Featured rikishi - Yamamotoyama

[Asashosakari 16,827]

I like "Yamamotoyama", but then I also used to be fascinated with "Daishodai"...

[Fay 1,676]

What's wrong with Yamamotoyama, exact the name which fits to the man. (Showing respect...)

[ryafuji 758]

And "Aran" does?

Well at least that isn't just his surname with "yama" stuck on the end...

You do realize that it's actually even less, don't You?

Of course I do. What has that got to do with anything? I know some sekitori don't have proper shikona, I'd just like to see YMY rewarded for his progress by being given a new name.

[Kotoviki 16]

He may not want to change his shikona!

I thought Kimurayama would get a "proper Tochi.... something" shikona when he reached Juryo but now in Makuuchi we still see his just added "yama" to his name as well.

I was told in a Koenkai meeting that he choose his name that way for some reason but never did quite hear the reason.. but something to do with family. I never asked him about it directly because he seems quite happy with it.

So Yamamotoyama may also be quite happy with his name as it is!

We can only wait and see...

[Jonosuke 28]

One thing is that the name of Yamamotoyama is such a well known brand name in Japan, it's surprising that he got it. It's like calling yourself Guinness or Nestle. I'd say if you are born or raised or even been in Japan for some years, you will know the name as it's such a famous brand in Japan.

Yamamoyama sells tea (from Uji area near Kyoto) and sea weed (those black stuff around your Maki rolls). The company was founded in 1690 and has its head office in Tokyo's Nihonbashi, the place you really cannot miss.

I'd say the company has more prestige than Takamisakari's Nagatani-En brand so if Yamamotoyama becomes more identifiable figure, he will sure to get a banner or two from them.

If I were him, I'd never change it for life.

[Harry 67]

Yeah, he doesn't have to open a chain of stores when he intais...

Edited July 30, 2008 by Harry

[ryafuji 758]

One thing is that the name of Yamamotoyama is such a well known brand name in Japan, it's surprising that he got it. It's like calling yourself Guinness or Nestle. I'd say if you are born or raised or even been in Japan for some years, you will know the name as it's such a famous brand in Japan.

Yamamoyama sells tea (from Uji area near Kyoto) and sea weed (those black stuff around your Maki rolls). The company was founded in 1690 and has its head office in Tokyo's Nihonbashi, the place you really cannot miss.

I'd say the company has more prestige than Takamisakari's Nagatani-En brand so if Yamamotoyama becomes more identifiable figure, he will sure to get a banner or two from them.

If I were him, I'd never change it for life.

Thanks for that Jonosuke, that's really interesting; I had no idea it was a well known brand name in Japan. But the rikishi themselves don't get much say in the matter, do they? If his oyakata decides a new name is appropriate, then he'll get a new name.

[Kotoviki 16]

Yeah, he doesn't have to open a chain of stores when he intais...

Brilliant Harry!!!!

Yes, Yamamotoyama is very famous and they will be getting free advertising as well!!! Their tea is delicious... however I live among the Sayama-cha brand so can I must buy from my local tea shops. Is it ok for me to cheer for him anyway. (Beaten...)

If this was America (at least back in my youth days I remember) then Yamamotoyama would be seeing their flag banners disappearing from outside their shops as people stole them to wave at him at the bashos!! But luckily this is not America and I think their banners are relatively safe.. (Neener, neener...)

I'll be eating those words when I see people running up to him with those store banners asking him to sign them..

Anyway I plan to get to know him, try to go to asageiko after the summer jungyo and the Mongolian jungyo.. I have to support him as a fellow Saitama-jin. We Saitama country folk are a special kind of people.. LOL

[Kintamayama 40,632]

Funny you should mention this.. "I am not changing my shikona!!", he said today. "My favorite food is rice and nori (seaweed). Maybe I should change my first name to Norio (海苔男 -nori-man)", he jested, prompting me to like him even more.

YMY with 10 kilos of rice:

[Kintamayama 40,632]

Edited July 31, 2008 by Kintamayama

[aderechelsea 107]

that's actually 20 kilos of rice ... (First prize...)

(i tend to be irritating from time to time)

[Kintamayama 40,632]

that's actually 20 kilos of rice ... (First prize...)

(i tend to be irritating from time to time)

No, it's in DST, and Japan doesn't have that.

[Kintamayama 40,632]

YMY explained why he lost to his college rival Mori on the first day of Nagoya. "I over-ate. I had three giant bowls of rice for breakfast, and that killed my moves. I skipped breakfast on the remaining days and won all the rest of my bouts..", he explained. He did lose to his heya-mate and senpai Satoyama in the finals of the Makushita playoffs . "I seem to have problems with my colleagues and heya senpai..", he said. He is known to have eaten 73 sushis in one sitting. "OK, so I'm hungry, but my body is moving", he said of his bouts.

Edited August 2, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 40,632]

And the results are in. 251.5 ! That makes him the heaviest Japanese Juryo rikishi ever, easily surpassing Susanoumi's 240 kilos mark set in 1998. Konishiki was 285 kilos, but he is a foreigner, but as a shin-juryo, YMY is even heavier than Konishiki was then. He gained 20 kilos in one month. At this pace, he can overtake Konishiki as well, but he said : "This is enough. I'll be losing weight from tomorrow..".

Edited August 22, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Treblemaker 254]

And the results are in. 251.5 ! That makes him the heaviest Japanese Juryo rikishi ever, easily surpassing Susanoumi's 240 kilos mark set in 1998. Konishiki was 285 kilos, but he is a foreigner, but as a shin-juryo, YMY is even heavier than Konishiki was then. He gained 20 kilos in one month. At this pace, he can overtake Konishiki as well, but he said : "This is enough. I'll be losing weight from tomorrow..".

He looked pretty good in the recent basho - good mobility for someone that size. Not entirely "fat sumo". Quick lateral movement, good strength, from what I saw.

If and when he passes Konishiki in the weight department, he might have to change his name to:

"Yamamotoyamamotoyama".

Or just:

"Yamayamayama" (Mountain range?)

[Sasanishiki 57]

Makuuchi's heaviest rikishi, Yamamotoyama looks to slim down

On the 11th of June intial plans for the last day of the Natsu jungyo (to be held on Aug 23 in Yamanakako, yamanashi prefecture) were unveiled at the Yamanakako village office. It's five years since a tournament was held in Yamanashi prefecture and so, for PR purposes, Kitajin oyakata (former sekiwake Kirinji) of the Kyokai's jungyo dept and popular rikishi Yamamotoyama attended the announcement. This tournament has come into being as part of the revitalisation of the town, and in order to make it more lively, links with local kindergarten kids have been forged. After a photograh session at Yamanakako Koryu Plaza, Yamamotoyama remarked "I was overwhelmed with how energetic the kids were. I want to give them a kachikoshi in the Nagoya basho as a thank you." In the last basho Yamamotoyama was the heaviest in makuuchi at 258kg but recorded a 7-8 makekoshi. Reflecting on that he said "Should I gain weight? No, I'm heavy enough. I'm going to lose some." It became clear that he is going to shed weight in order to aim for a kachikoshi.