama ( literally, “selfishness”), but I’d like to have some more time now. I will make some form of statement sometime later. Q: So how are you feeling now finishing this tournament? A: To tell you the truth, it feels like quite a load-off my shoulders, little of being released from tension/nervousness. Finishing the last bout, I could hear the audience warmly clapping for me and it really touched my heart. As walking back on hanamichi, I couldn’t hold back my tears. I am very grateful, really, that so many people have given me concerns and kindnesses like this. I have seen numberless rikishis leave sumo without receiving very much attentions. Well, furo-ba ( bath room ) has always been the place where I shed tears -so I won’t cry here in front of you, Mr. Reporter (Sigh...) ...and now he is going to join the summer jungyo! Yes, Itachiyama-zeki, Wakanosato does love sumo and sumo loves him too.

>Wakanosato, same predicament, but from Juryo to Makushita: " This is regrettable.. This is my ability at present.." He too plans to show up for his senshuraku bout. His Oyakata says nothing regarding his future has been decided yet. Just saw him on Aomori local TV news - a good length of footage for this type of local sumo report. Today he gave it all he had. Close-up shots toward the end of the bout showed him panting, vehemently trying to stay inside the ring - as if striving to stay as an active rikishi. After the loss, he made a long, long, deep bow at the dohyo side before walking back to shitakubeya. The camera was shooting the bow from behind Wakanosato's back -his big, muscular shoulders and partially gray-haired ooicho. "I would not want to do sumo in Makushita. It's regrettable, but I guess I will be accepting this reality after all. I'll make an announcement ( concerning this ) later."

Looks like オールドアイデアルウイスキー　　old ideal whisky