Asashouryuu preparations- Hatsu 2009

[Mark Buckton 1]

Up well before dawn 0400, arrived first at 0620.

Talk about men in suits! Didn't think I'd see the day some of those lads were dressed up to the nines.

Best array of kadomatsu outside that heya I have seen all winter.

Not a soul there watching when my group arrived although practice was well underway. Few folks looking in the window or trying too - and mysteriously all the bikes gone from the side street - normall packed with 15-20 bikes. Prob because of dignitaries later there.

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Since no one seems to want to post what actually happened during the interesting keiko session today at Musashigawa, we'll have to make do with the onlines. It seems Asa got a hold of YMY's mawashi front and sent him hurling across the dohyo for many miles, startling the daylights out of the 248 kilo newcomer. "Man,the Yokozuna is crazy quick.. I don't remember what actually happened. I can't even imagine what will happen if I really will face the Yokozuna during a honbasho..", he said, making his gigantic body small.

[Kintamayama 45,539]

19 sekitori from 10 heya were present. Asa was telling everyone he lost 3 kilos in Mongolia. "Can't you see I've lost weight? ", he asked. "It seems his stomach is a bit big.. In any case, it's important that he goes for degeiko. He's going forward all out and attacking!", assessed Musashigawa rijicho.

Musashigawa rijicho offers some advice to Asa- "You are not putting your left hand down at the tachi-ai- better start doing it in keiko..", is what he was complaining about:

YMY:

Edited January 4, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Mark Buckton 1]

You'd have found it was names on a list yesterday with so many sekitori there and (even being a large heya that can accomodate many) a 'doorman' keeping many out.

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Asashouryuu went to Dewanoumi beya today for degeiko. He fought Tochinonada, Tochinoshin, Tochiouzan, Futenou and others- 22 bouts- 20 wins, 2 losses.One loss was to Tochiouzan by Oshidashi. After his first 11 bouts (9-2) he retaped his injured elbow and won the next 11. "My elbow is not 100%. I'll just have to do what I have to do.. ", he said.

Edit-picture added:

Edited January 5, 2009 by Kintamayama

[paolo 0]

Just to know, since I am too far away from the places where all this happens: 33-2 looks not bad versus other makuushi rikishi. But... in these circumstances, are these bouts "normal" ? I mean: do everybody fight all out ? And especially versus the yokozuna ? They could be reluctant even to try to beat him, or simply try to avoid injuries and so give up early. What is the truth ? Half way ? Thanks.

[Orion 431]

Asashouryuu went to Dewanoumi beya today for degeiko. He fought Tochinonada, Tochinoshin, Tochiouzan, Futenou and others- 22 bouts- 20 wins, 2 losses.One loss was to Tochiouzan by Oshidashi. After his first 11 bouts (9-2) he retaped his injured elbow and won the next 11. "My elbow is not 100%. I'll just have to do what I have to do.. ", he said.

He was half-expected at Kasugano today (whose turn it was to host the sekitori); but he didn't show -- maybe he'd had enough of the same opponents! He looked very sharp at Dewamoumi yesterday (Vicki was taking pictures all the time -- maybe she can show us some?) This morning on my way to work I ran into Kitanofuji. He looked magnificent in a grey Japanese outfit and was revisiting a few old graves in the Ekoin temple grounds. He had just come from Kasugano and told me about the yokozuna no-show. I observed that three days in a row with the same ichimon was a bit much to expect.

Orion, reluctantly back at the office

[Kintamayama 45,539]

In the afternoon he went to a horse race where his friend and sponsor's horse Admirefuji won the cup for the second straight time, making him feel good enough to declare he will be entering Hatsu. He even crashed the trophy ceremony and took the trophy.. "That's a good omen.. I am inspired to go forward in this fashion!", he said. It looks like Asa feels he is succeeding in bringing himself to a situation where he will be able to hold his own in the very crucial next basho, as he ups his training intensity.

Asa startled by the sudden movement of Admirefuji, who may be named after the other horse, Harumafuji, or not:

Can anyone ID the other rikishi in the background talking to the Irishman?

Edited January 5, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Peeter 15]

I've heard about other humang beings/nations with red hair! (I am not worthy...) And my grandmother told to my friend with red hair: "Don't worry, You have right father, only the water is too ironized/ironic ( contains iron ) in your well!" (Whistling...)

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Asashouryuu did some weight training but no sumo and has acknowledged that he hurt his head in yesterday's keiko."The pain is not subsiding. And there's the elbow injury..", he said.

