Asashouryuu preparations- Hatsu 2009

[Chinonofuji 35]

Asashouryuu went to Isegahama beya today for degeiko amid growing rumors of another kyujo. He had 11 bouts with Harumafuji- 8-3 and was looking better than yesterday. He was also seen losing badly, using desperation pulling moves, and even losing his footing and falling forward.

For you experienced keiko-watchers out there, can you tell me how much bearing keiko results have on tournament results? Obviously, if someone dominates or is dominated in keiko, that's pretty clear. But when the question is one of endurance, which Asashoryu may lack right now, is that really a big deal when he needs to survive for only one match each day in the basho? In the video, his elbow does not look good at one point, he's rubbing it like it hurt, so fine, now power nage moves maybe out for him during the basho. But as a very smart wrestler, he just needs to go in and do his sumo for a short burst if he's lucky, and get out. Unless it's a long bout or toward the end of the basho, endurance shouldn't be the key factor. Very different than the results of 20 mini-bouts in a row in keiko. So, can we really use his keiko results as a guide as to whether he should go kyujo?

Thanks!

[Kotoviki 16]

In my personal experience on a few occasions the people who did the best in Keiko often had the worst results in the basho..

ON sekitori level watched Tochinoshin & Tochiozan kick everyone's butt on two different days and then go on to the basho to have terrible performances.

On a lower level we watched Tsubasaumi of Kitanoumi get his butt kicked by everyone while Aiyama also of Kitanoumi was looking good, again basho time Tsubasaumi went like 6-1 or some insane thing like that and Aiyama was just the opposite!

There are more examples both ways though...

but have to wait.. it is 2am and I should be my own mother and make myself go to bed!!

[Kintamayama 45,534]

Sanspo is saying Asashouryuu invited his close friend -soccer player Nakata on shonichi, and they deduced from that that he intends to enter for sure.

More pics from today, but this batch has Asa actually looking great:

[dss902 0]

but have to wait.. it is 2am and I should be my own mother and make myself go to bed!!

:-D (Hugging...) (Showing respect...)

Wow you are the best! Always bring me my fill of Harumafuji. I can never get enough. Thanks as always!

I love ilovetochinoshin

Your Fan,

クレイグ

PS-I sent you a pm.

[Asashosakari 19,669]

Sanspo is saying Asashouryuu invited his close friend -soccer player Nakata on shonichi, and they deduced from that that he intends to enter for sure.

It's official now; Asashoryu is entering and will be facing Kisenosato on shonichi. I guess this was inevitable once the YDC suggested he sit out... :-D

I hope I'm wrong, but I think this is going to backfire spectacularly.

[Kintamayama 45,534]

Asashouryuu did not show up for keiko today. Usually on the last day of keiko, he shows up to "break in" the mawashi he uses for honbasho, but not today.

Takasago Oyakata was irate. "No, I don't know where he is. I have nothing else to add concerning the importance of this basho for him and the possible consequences. How many times do I have to say that??", he said. He did say, however, that the YDC's intention of issuing an "intai warning" if Asa doesn't perform well was "humiliating".

Aside-a poll on Hochi:

How will Asa do?

Question 1.:

Asa will make a successful comeback-

Button A-Yes, B- No, C- none of the above

Question 2: How many wins will he have?

Question 3- Who do you think will win the yusho? (you have to enter the name)

Question 4 - What part of Japan are you from? (If you're not, go to the last word)

Question 5 - Sex (first button-male, second-female- there is no button for "YES!!")

Question 6- Age

Question 7 - Where is Asashouryuu?

Edited January 9, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Peeter 15]

Maybe financial & economic crisis left best yokozuna of this century without sumoonesie? :-D

[James H 0]

Last disclaimer.. before any official media people say anything.. I do not mean ALL media/press are this way. Just that a lot of them are! If you are a sumo fan in the media I think you are much more polite and respect the wishes and the sport than those who are just out doing a job.

