Spring Time for New Recruits

[madorosumaru 7]

The other picture did not do him justice. Resplendent in his Nichidai blazer, Kise Beya-bound shin-deshi, Takashi Kamei, went to visit the mayor of his hometown, Zentsuji in Kagawa Prefecture. He promised the town official, "I am going to work diligently in keiko and weight training. It is my primary goal to make it to juryo."

Kamei was active as a youngster on the local sumo club. Mayor Miyashita remembers watching him on the dohyo in those days. "The only person you can rely on is yourself," he advised the young man. "Build a strong body so you can avoid injuries."

He then said, "When you become a sekitori, I would like to hold a [jungyo] Zentsuji Basho." Hear that, Oshima Oyakata? Start cheering for the kid!

Kamei with the mayor of Lilliputia

[madorosumaru 7]

Ichinoya writes in the Takasago HP that, as of this moment, there is not a single shin-deshi who will be joining the heya in March. There were several prospects but they ended up either continuing with school or finding regular jobs.

The saving grace is that there is one young fellow who is committed to join next year with two others "highly probable."

[Petr 0]

I didn't think he would join. A very nice guy, who behaves more like a college student than a rikishi. Hope he will do well despite his injuries.

I was just thinking he looks as dorky as MassMedia, though admittedly a bit beefier.How well did you know him Petr?

And despite his noncommittal decision, he sounds quite determined now that he's in. One to watch in the long run?

I have sparred with him in about ten practices and used to meet him during college tournaments. Because of his injuries, I have never seen him go all out during a training. There are two rings at Nichidai: one for the lighweights and one for the elite. When I used to go there, he always practiced only in the light-weight ring with us.

[Petr 0]

I have sparred with him in about ten practices ............ he always practiced only in the light-weight ring with us.

How did you do against him?

As I said, he never went full out, but I am sure he was stronger than me. If use ask about some scores, I'm sorry, I can't provide that. There's no point counting wins at keiko anyway. (Otherwise, I would brag that I have once "beaten" Tochinoshin.)

[madorosumaru 7]

Hurray! I Finally Got a New Deshi!

The first shin-deshi to join Takanohana Beya in four years is 15-year-old Kanata Matsubara 松原哉太 from Saitama.

Takanohana Oyakata, who was promoted to assistant director of judges in early February, was assigned for the first time to measure the height of the applicants at the shin-deshi physical examination.

Asked how he felt, he said, "I was nervous. In the old days, the [examination room] was not so spankingly clean and they all have gotten a lot bigger."

Among those examined was Kanata Matsubara, who measured in at 184 cm and 137 kg. Oyakata said, "My heart was pounding [when it was Kanata's turn]. I am going to nurture him so that he will become accustomed to the [sumo] way of life quickly."

Young Kanata making the former grand champion look downright puny.

[ilovesumo 12]

Taka's biiiig chance :-)

[Kintamayama 45,539]

A rugby-playing high school graduate has joined Hakkaku-beya. 18 year old Mishio Fukudome 福留未汐 was a front-row forward on his Onomichi High

At the SDK today:

Another one:

Edited March 2, 2008 by Kintamayama

[madorosumaru 7]

A rarity-- a college graduate with no sumo experience-- is joining Kasugayama Beya. He is Yoshitaka Kido 木戸喜崇 (22) from Kyushu Kyoritsu University. He decided to join with a "Why not?" attitude. He has second dan ability in judo but has never done any sumo. Last November, he went to watch the Kyushu Basho with a friend, who was being recruited, and was asked if he would be interested in sumo as a career. He was undecided for a while but when inquired in February by Kasugayama Oyakata whether he was willing to gambarize, he replied, "Yes I will be able to endure the hardship."

The oyakata believeed in his detemination, "At first I was concerned, but I respected his willingness to commit. It's a harsh world but I would like to see him go up against the challenge." Tthe recruit said, "I was surprised at how big everyone was. This is a world where ability matters the most. I am not particularly bothered by the Tokitsukaze Incident."

In addition to Kido, there were two 15-year-old Kasugayama shin-deshi that took the physical. Kido will be starting off at the same level as guys seven years younger. Oyakata said, "It's going to important whether he can live in harmony with junior-hi grads and high school alums." Yoshitaka understands the situation: "I can always get a job in the regular society. [sumo] is something which I can do only when I am young."