Edited January 5, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Kotoviki 16]

Hi,

As Doreen mentioned I was there with three guests and two of us took a ton of pictures. Most of them will be bad as they have the worst lighting situation....

I do promise to post them (I'll make an album...) but only 3.5 hours sleep before going there. Two hour plus drive to get there and Ozakiumi told me to come by 630am since it would be crowded...

A very full day after Keiko leaving Ryogoku for the drive home after 6pm...

Home again very late and up again after 3.5 hours sleep for another day today at Tokitsukaze where there were (memory fading.. at least 4 heya doing degeiko!) The Okamisan expected a lot of guests, recommended I arrive early but as it turned out there were just the three of us plus one other man.. along with 6 Oyakata!

It was a treat today as Kaisei was there for degeiko (he was the reason we had to go to Tokitsukaze and not Tomozuna..) But it was a bit hard to see through 6 Oyakata...

Today's pictures though are worse as the lighting was terrible.. but at least it was warm! A LOT warmer than yesterday at Dewanoumi!

Off to bed... just realized that it is already 2am... at least I can sleep 5 hours!

[Orion 431]

He was half-expected at Kasugano today (whose turn it was to host the sekitori); but he didn't show -- maybe he'd had enough of the same opponents!

Well, Shoryu was back at Dewanoumi this morning, Tues. 6th, this time right to the end, standing in the street being interviewed.

Orion

[Kintamayama 45,539]

As Orion has said, Asashouryuu came to Dewanoumi this morning. He had18 bouts, and lost by hatakikomi to Tochinonada, saying "Oh, SHIT!!" very loudly.

"I'm not ready yet.. I have some strength in my left arm but I still cant go all out..", he said. Asked by visiting dignitary ex-Mainoumi if he will be entering Hatsu, he answered - "I don't know..".

[Kintamayama 45,539]

New scandal!! New scandal!! "You're out of line!", said Asashouryuu unto ex-Mainoumi after the keiko on the 6th for some reason, when Mainoumi came to watch . Then, yesterday after the soken, he added "Hey Shuuhei!!", when he met up with him, using his first name. It is considered impolite by some. "It's a great honor for me that the Yokozuna knows my private name..", defused Mainoumi. "I don't know what exactly happened, but he should handle himself with more dignity", tsk tsked ex-YDC chairman Ishibashi.

Edited January 8, 2009 by Kintamayama

[James H 0]

New scandal!! New scandal!! "You're out of line!", said Asashouryuu unto ex-Mainoumi after the keiko on the 6th for some reason, when Mainoumi came to watch .

Apparently, Asa took umbrage at being asked whether he would be going kyujo or not, and in particular being asked by Mainoumi. Tis a mystery to me...

[Asashosakari 19,682]

New scandal!! New scandal!! "You're out of line!", said Asashouryuu unto ex-Mainoumi after the keiko on the 6th for some reason, when Mainoumi came to watch .

Apparently, Asa took umbrage at being asked whether he would be going kyujo or not, and in particular being asked by Mainoumi. Tis a mystery to me...

Is this the exchange in question (from Daily Sports)?

Mainoumi: 初場所は出るんですか？

Asashoryu:　まだ分からない

Mainoumi: 引退しないでくださいね

Asashoryu: 顔じゃないよ

I know what the online translators tell me, but I'm not even going to try to guess at the subtleties of that...

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Mainoumi: 初場所は出るんですか？

Asashoryu:　まだ分からない

Mainoumi: 引退しないでくださいね

Asashoryu: 顔じゃないよ

I know what the online translators tell me, but I'm not even going to try to guess at the subtleties of that...

M:Will you be entering Hatsu?

A:I don't know yet.

M:Please don't retire..

A:You're out of line!

[Kintamayama 45,539]

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. "We both had great keiko and that's good. I can't allow myself not to do it..", he said, but he was looking glum all the while. "It's better if he doesn't enter. It will be hard for him to go 15 days..", said Isegahama Oyakata. The torikumi for days 1 and 2 will be announced tomorrow, so there is not much time left for a final decision concerning Hatsu. Yet, "How many times are you going to ask me about this?? We've still got tomorrow!", was his response to the gathered media when asked what his plans are.

Harumafuji: "How've you been?'

Asa: "You're out of line!!"

Haggard?:

Edited January 8, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Takamizakura 1]

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.