I'm guessing I count as one of these - I have no problem with what you wrote - the press club in full stampede is a pretty unpleasant sight.

Of course, much of the information we get here (translated via Kinta, Madoro, Harry et al) is from the same people who behave so rudely at asa geiko. I am not going to condone their behavior and it is completely cool when the oyakata lays down the law... but in their (kind of) defence, a lot of these guys are in competition with each other and their jobs depend on getting juicy stuff out of Asashoryu / whoever is big this week.

That said, the press should behave as well as anyone else at asa geiko, maybe better because they are expected to know the conventions that surround beya visits.

[Kofuji 0]

Brilliant video!! Was interesting how they lent their chests to each other and did the practice fall at the end. It looked very cordial at the end with Harumafuji shaking Asashoryu's hand ...

Thanks for posting the video!!

[HenryK 38]

Haggard?:

Oddly enough, I was thinking how un-haggard he looked during practice. Here's what I saw in under 6 minutes.

On a separate note, Isegahama Oyakata was pretty pissed off about how noisy the camera shutters were and told us off several times, finally banning cameras well into the Asashoryu-Harumafuji session. Fair comment if it's distracting, but the way he said it seemed as though he's never had a press pit in his heya.

Brilliant video. Thank you.

[Naganoyama 5,948]

but have to wait.. it is 2am and I should be my own mother and make myself go to bed!!

(In jonokuchi...) (Showing respect...) (Showing respect...)

Wow you are the best! Always bring me my fill of Harumafuji. I can never get enough. Thanks as always!

I love ilovetochinoshin

Your Fan,

クレイグ

PS-I sent you a pm.

(On the nth day of Christmas) I love ilovetochinoshin AND Takamizakura ...

[Harry 67]

Question 7 - Where is Asashouryuu?

Sounds like a new computer adventure game or something, "Where in the world is DOLGORSUREN Dagvadorj?"

[Kotoviki 16]

Hi!!

I will try to get pictures posted tomorrow night. I just checked in to my hotel and wanted to check the forums but my camera stuff is all locked away.

I just wanted to say thanks to those of you who said nice things to me! It really warms my heart! I don't want to sound corny or anything but really made my heart warm!!!

クレイグ, I did get your pm but not in time to deliver it to Harumafuji.

I will do during the basho for you!

Good night....

Viki

Edited January 9, 2009 by ilovetochinoshin

[Gusoyama 104]

Incredible video. It looked to me that Asa was definitely favoring that bad elbow, and could generate very little power from it. When he got a good left grip, he almost never used it to spin or throw.

[Orion 431]

Question 7 - Where is Asashouryuu?

Sounds like a new computer adventure game or something, "Where in the world is DOLGORSUREN Dagvadorj?"

Why bring his father into it -- and in caps too? (I am not worthy...)

Orion, back from dohyo matsuri

[Takamizakura 1]

back from dohyo matsuri

That was quick!

Or time's stood still since Tony & I parted ways w/you & went into the Edo Museum. Some guy just walked up & gave us free tickets to the people-carrier exibition. (I am not worthy...)

Edited January 10, 2009 by Takamizakura

[Harry 67]

Question 7 - Where is Asashouryuu?

Sounds like a new computer adventure game or something, "Where in the world is DOLGORSUREN Dagvadorj?"

Why bring his father into it -- and in caps too? (I am not worthy...)

Psst, I copied it right out of the sumo reference. I know, not very creative... or funny. Yes, I'll keep my day job.

[Kintamayama 45,534]

Asashouryuu came to morning training today, one day before blast-off. He did some suriashi and shiko, and then used a rubber tube to check out his elbow situation. Sweat flowed abundantly. "I will gambarize!!", is all he said to the gathered masses of the free press. He wore his black mawashi, in case anyone was wondering.

[Asashosakari 19,669]

Oh joy. The judging department is already making noises that they won't let Asashoryu get away with any "not quite two hands down" tachiai shenanigans this basho, of course prompting the press to speculate just how much of a hindrance this will be to the yokozuna's style.