Edited March 2, 2008 by madorosumaru

[madorosumaru 7]

One of the nine new deshi at Hakkaku Beya, as reported earlier by Asashosakari, is a young fellow from Hiroshima named Mishio Fukudome (18). Although he did not stand out for his size at the physical, he was an object of media attention for his unique background--he led his high school to a Best-8 finish at Hanazono, the rugby equivalent of baseball's Koshien.

He was the first of the Hakkaku group to arrive at the site and was measured by Takanohana Oyakata at 178 cm and 112 kg. "I was 107 kg when I played at Hanazono [in late December, early January]," he told the press, quite happy with his weight gain.

Young Mishio started playing rugy as an elementary schooler and continued on to Onomichi High School, where he starred at the right prop forward position and led the team to the national tournament. He was particularly strong in his tackling and was recruited by numerous colleges, including powerhouse Waseda, where the new mayor of Osaka played. He rejected the offers and decided to join ozumo because as he said, "I didn't want to be a burden on my family. I wanted to get independent and repay my family for all they've done for me."

He joined the Hakkaku group at Osaka in late February. Currently, he is working daily on the basics of shiko, suriashi and matawari. Asked about the difference between rugby and sumo, he said, "There is more pressure on the thighs and the knees." As for his goal, "I just want to get as far as my efforts will take me."

[Jonosuke 28]

I feel the guy we want to watch out for is Yashiki of Kasugano beya. He has consistently finished high in the majority of high school tournaments as in my view he was one of the top five or so high schoolers in the last several years along with Sakuma, Hashimoto, Shimako and Yamaguchi.

Kanazawa Gakuin Higashi has been very competitve in high school sumo scene and he was the standout there. He has as good potentials to become the next Goeido.

Edited March 4, 2008 by Jonosuke

[Azumashida 1]

I feel the guy we want to watch out for is Yashiki of Kasugano beya. He has consistently finished high in the majority of high school tournaments as in my view he was one of the top five or so high schoolers in the last several years along with Sakuma, Hashimoto, Shimako and Yamaguchi.

Thanks for this short report, good to know!

BTW who of these guys was high school yokozuna in 2007? Was one of them present at the amateur championships? You seemingly did not have time to report here about the latest amateur competitions of 2007, which I very much missed...

[madorosumaru 7]

In the aftermath of the Tokitsukaze Incident, many heya did not have even a single new recruit for Haru. Oyakata reported numerous prospects changing their minds at the last moment. Going counter to the current was Hakkaku Beya, which managed to sign up a whopping nine new deshi. Why was Hakkaku Oyakata successful when others failed? Here is a summary of what one reporter found out.

Two days before the announcement of the new banzuke, Hakkaku Oyakata (former yokozuna Hokutoumi) waited in the morning at the train station in Nagoya to meet up with Kotaro Wani (15) 和仁倖太郎. They then boarded the Bullet Train and headed for the Hakkaku lodgings in Osaka. That wasn't all for the oyakata that day. He made sure the boy got settled in and took off right away for Hiroshima.

At Hiroshima awaited another new deshi, Mishio Fukudome, the rugby player discussed in earlier posts. The oyakata barely had time to check into a hotel before he went with Mishio to an encouragement party for the youngster that was held that evening. Early next morning, the pair departed from Hiroshima for Osaka. There, they joined the seven other shin-deshi that had just arrived from the heya in Tokyo. For the first time, all nine recruits were at the same place at the same time. Another post reported how Hakkaku Oyakata traveled to Hokkaido in early February to pick up the five deshi from there to escort them to Tokyo.

At a press conference soon after Asashoryu's return from Mongolia, Takasago Oyakata said, "

From now on, I am going to make sure communication is top priority." Hakkaku Oyakata's strength is in his ability to break down the communication barrier between a shisho and his young charges.

What is the key point during the recruiting process? "First of all, I must make them trust me," said Hakkaku Oyakata."If I don't have their trust, it is over right there." When asked how he got that trust, he replied, "By telling the truth. [Like Howard Cosell (Laughing...)] I always tell it like it is." He patiently and forthrightly answers every question asked by the boys and the parents.

