Kotoshogiku Blog

[Fay 1,677]

Kotoshogiku has started his own blog in january :-P . Kotoshogiku's blog

We can see him mostly eating ;-) but there are a lot of more informations and some nice pic.

He starts his blog with a photography he calls God's hand, some clouds, which should bring him and us power and strength for the year.

Followed by some pics from Sadogatake beya, one view among them, we don't have a chance to take, the dohyo and behind it the place the Oyakata and visitors are usually sitting.

We then have Shoki in his beginnings and with the usual flag in his hand ;-) and of course Shoki today.

Don't miss all the pics of Kotoshogiku eating all sorts of cake.

Shoki with his tsukebito Kotoyamaguchi and Kotomisen

On the senshurakuparty, which I missed again in favour of Kakuryu ...

He received the kite from a sponsor when he made it to Juryo and some other pieces from Shoki's collection

No comment

backstage Tochiazuma's danpatsushiki

Shoki went to a soccer game together with Kotomisen, Japan against Thailand

and the last for today

eating chanko

taking a nap

going to the physical checkup, getting a feared injection, height 1,79, weight 158 kg, which means he gained 8 kg

and like a ballerina

Speaking about his weight, Kotoshogiku is concerned about the increasing anorexia and gives us words of wisdom for the weekend ;-)

It's not the appearance, it's the insight of a person what matters ...

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

Great!

I remember back in time when Sentoryu was still active and had his bloq. I asked him about Shogun who was then Kotokikutsugi and in makushita. Sentoryu's comment was something like "He is good but he needs more muscle and power to get to juryo". Shogun was then around 125-130kg and tarzanish. I bet Sentoryu would appreciate his current power and muscle level.

Gotta ask Shogun about his keiko "weakness" ie. his habit of losing basically 90% of his bouts against both Mickey and Osh. The surprising thing is that he actually looks quite good in losing those bouts. As if he doesn't even go for a win. There was some comment about Osh's condition based on his 15-2 keiko result against Shogun prior to Hatsu basho but that means absolutely nothing really. I wonder how often he beats Katayama who seems to be a regular visitor at Sadogatake-beya.

[Fay 1,677]

Gotta ask Shogun about his keiko "weakness" ie. his habit of losing basically 90% of his bouts against both Mickey and Osh. The surprising thing is that he actually looks quite good in losing those bouts. As if he doesn't even go for a win.

I always have the impression during keiko, that he doesn't really give it all against Mickey and Osh ...

[aderechelsea 125]

Maybe he feels bad about beating an Ozeki in keiko. Doesn't want to make them look bad.

but anyway ... great stuff !!! i like these blogs more and more.

These pics with Kisenosato and Toyonoshima make me realize how friendly everyone is in Ozumo. These guys are supposedly rivals but they definitely don't act like it. Same thing goes for Chiyotaikai and Asashoryu for example and the pics in his blog.

[Gusoyama 104]

He starts his blog with a photography he calls God's hand, some clouds, which should bring him and us power and strength for the year.

;-)

Um. Oh my. That photo is obviously a photoshop, which most people can see, but its referencing something COMPLETLEY different than what he's talking about. Wiki for The Other Thing

:-P

[Harry 67]

He starts his blog with a photography he calls God's hand, some clouds, which should bring him and us power and strength for the year.

(Being unsure...)

Um. Oh my. That photo is obviously a photoshop, which most people can see, but its referencing something COMPLETLEY different than what he's talking about. Wiki for The Other Thing

(Spooky TV program...)

Yikes, I guess he didn't ask for a translation of what it was before he posted it... That move isn't in the kimarite!

[Gusoyama 104]

To be fair, he wasn't the only one. Snopes Page(myth debunking site)

[kaiguma 0]

He starts his blog with a photography he calls God's hand, some clouds, which should bring him and us power and strength for the year.

(Being unsure...)

