Jonosuke 28 Posted March 26, 2007 As expected in their regular post-basho meeting, the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee members expressed their dismay of seeing the Musubi-no-Ichiban and Yusho Kettei-sen decided by Henka. "We were disillusioned as we expected heated battles. The fans' expectation was reneged," Katsuji Ebisawa, former chairman of NHK and new chairman of the committee said. There were some members who sympatheized with Hakuho saying , "Hakuho must have wanted to win desparately against the yokozuna in whatever way". Asashoryu's strong comeback from two consecutive losses to start the basho and eventually winning 13 bouts was also highly evaluated. Howerver Asashoryu's on-dohyo behaviour against Kisenosato was severely criticized. Asashoryu was seen kneeing Kisenosato after the bout was decided. "It's really upsetting to see the yokzouna kicking his opponent and to be exposed to his wanton behviour. I'd like to know what exactly you are educating," Ms Makiko Uchidate asked Takasago oyakata, Asashoryu's shisho. Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai responded by saying, "Asashoryu's sumo is to find a winning edge while actively engaging. I ask your understanding from his point of view." YDC Chairman Ebisawa also commented on Hakuho's yusho promotion for the next basho. "If he can take the yusho race till the Senshuraku, we'd like to recommend him even with 12 wins." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 47,226 Posted March 26, 2007 (edited) As usual after senshuraku, my "YDC Convenes" site is updated. "If Hakuhou wins the yusho, naturally, he will be promoted to Yokozuna. If he's in the running for the yusho till senshuraku and the quality of his sumo will be good, 12 wins will possibly enough..", suggested, as vaguely as usual, YDC chairman Mr. Ebisawa. then they proceeded to discuss the double-henka on senshuraku. "It's not an illegal move, but it is very disappointing.. Especially when a Yokozuna does it to an Ozeki, it seems really low..", added Ebisawa, who will fit in very nicely in our forum, if I may add. Edited March 26, 2007 by Kintamayama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 47,226 Posted March 26, 2007 (edited) Oh, I see Jonosuke posted a better one , I recommend his .. http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?...c=11992&hl= Edited March 26, 2007 by Kintamayama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jonosuke 28 Posted March 26, 2007 No need to link to mine as I merged it here and closed mine. There are more than several original sources so you will get slightly different flavours. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,259 Posted March 26, 2007 The French forum even has a video from the YDC session (registration required). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 47,226 Posted March 27, 2007 (edited) No registration required- I give you the new Ishibashi-san - Ebisawa -san , the new YDC chairman. Edited March 27, 2007 by Kintamayama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sashohitowa 6 Posted March 27, 2007 If he's in the running for the yusho till senshuraku and the quality of his sumo will be good, 12 wins will possibly enough..", To promote him with yusho + 12 wins next basho? To me it sounds like either the YDC guys have really lowered their requirements, or they are just desperate to place someone on the Yw spot... Both cases don't seem good... So I hope that Hakuho claims his promotion, leaving no space for doubts - I don't want to have a "did-he-really-deserved-his-rank" Yokozuna... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quintalomaru 0 Posted March 27, 2007 If he's in the running for the yusho till senshuraku and the quality of his sumo will be good, 12 wins will possibly enough..", I don't want to have a "did-he-really-deserved-his-rank" Yokozuna... Some people thought Musashimaru didn't deserve his tsuna even after he won his 12th yusho so i bet Hakuo's promotion will always be discussed if he can't compete with the blue dragon... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 47,226 Posted March 27, 2007 If he's in the running for the yusho till senshuraku and the quality of his sumo will be good, 12 wins will possibly enough..", To promote him with yusho + 12 wins next basho? I read it as "no yusho required". Only staying in the race till the last day and good quality sumo.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jonosuke 28 Posted March 27, 2007 Actually we've heard this type of things from Chief of Judging, Rijicho, YDC chairman of the past. I haven't checked Forum Archives but I seem to recall just about the same thing was said by one of them for Tochiazuma's "promotion basho". Basically I consider this type of comment to be a lip service to fans so they can go out and buy tickets for the next basho so they won't miss the birth of yokozuna. See all these geezers are all nice grumpy old men (and a woman) with the best interests of sumo fans in their mind. A henka or two does not make a rikishi. So Asashoryu did one but so did most other yokozuna (though they may have been injured or were coming back from one). Hakuho has shown in the past he could compete well and beat all current rikishis including Asashoryu. His bouts against Asashoryu have been great sumo (except the last). He would make a great yokozuna and there is no shame in promoting him to yokozuna. But we could have said the same thing about many other ozeki current and the past. So there is a pseudo standard they set - two consecutive yusho or equivalent. In the recent climate I consider "equivalent" to mean that the rikishi would have the same record as the eventual yusho winner but lost to him in the kettei sen. So in this case Hakuho could allow to lose three only if the eventual yusho winner also lost, a rather unlikely event. More likely scenario is what Kitanoumi oyakata said. Hakuho would have to come up with a better record than the current basho, meaning 14 wins or better. So if it's 13 wins, Kitanoumi and company would not send their recommendation to the YDC. Ebisawa's comment is a clear notice that even Hakuho does not get 14 wins, YDC should be consulted and the conclusion should not decided by the Rijicho and Judging members alone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 20,249 Posted March 27, 2007 Let's just remind ourselves that anything anybody says on this subject until (at least) Day 13 of Natsu basho is just a soundbite to feed the news cycle, nothing more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,259 Posted March 27, 2007 Hakuho has shown in the past he could compete well and beat all current rikishis including Asashoryu. His bouts against Asashoryu have been great sumo (except the last). He would make a great yokozuna and there is no shame in promoting him to yokozuna. But we could have said the same thing about many other ozeki current and the past. I respectfully disagree. There isn't any ozeki (who didn't become yokozuna) who posted 40 wins in three basho like Hakuho did last year, let alone 53 wins in four basho. My opinion is that past 1927 there aren't many moto-ozeki who would have made a great yokozuna. Konishiki or Wakashimazu could possibly have risen to the occasion, but there really aren't many missed yokozuna promotions. Kaio, Tochiazuma and Chiyotaikai already are among the best career ozeki and I'm not sure if they would have made a great yokozuna. I wouldn't mind seeing and remembering them as yokozuna, but not a great one. On the other subject, I think the YDC still is fuming that it didn't even get consulted after Hakuho's 14-1 and 13-2 as ozeki. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aderechelsea 125 Posted March 29, 2007 a smiling pic of Ebisawa-san, Chairman of the YDC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