"Sometimes, I go get drunk with the [prospect's] father," confided the oyakata. "When you've had a few drinks in you, you tend to tell the honest truth." A former yokozuna exudes a certain aura. When such a person lays bare his soul, the boys and their parents are invariably impressed.

Wani-kun from Nagoya said, "I decided to take this path because I could do sumo under Hakkaku Oyakata's guidance. I don't know what I would have done if it were another heya." Fukudome-kun's mother is a believer. "Each and every word he says is filled with warmth," she said. "I felt in my heart that I could rely on this oyakata." The oyakata understands his responsibility. "Mrs. Shinohara [mother of Daichi] told me she trusted me and that was the only reason why she was allowing her son to join," he said solemnly. "I feel I have to do the right thing for them."

A relationship of trust is not built overnight. Of course, there are support systems like the koenkai all across the country. Still, the oyakata needs to meet the families face to face. "I've been to Hokkaido over ten times," he said. Last June, he rented a car and drove all over the northern island.

Last Haru, there was only one shin-deshi. It wasn't because he didn't try. Sometimes, even one's best effort doesn't result in success. Therefore, he is not resting on his laurels this year. "It just so happened that we had nine recruits," he said. "This year, I plan to take around 50 plane trips." With dedicated effort like that, the heya will surely thrive.

Seven of the nine in Tokyo. Missing are Wani from Nagoya and Fukudome from Hiroshima, who joined them in Osaka.

[Jonosuke 28]

BTW who of these guys was high school yokozuna in 2007? Was one of them present at the amateur championships?

The 2007 High School Yokozuna is Seiya Hashimoto of Hotoku Gakuen High. He has already joined Nihon Taiiku University Sumo Club last month. In case you missed the 2006, it was Lee Daigen, already threatening sekitorihood. Lee is also a graduate of Hotoku Gakuin as well.

Masahiro Yamaguchi was a high school sumo sensation winning the High School Yokozuna crown in his first year at Tottori Johoku High School in 2005 but in the final year he lost out to Hashimoto. Yamaguchi is joining Nihon University Sumo Club next month.

Other recent High School Yokozuna who are currently in Ozumo are:

2004 - Goeido (Sawai from Saitama Sakae High)

2003 - Dewaotori (Matsumoto from Meitoku Gijuku High)

2002 - Tosayutaka (Morishita from Kochi Kogyo High)

2001 - Ichihara (Ichihara of Saitama Sakae High)

1998 - Sagatsukasa (Isobe from Hiryu High)

1997 - Asahimaru (Miyoshi from Nagaotani High)

1993 - Kotomitsuki (Tamiya from Tottori Johoku High)

1991 - Dejima (Dejima from Kanazawa City Engineering High)

Other notables are:

2000 - Katsuo Yoshida, former Nihon Unversity Sumo Club standout and still a competitive semi-pro rikishi at Kyushu Power Electric and was All Japan champion.

1994 - Tochiazuma (Shiga from Meiji University Nakano High)

1992 - Tochisakae (Okamoto from Saitama Sakae High)

1989 - Musoyama (Oso from Mito Nogyo High)

Edited March 5, 2008 by Jonosuke

[Azumashida 1]

Many thanks Jonosuke, that reply exceeded my expectations! :-)

[Asashosakari 19,682]

Another big guy is on the way, this year with Sakaigawa-beya as the destination. 18-year old Naoya Miyazaki 宮崎直也 weighed in at 206 kg in the shindeshi exam which isn't quite Yamamotoyama (233 kg) territory, but does make him the second-heaviest applicant ever. He clocked in at "only" 130 kg as a 15-year old junior high school kid, but has gone up by more than 70 kg in his three years at Isahaya Agricultural High (Isahaya-city, Nagasaki prefecture) in part thanks to his large appetite for kaiten-zushi, of which he is reported to eat as many as 50 plates in one sitting.

His shisho Sakaigawa-oyakata (ex-Ryogoku) is also an alum of Isahaya Ag's sumo club (as is ex-Tokitsuumi/Tokitsukaze-oyakata), explaining why he ended up with that stable. He doesn't appear to be a huge talent (no pun intended), but did reach the final 16 in the inter-high school sumo competition. One thing's for sure though, he already knows how to hit the right notes, stating that "the sumo world is a tough place to be, but I am going to gambarize".