Um. Oh my. That photo is obviously a photoshop, which most people can see, but its referencing something COMPLETLEY different than what he's talking about. Wiki for The Other Thing

(Spooky TV program...)

ummm, okay maybe you know something we don't... like the intentions of that photoshopper or if this pic originated at Goatse.cx, but otherwise, why assume they are related???

edit: ok seems you've done your "research" ;-) I found the reference to the "hands of god parody." yikes. It's the insides out that counts.

again: we've all been wondering about the odd back taping (Whistling...)

Edited February 8, 2008 by kaiguma

[Fay 1,677]

He starts his blog with a photography he calls God's hand, some clouds, which should bring him and us power and strength for the year.

(Being unsure...)

Um. Oh my. That photo is obviously a photoshop, which most people can see, but its referencing something COMPLETLEY different than what he's talking about. Wiki for The Other Thing

(Spooky TV program...)

who cares, if it works for him (Whistling...)

[ilovesumo 12]

Great!

I remember back in time when Sentoryu was still active and had his bloq. I asked him about Shogun who was then Kotokikutsugi and in makushita. Sentoryu's comment was something like "He is good but he needs more muscle and power to get to juryo". Shogun was then around 125-130kg and tarzanish. I bet Sentoryu would appreciate his current power and muscle level.

Gotta ask Shogun about his keiko "weakness" ie. his habit of losing basically 90% of his bouts against both Mickey and Osh. The surprising thing is that he actually looks quite good in losing those bouts. As if he doesn't even go for a win. There was some comment about Osh's condition based on his 15-2 keiko result against Shogun prior to Hatsu basho but that means absolutely nothing really. I wonder how often he beats Katayama who seems to be a regular visitor at Sadogatake-beya.

Moto Sentoryu is just out of rehab (Spooky TV program...)

[Hakaso 0]

Sentoryu in rehab ? Do you know why ?

Edited February 8, 2008 by Hakaso

[Fay 1,677]

Sadogatake preparations for Haru Basho :-)

Sadogatake beya seems to have a relaxed preparation for Haru Basho, Shoki wrote in his blog that he will go for a holiday today and I got a mail that the Heya is going for a holiday to tropical Cebu Islands, Philippines :-) (Hope nobody complains about Asa again ...)

So Shogi is testing some sunglasses

[aderechelsea 125]

well ... there's gonna be 2 Ozeki with him on those vacations.

[Fay 1,677]

going for a holiday to tropical Cebu Islands, Philippines :-) (Hope nobody complains about Asa again ...)

I know you were joking but in all fairness you can hardly compare someone who was sekiwake for a single tournament with someone who has been yokozuna for 5 years.

As Kotoshogiku himself said he wan't to beat Asashoryu on shonici so that people would know who he was.

I'm pretty sure that if he retired tomorrow no-one outside the world of sumo fandom would notice. That's not being smart-arsed either. It's just a fact that the general public has only a vague idea of rikishi below the rank of ozeki.

sure I was joking but besides we have also 2 Ozeki going for holidays, not only Kotoshogiku

edit: (oh Adere was faster :-) )

Edited February 13, 2008 by Fay

[ilovesumo 12]

It's just a fact that the general public has only a vague idea of rikishi below the rank of ozeki.

So true.... :-)

[Mark Buckton 1]

It's just a fact that the general public has only a vague idea of rikishi below the rank of ozeki.

great blog this but I think the piece quoted is a sweeping generalisation that certainly doesn't fall in line with the folk I know - regualr folk in the street.

Many in Adachi-ku (my home area in NE Tokyo) are fired up about the lads at Sakaigawa now that Tochiazuma has had the 'snip' and Tamanoi isn't faring too well and I would say many of the rikishi in makuuchi are known about by the vast majority - to some extent. Many of the lower rankers at the two local stables are known by name or sight too as they use the local stations / shops / bars etc.

This will likely be similar around Tokyo whrever heya are located whic does limit locales of course and no major 'otaku' (unlike those reading this - and typing it) of course but there is a lot more knowledge out there with the general populace than you give them credit for.

[Fay 1,677]

Well, I mostly know japanese who are interested in sumo, but a lot of them only know their favourites and can't recognize other wrestlers. But that's only my impression, maybe I'm totally wrong.

