Manekineko

Well, I've stumbled on few more pictures you might find interesting, showing rikishi in the way most of us isn't used to seeing them. All pictures are from Sumo magazine, kindly scanned and sent to me by Hahanoyama-zeki. On with the show! This one is for Onnagumo-zeki, and any other Forum members who have an especially soft spot for K'waka. The picture was taken during winter 1999/2000 Okinawa jungyo. That's K'waka's son in his lap, his wife on his right. Careful observes may notice Hayateumi on the top right, dozing beside his akeni (luggage). I hope you recognise this dashing young fellow. Yes, Asashoryu, in Mongolian-sumo dress I believe. And couple Mongolians more. This picture was taken in 1992. I have no idea who the one on the right is, but the other two are Kyokutenho and Kyokushuzan, as shindeshi (newly entered pro sumo). More shindeshi! Can you recognise these three valiant Makushita-tsukedashi (ex university yokozuna enter sumo at higher rank than usual)? Did you know Hamanoshima loves fishing? Here he is, with a fine catch, and his hair down... looking incredibly handsome, if I might add... (Happy...) And in the end, Akinoshima, *smiling*! I apologise for exposing you tothis repulsive spectacle... (Sarcasm...) I might grace this thread with more pictures unless begged to stop. Be warned! :D

Dear Forumers, amazing as it may seem, SumoForum was established (almost) exactly a decade ago, just in time for Kyushu 2001. It's goal was to provide a new and richer forum (heh) for sumo fans to meet, as a supplement to then already venerable Sumo Mailing List (now 10 years older and still going strong). As you can see, it was a success, mostly thanks to enthusiastic contributions of numerous sumo fans through the years. So first, let me thank all the SumoForum members, past and present, for all they brought and still bring to this Forum. It wouldn't have lasted so long without you. (Holiday feeling...) Ten years is a long time in human life, and we've witnessed many changes, both in sumo and in membership, although I'm glad to say that most of the earliest members still visit the Forum. Forum's founder and first Rijicho, Kotoseiya Yuichi, retired from active participation on the Forum (and perhaps sumo fandom as well) years back. Our acting Rijicho, Kaikitsune Makoto, kindly took over the Forum, which is now still up and functional mostly through hidden efforts of the tech behind the curtain, Exil, aided by a small group of moderators. My thanks go to all of them, as well. ;-) Ten years is even longer time in Internet years, and the Forum turned from a new and fresh medium of communication to something common and perhaps even conservative. I do not pretend to know what the future will bring, but the example of the Mailing List and the influx of new members to the Forum gives me hope of being able to celebrate the 20th anniversary (probably comparable to a centennial in "normal" years), too. These are tough years for sumo, and I guess none of us is in a party mood, but we still love sumo. As long as we keep this love (which isn't blind to the defects of the loved one, but persists nonetheless), the Forum will have a purpose. Cheers! ;-)

I wondered too. (I am not worthy...) edit: related topic: http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10738

Well, why should Kaikitsune be the only one to start rambling topics? :-P Recently I visited two countries: France and Italy, and sampled their milk and yoghurt. But before I continue, let me fill the background... I am a true milk-lover: as a child I'd drink a big cup of milk every morning, and the habit stuck. When I became aware that drinking that much sugar in milk form might be a big factor in my increasing weight, I wisely substitued much of daily milk intake with plain yoghurt, although at the time I was unaware of existance of un-plain yoghurt, living in a poor ex-communist country still unfamiliar with wonders of milk-derived drinks. But although fruity and creamy versions were unknown, in our stores you could (and still can) find sour milk, kefir, and other fermented/soured milk products differing in strains of microorganisms and other conditions used for the purpose. Most of the milk is cow-milk, but sheep and goat milk is also available, although not with such a variety of forms and products. Then consumerism burst onto the scene, bringing with it firstly low-fat products (which I dislike, but that is a subject for another rambling topic) and then the wealth of fruit-modified milk-drinks, yoghurts and other forms of milk. Addition of fruit is not that bad thing per se (although I prefer to make my own mixes), but the addition of extra sugar into milk and especially yoghurt is a sin that wails unto the heavens! (Protesting...) There should be a legislation forcing the producers of milk and yoghurt based drinks (as well as cold-tea drinks etc) to print huge WARNING! CONTAINS ADDITIONAL SUGAR! signs on the packages. [Another detour - Nestea's label, at least in Croatian, says that it contains among others sugar and dextrose. As dextrose is simply another name for sacharose or common table sugar, that has got me thoroughly confused and amused. (In a state of confusion...) (Laughing...) ] So, back to France and Italy, France first. I was there only for a week, in a fine city of Lyon (more precisely, Villeurbanne, which is *not* Lyon as proud Villeurbannites would probably tell me if I asked :-) ), and I had problems locating fresh milk for breakfast/supper... In fact, I could only ever find the "long-life" milk - which was OK, but milk loses some of its fine taste in the process it endures to ensure long shelf-life. In the same store there were oodles of milk-derived products of all forms, but no fresh milk. I only checked three different stores in the same neighbourhood, but never did I find fresh milk... Strange. :-| Then Italy: there I was happy to locate fresh milk, "Fine Italian Milk" it said (in Italian) proudly on the bottle. So I bought it, and when I tasted it - phaugh! (Sign of disapproval) It wasn't bad, it was perfectly fresh, but it had a strangest taste... What's more, all other Italian milks I tried had very similar basic taste, and that one didn't agree with me at all! Luckily for my milk-drinking habit, I discovered milk produced in France and Germany, but of course these are all long-life milks... (Sigh...) And funny thing is, French-produced milk in Italy is quite similar to the one I drank in Lyon. Are milk-tastes a country-wide phenomenon? :-O At least I hoped to find some comfort in yoghurt, but here again I had trouble locating plain yoghurt: all sorts of fruity tastes, even coffee :-S flavoured yoghurt, and tricky things called "Creme" yoghurts which on inspection turned out to be yoghurt with added sugar :-/ . Plain unmodified yoghurt could only be found in big 500 mL packages in this town (Terni, Umbria), with a single exception of a discount store which I hapily raided for some 12 150 mL cups of plain yoghurt. So, these are my experiences with milk and its derivatives... What about you? Do you like it, drink it every day? Or is it only an occasional gulp? Which is your favorite form of milk? Do you suffer from lactose (milk sugar) intolerance? What are your thoughts on fruity tastes and added sugar? Is this a totaly silly topic? (Clapping wildly...)