Large and in charge at the shindeshi kensa:

Edited March 5, 2008 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Large and in charge at the shindeshi kensa:

You neglected to mention he plays the harmonica.

[philafuji 1]

Large and in charge at the shindeshi kensa:

You neglected to mention he plays the harmonica.

Well Moti, you have done it again. I am ROTFLMAO

[Asashosakari 19,682]

Atsuhiro Suzuki (15) has just arrived in Tokyo from his hometown of Okazaki, Aichi. He is planning to take the shin-deshi test in March and join Shikoroyama Beya.

And Shikoroyama's recruiting efforts didn't stop there, as he has a total of five new deshi according to Asahi Shimbun.

[kaiguma 0]

Atsuhiro Suzuki (15) has just arrived in Tokyo from his hometown of Okazaki, Aichi. He is planning to take the shin-deshi test in March and join Shikoroyama Beya.

And Shikoroyama's recruiting efforts didn't stop there, as he has a total of five new deshi according to Asahi Shimbun.

no pictures???

[philafuji 1]

Atsuhiro Suzuki (15) has just arrived in Tokyo from his hometown of Okazaki, Aichi. He is planning to take the shin-deshi test in March and join Shikoroyama Beya.

And Shikoroyama's recruiting efforts didn't stop there, as he has a total of five new deshi according to Asahi Shimbun.

no pictures???

Kaiguma is right. Hey one picture is worth a thousand words. More pics. please

[Asashosakari 19,682]

no pictures???

Sorry, no. It was just a short blurb in one of those articles contrasting Tokitsukaze's lack of recruits with Hakkaku's success.

[ilovesumo 12]

snip

Hakkaku Oyakata's strength is in his ability to break down the communication barrier between a shisho and his young charges.

What is the key point during the recruiting process? "First of all, I must make them trust me," said Hakkaku Oyakata."If I don't have their trust, it is over right there." When asked how he got that trust, he replied, "By telling the truth. [Like Howard Cosell ;-)] I always tell it like it is." He patiently and forthrightly answers every question asked by the boys and the parents.

snip

On Hakkaku Oyakata...

he is known as the cool Shisho. He never shouts (he has one to do that for him (I am not worthy...) ) at his deshi. They like him very much and want to pay back his kindness with winning- for him! He has such an aura. Inner peace, relaxed. I understand that parents trust him. It's not only what he says, it's his whole personality. When he was active he must have been amazing to watch. I went to Hakkaku often, but he was there only 3 times(- always on the plane, hum? (I am not worthy...) )

But if you ever get the chance sitting beside him watching keiko there- you'd feel save (but overwhelmed)

(Hakkaku's sitting area is pretty small...you are very, very close...too close for me some times...)

Edited March 6, 2008 by ilovesumo

[Jonosuke 28]

no pictures???

Sorry, no. It was just a short blurb in one of those articles contrasting Tokitsukaze's lack of recruits with Hakkaku's success.

You can hop over to Homasho's Shikoroyama Blog and see all their five new recruits.

[madorosumaru 7]

On Hakkaku Oyakata...

he is known as the cool Shisho. He never shouts (he has one to do that for him ;-) ) at his deshi. They like him very much and want to pay back his kindness with winning- for him! He has such an aura. Inner peace, relaxed. I understand that parents trust him. It's not only what he says, it's his whole personality. When he was active he must have been amazing to watch. I went to Hakkaku often, but he was there only 3 times(- always on the plane, hum? (I am not worthy...) )

But if you ever get the chance sitting beside him watching keiko there- you'd feel save (but overwhelmed)

(Hakkaku's sitting area is pretty small...you are very, very close...too close for me some times...)

Thanks for the input. You sure had an "interesting" time in Japan. (I am not worthy...)

[aderechelsea 125]

I may have been in Hakkaku beya just once but i was lucky enough to see Hakkaku oyakata in person and he was really polite to me offering me more pillows to sit on. I couldn't talk to him obviously but he greeted me politely when keiko ended and i stood up to leave.

i can see how he is considered a "cool" oyakata.