Edited January 8, 2009 by Takamizakura

[Peeter 15]

:-) (I am not worthy...)

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Haggard?:

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

Hats off to you for an excellent quality video-I wish others could do more of these-it's a real gem!!

(I am not worthy...) :-)

[Takamizakura 1]

It's my pleasure, but credit goes to ilovetochinoshin for getting me & my friends in this morning.

My friends, husband, and I are all asageiko virgins, but it felt very intimate being there today and we really couldn't believe our luck with what we saw.

[paolo 0]

Asashouryuu ... had 11 bouts with Harumafuji- 8-3 ....

Do you mean 8 wins for Asashoryu and just 3 for Harumafuji ? It would be surprisingly good if you compare these results with recent Hakuho-Harumafuji bouts... Or does Harumafuji "let" Asashoryu win ? What are your impressions watching the bouts ? Thanks

[James H 0]

It's my pleasure, but credit goes to ilovetochinoshin for getting me & my friends in this morning.

Like everyone said, that video was a gem of a post - cheers.

[Kotoviki 16]

I thought it was 12 bouts and Asa had 9 wins.. but I was sweltering.. with so many people in there it was getting to be a sauna!

As Takamizakura said we had a great time and I too thought Asa looked just fine. Nothing was wrong with him!

Isegahama oyakata was quite angry at some of the losses by Harumafuji. I have never seen Ama called out by the Oyakata before and Isegahama is where I go most often (because I am always treated well there! Seated so close that Harumafuji was inches from being on top of us when he fell just in front of the seating area! :)

I have now seen Asa win 29 times in two days. While he may not be fit for a zenyusho I do believe he'll do just fine if he enters. His shoulder does seem to be bothering him but taping and putting on a supporter could just be show. Even Harumafuji was wearing one on his arm today thought he was trying the twin look with Asa!

Interestingly after Dewanoumi Asa hightailed it out and back home but today he stuck around for a long time talking with Harumafuji, then too with Aminishiki. He seemed more relaxed today.

As for the cameras, as Takamizakura mentioned the Oyakata told her early on that her shutter was too loud. It was really quiet in there and she was sitting right next to the Oyakata. I think had she been slightly further away it might not have been a problem.

He's usually pretty strict about noise and flash and today when I changed my battery and my flash reset and I took one with flash I thought that would be the end of me.. but nothing was said and I thank god for that! I quickly reset the flash and made a mental note to check that every time I change a battery in the future.

The press were noisy, the cameras might not have been so annoying but first of all they came in noisily and they had the door open wide and it was cold, the Oyakata yelled at them for that. You know as thing build up the Oyakata will be more and more irritated.

The shutters were very noisy in my opinion considering everyone there was trying to take 100 shots a second. the smart guys pulled out small cameras like mine that don't make noise.

Each Oyakata has their own rules and limits. Kasugano Oyakata has chewed the media out repeatedly for jumping up disturbing keiko to chase Asa down in the street. At least Isegahama didn't have to contend with that.

At Dewanoumi the Oyakata pointed out to the manager that some media he wanted removed and at one point when it became over crowded he refused any more.

To be honest Asa seemed to smile every time the Oyakata chewed them out today.

Whether or not the Oyakata are used to having the press is really not the issue, I think that actually a lot of press is new for Isegahama as they are getting it so much this week alone with Hakuho and Asa. I think Oyakata is worried about the concentration of Harumafuji as well.

Since the heya is "their home" I think the Oyakata should be able to decide who gets in and what they do. If he is a bad mood or the end of his rope on a certain day too bad for the media.

Even today the Oyakata made a third of them stand outside with the shoji doors closed. It was freezing out there too as it is all marbled floors! But they came late and he said "no more!"

After Keiko was over the Oyakata invited all the media to talk to anyone as long as they wanted. I think that was fair enough.

Myself I've seen too many times where the press rush in at various heya just in time for Asa's matches and rush out when he leaves making noise doing so and using flashes... and they are distracting. They have no respect for the other rikishi as well who are training when they arrive and leave and that is what Kasugano hates most.

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 doubt anyone on this forum is someone I've seen acting so terribly!!! :)

Last note.. I dropped over to Kasugano for awhile this afternoon and Hakuho had been there. They said Hakuho looked good. And that Kasugano guys are all fine, feeling positive and strong with the exception of Kasuganishiki who is still suffering and will enter the basho but has not been doing keiko (any? some? I didn't quite get that for sure!). Get well Kasuganishiki!