Hello to all of you who like to poll Forum members! It has often been remarked how some poll results get skewered because the polls are allowed to run beyond their natural expiry date (start of the basho, for example, or withdrawal of some wrestler). Well, the only way to stop that and keep poll results as meaningful as possible is for YOU, the authors* to close the thread containing the poll. This can be done in two ways. 1. Enter your thread, scroll to the bottom of the page. There is a box "Moderation options" below the topic on the left. The only option is Close (or Open, if closed) this thread. Use it! 2. If the above is too complex for you - PM one of the mods. We'll groan a bit, but close the poll topic. Of course, closing the poll topic also effectively closes any further discussion on that poll, which is unfortunate. So my advice is that before you close the poll you add a post summarizing the results and inviting all interested to continue the debate in a more appropriate topic you will/already have opened. For good measure, you may consider adding the link to that new discussion topic in that final post. You can simply paste the link in the post, software is clever enough to automatically make it clickable. So, nothing could be simpler! You will keep the poll results relevant, and make jollier Forum all around. ;-) *Why you? Because we mods have too many other things on our minds to worry about poll expiry dates (unless explicitly nudged).

Anyone remember this thread? I figure the rikishi (and Forum membership) ensemble has changed enough for it to be interesting again. With the usual disclaimers that literal meanings are not all that matters in shikona-giving, that there are traditional bits of shikona specific to a heya/oyakata, and so on. So! Who wants some shikona translated? ;-)

Hello, all Forumers who remember me, I've decided to briefly resurface to say goodbye. My interests have drifted away from sumo, mostly due to retirement of rikishi I knew and loved, and partly due to general changes in life and interests. I'll probably still visit the Forum once in a blue moon to check on the gossip, but I probably won't post anymore. The Forum was a great place to learn about and discuss about sumo, and I hope you keep it that way for a long time. I wish to thank all the Forumers who made it so by their fun and erudite postings, their enthusiasm and good will. I won't even attempt to list you all, for I would surely forget someone and embarrass myself. It was a pleasure to be a part of it, but all good things must come to an end. If you wish to contact me for any reason, send me a PM (I won't be deleting this profile). If any of you old guard are passing through Zagreb, I'll buy you a drink. Bye.

Futagoyama was Takanohana's heya when he was active, AFAIK yes, he inherited it from his father, and since he was granted the ichidai-toshiyori name of Takanohana, the heya changed the name to fit the new oyakata. Man, that was long ago.

Nope, there actually is a rule, although I won't try and dig out the mention of it. We're never mean when it comes to arcane sumo trivia. ps. OK, I lied. I did try and dig it out:

Loving the hats.

'cause it's all Greek: skopein ( σκοπείν ) = to look (at) In English just "scope" can mean other things as well, for example. Scope in the meaning you list is pro'lly just an abbreviation of telescope. Cinema is an abbreviation of cinemascope, "looking at movement" or sth like that (all my Greek comes from scientific terminology).

It's never too late to be too late! Happy birthday!

A very, very belated thanks to you all. I'm vacationing per usual, and it was too hot (and busy) for much internet. Have a lovely summer, everyone!

A true sign of middle age - less time/interest in once all-consuming hobbies. Hopefully you'll keep enjoying sumo for a long time.

recognized star of sumo (suma = sum [of money] in various Slavic languages :-D) The Judah part is also probably wrong, but my Czech is... meh.

Happy birthday!

Oh, my, Harumafuji hasn't changed his stern face at all. He did not appreciate that hair band at all.

Happy birthday!

Aww, that was precious. And a first? I don't remember seeing that before...

Kintamayama may have made a wrong business decision by having proper translations of the interviews on the Premium channel and the spoofs available to everyone.

Wow the picture flood. I don't remember seeing such shot-by-shot coverage of the dohyo-iri before, you can practically make a movie out of them. Well, I guess it's no wonder.

He sounds just like my students... It also reminded me of this quote by Leopold Ružička: Enthusiasm for a course of study cannot be a substitute for talent, intelligence cannot be a substitute for knowledge, and good will cannot be a substitute for success. Tough guy, our Leopold.

Aw, Tezuka's Phoenix (Hi no tori). Recommend read, for those at all interested in manga.

I accidentally watched some ski-jumping after several years and was immensely cheered upon seeing Jane Ahonen still jumping. And Noriaki Kasai. Oh my. Slovenians have a new excellent jumper, not even 18 yet. I bet he won't still be jumping when he's 40... I guess I'll have to come back to watching ski-jumping in 2039 and see if I was right.