What gave me a slight shock last time was my visit to Takanohana Beya. I had to wait a bit and talked with the secretary about favourites. She asked who is mine and I told her (beside Takakiho of course) it's Kakuryu. Huuuuuuuuuu Kakuryu?????????? She didn't know him (ok, ok most of the forum members don't know him either ;-) )had to look in the program to find him, said, oh he is mongolian ...

I made a second try and said, I like Kotoshogiku too ... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ???, the program helped. Didn't want to try someone else, so I asked her, who is your favourite from the sekitori. She had to think, took the program again, browsed in it and finally found a sekitori she heard of recently ... Kisenosato ... browsed a bit more and found Toyonoshima, whom she likes because he is so small. She knew the Yokozuna and the ozeki, the wrestlers of the stable of course but only two of the sekitori. She works for a sumo stable and she is interested in it, so I expected a bit more (Clapping wildly...)

[aderechelsea 125]

i've been only once in Tokyo but i can say with certainty that most of the Japanese people waiting outside the kokugikan for the rikishi to arrive had no idea who they were most of the times.

well ... except Baruto of course.... everyone knows Baruto .... (Clapping wildly...)

and you don't want to start talking about anyone lower than Juryo .... you'll get laughed at for knowing them.

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

Sat next to Tochiazuma senior's high school/junior high school classmate in Osaka one day and talked with him for 2-3 hours. He was avid Tamanoi-supporter. The funny part was that his wife couldn't believe some foreigner knew guys like Amanowaka, Tooyama, Shibuya. It was some kind of a cultural shock to her. The man didn't seem to dumb struck by that and eagerly talked about Azuma and others and he knews his sumo well. It was great talking with him. But it is strange to know makushita or even lower division guys. It is like knowing some 2nd division English league players and one must be quite hard core soccer fan to know them unless it is your home team. Sumoforum has a lot of hard core sumofans. Bias is inevitable. We are weird. Aderechelsea is probably in top 5 in whole Greece when it comes to sumo knowledge, if not in top 3 or top 1?? Can't imagine more connected Israeli than Kintamayama when it comes to sumo etc.

Edited February 13, 2008 by Kaikitsune Makoto

[kame 0]

thanks for the link, fun blog. it's only been online a few weeks but it seems to be getting as many hits as futeno's (called by shogiku the Blog Queen). it's amazing how different shogiku is in his blog, compared to the NHK interviews and his attitude on the dohyo. the smileys he uses, the tilts of the head, the onsen innuendo... he has the whole kawaii act down. and then that goatse parody pic...

yes, knowing too much about sumo (ie. even the simple mention of joui maegashira) can definitely be embarassing if you're among young japanese people. other older, more polite japanese will try to remember stuff and make a conversation. sumo's still a popular sport but it seems it's something your old man would watch, or something you saw as a child or during the 90s boom.

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

Face it guys: what we're doing here isn't any less queer than kids memorizing every Pok

[Fay 1,677]

Sadogatake Beya on their way to the Philippine Islands.

a four hours flight, so better sleep and eat :-S

arrived at Cebu Islands and having fun (Kotoyamaguchi, Kotoshimoda, Kotomisen and Kotoshogiku)

the duties of a tsukebito ;-)

a view out of the car

a bit low and cramped for these big boys

coming home to the hotel

Tomorrow they will go to the beach, guess we will see some funny pics.

[_the_mind_ 0]

is that a car or something they are all cramped up in? if so, they must have ooshu strapped to the top, if they cant fit in(and there were no larger vehicles), i cant imagine how he got to where they were going.

[Fay 1,677]

On their way in the swinging bus.

blue sky, blue sea, sunshine

Kotomisen in the little boat which brings them to a bigger one

Kotomitsuki: "Kotootori, stop it, I'm getting seasick :-S "

And finally

Arrived on the little island ...

relaxing

my little Kotoyamaguchi, looks like he enjoys it too

Shoki looking out for big fishs

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

18 year old Shogun beating Wakakirin in 2002.