Meanwhile, YDC member Sawamura who previously commented that he won't be afraid to call for Asashoryu's retirement if necessary has said that 10-5 may be considered an acceptable result in this first basho back from injury. (We'll see how long it takes another YDC member to contradict him on that...)

Edit: Always intriguing, press coverage of the press corps (from Asashoryu's no-show at yesterday's keiko):

Edited January 10, 2009 by Asashosakari

[Takamizakura 1]

It looked very cordial at the end with Harumafuji shaking Asashoryu's hand ...

Glad you liked it! Nothing says "Thanks for throwing me against the wall" like a good handshake (I am not worthy...)

I've also added a few more minutes of shiko to the video, at the 5:20 mark. Good to watch again if you want to see:

Aminishiki's knee without that blue contraption he had on earlier

Asashoryu unleashing his inner hula

An Isegahama conga line (kinda)

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

They showed Shoryu on the evening news doing his final keiko in the Takasago beya earlier this morning. Was "breaking in" his shimekomi, and doing some light training. Seemed still bothered by his (untaped) left elbow. Told reporters that he would gambarize this tourney.

[James H 0]

Oh joy. The judging department is already making noises that they won't let Asashoryu get away with any "not quite two hands down" tachiai shenanigans this basho, of course prompting the press to speculate just how much of a hindrance this will be to the yokozuna's style.

I guess Asa has to pray that Takanohana is head shimpan for his bout - he was the only guy blatantly not giving a rat's ass about the new guidelines when Mihogaseki et al were laying down the law in September.

If he loses two straight because of tachiai trouble and then has to face all the usual retirement grief, the JSA will end up looking like it is orchestrating a campaign to kick him out. Think I will stay out of the shitaku beya the day that happens...

[Asashosakari 19,669]

I guess Asa has to pray that Takanohana is head shimpan for his bout - he was the only guy blatantly not giving a rat's ass about the new guidelines when Mihogaseki et al were laying down the law in September.

I'm mostly guessing as usual, but Nikkan makes it sound like the guys who care once again laid down the law recently just to be sure, so perhaps even Takanohana will be toeing the line this time. I hope it all looks more like it did in Kyushu where they seemed to get the right level of enforcement than like the Aki abomination...

Speaking of Nikkan, another article (very nice summary of everything, but gloomy in the extreme) points out that former 20+ yusho winners Taiho, Kitanoumi and Chiyonofuji all ended their careers immediately when they were on intai watch and suffered two losses early on. Consequently, it may be expected that Asashoryu must either survive with zero or one loss for as long as possible or follow the example set... Takasago-oyakata is hinting at exactly that, saying that it's key for Asashoryu to go at least 4-1 in the first five days.

(In a way, even Takanohana retired after exactly two on-dohyo losses in Hatsu 2003, albeit with more complicated circumstances involving a fusenpai and a missed day prior to that. He did not retire when he dropped to 3-2 in his Aki 2002 return where he definitely also was on intai watch, however.)

Edited January 10, 2009 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 45,534]

Asashouryuu with black shimekomi and red tube:

[James H 0]

I'm mostly guessing as usual, but Nikkan makes it sound like the guys who care once again laid down the law recently just to be sure, so perhaps even Takanohana will be toeing the line this time. I hope it all looks more like it did in Kyushu where they seemed to get the right level of enforcement than like the Aki abomination...

If I remember rightly, he got chewed out for not stopping "bad" tachiai but even then kept his hand down for nearly every bout. I think I saw him intervene once - with Kasugao, I think (whose timing was so far gone people didn't even have the heart to boo) but he mostly just did his impression of a buddhist statue.

As for the rest of the Nikkan sports piece - yeah, it was good background. Their chief sumo guy (a bloke called Yanagida - we have run some of his pieces for Ozumo in translation) is one of the best sportswriters in Japan. Tells it like it is and isn't afraid to ask tough questions.