Mainoumi interviews Wakanosato-very long

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Strong but gentle rikishi. A sign of change is quietly burning.. Interview..

M- -Banzuke is out, Ozeki challenge begins...

W- Well, I'm 27 already, I don't know how many more chances I'll get. I had 10 wins in Nagoya and 11 in Aki. I've had many double-digit bashos before, but never in succession. I don't want this achievement to be

wasted.

M- You seem to be losing to quite a few lower ranked opponents .

W- I guess it's a mental problem. I seem to lose concentration for some reason. It seems that the number of wins are not the only important thing. The way I lose seems to be just as important.

M- So, now it's how many successive sanyaku rankings?

W- 12, second among active rikishi, only to KaioU's 14. but, this type of "record", is better to be stopped. In the positive sense, of course..

M- You yourself have changed..

W- Till now, I wasn't conscious of the Ozeki promotion side. A Yusho seemed to me an exclusive Yokozuna-Ozeki contest. We had the golden age of Takanohana, Wakanohana, Akebono and Musashimaru, right? Then Kotomitsuki, who is my age, got the yusho. Asashouryuu became Yokozuna.

Suddenly, guys more or less at my level are going places. So I said to myself- "Hey, I can do that too!!".

M- Who is the rikishi you most hate losing to?

W- Hmmm.. That's the only question I would like to refrain from answering. I have no choice but to say that I don't want to lose to ANYONE. I'll leave you to guess the answer..

M- Seems you've taken a step forward since Takanohana Oyakata retired in January.

W - I fought him 9 times in Makuuchi and never could beat him. The first time I did keiko was when I was in my third year of junior high school, during a Jungyo. I couldn't decide whether to go to High school, or enter the Sumo world. My gut feeling was to enter Sumo, but Amateur sumo was very prevalent in Aomori Everyone around me tried to convince me to join the Amateur ranks. I passed the high school entrance exams, so I was really in trouble..

M- So why join the Pros, huh?..

W- Because Sumo was really popular, I guess. Takahanada (Takanohana) got his first Makuuchi Yusho in January 1992. I entered the next Basho. I guess part of me was influenced by this yusho. When we were in Junior high, our idols were Takahanada, Wakahanada (Wakanohana) and Aomori's own Mainoumi.. (Laughing)

M- Ha ha ha (in the original..) I did actually have a bout with you. The minute our bodies clashed, I remember saying to myself "This guy is going to be strong.."

W- Oh, thank you very much.. To hear such words from a local senpai (senior).. another local boy, Takamisakari is attracting attention because of his "performance", I'd like to stand out because of my Sumo. (Oooo..MD) It's easier..

M- You come from Hirosakishi. Ex- Yokozuna Wakanohana I (Katsuji Hanada)'s parents live close by, don't they?

W- It's a five minute walk. Although I never saw him, I remember my aunt and uncle mentioning "Katsuji" on more than one occasion. There was a huge Yusho plaque in the gymnasium of my primary school. This is where I was raised.

M- Did you start doing Sumo in primary school?

W- I was the largest in my class. I was 1.70 meters (5 foot 6) in the sixth grade. All my relatives were into Sumo. They were always watching it on TV. In Junior high, I use to come home after 6 o'clock every evening from school and clubs and watch it on video.

M- The people at home seem to be interested in your Ozeki quest as much as what about you getting married..

W- I've been hearing a lot of THAT lately.. The guys my age (born in 1976), Chiyotaikai, Tochiazuma, Kotomitsuki, Takamisakari are all still bachelors. Since I've already become Ozeki and got a few Yushos, this is the most important thing right now.. (laughs..) I've always wanted to get married. After a day's work, I wish I had a whole dinner lined up for me when I get home, but that doesn't go too well with a Sumo life, does it??,

M- What do you do for recreation?

W- I watch baseball. The Yomiuri Giants. I am a great fan of Matsui, but since he left for the Yankees, I've become a Yankees fan as well. I'd like my Sumo to be as powerful as Matsui's batting.

M- The fans like to see a powerful Sekitori. They say 12 wins will promote you, but what do you see as your main tasks to reach this objective?

W- First and foremost- my tachi-ai. Even if I do yotsu zumo, the ideal thing for me would be to be able to pull off a powerful tachiai so as not to lose to oshi-zumo. That way, I can get to my opponents' mawashi quickly. Then, it's those 12 wins.. I have never done that before. I'll be chartering unknown waters, but with a lot of concentration and steady keiko, I'll just have to go for it.

Epilogue - Although he doesn't say this outright, Wakanosato sees Asashouryuu as his main rival. Although he outwardly shows a carefree nature, deep inside he should have a burning fire. If he does, it will turn out fine. I am looking forward to it.

Edited November 3, 2003 by Kintamayama

[Zenjimoto 40]

It's not THAT long... and well worth the read! :-D

Cheers

Z.

[Kashunowaka 300]

What a modest and likable person Wakanosato seems to be. I hope he makes it in his ozeki quest.

Great interview by Mainoumi; thank you very much Kintamayama for translating and conveying it to us. :-D I couldn't quite figure out all of the comments though - for instance, are the prologue and epilogue part of the interview, or are they words of wisdom from Kintamayama?

[Kintamayama 47,193]

I couldn't quite figure out all of the comments though - for instance, are the prologue and epilogue part of the interview, or are they words of wisdom from Kintamayama?

All in the original..my comments, when applicable, are usually in parenthesis, or stated very boldly and clearly as such..

Edited November 3, 2003 by Kintamayama

[Kashunowaka 300]

I couldn't quite figure out all of the comments though - for instance, are the prologue and epilogue part of the interview, or are they words of wisdom from Kintamayama?

All in the original..my comments, when applicable, are usually in parenthesis, or stated very boldly and clearly as such..

Thank you for the clarification. :-D

[tominishiki 0]

Is Mainoumi the little rikishi on the picture of the bench sumo group?

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Is Mainoumi the little rikishi on the picture of the bench sumo group?

Ken, yes, da, and naturliche!

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Interesting interview, including Kintamayama-zeki's comments (especially the Oooo :-P ).

W- I watch baseball. The Yomiuri Giants. I am a great fan of Matsui, but since he left for the Yankees, I've become a Yankees fan as well. I'd like my Sumo to be as powerful as Matsui's batting.

He probably didn't mean that literally :-P Matsui-zeki had a batting average of .287 this past year, translated into a 15-fight basho that would be like winning 4 and losing 11 :-)

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

Is Mainoumi the little rikishi on the picture of the bench sumo group?

If you're interested in Mainoumi (and who wouldn't be?), check out his official site.

[Zenjimoto 40]

Is Mainoumi the little rikishi on the picture of the bench sumo group?

If you're interested in Mainoumi (and who wouldn't be?), check out his official site.

I always thought his numerous photos wearing gym shorts were... hmmm.... a little too far on the Richard Simmons side! :-P

Cheers

Z.

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Interesting interview, including Kintamayama-zeki's comments (especially the Oooo  :-P ).

Actually, it was my ONLY comment. The rest were Mainoumi's.

W- I watch baseball. The Yomiuri Giants. I am a great fan of Matsui, but since he left for the Yankees, I've become a Yankees fan as well. I'd like my Sumo to be as powerful as Matsui's batting.

He probably didn't mean that literally  :-P  Matsui-zeki had a batting average of .287 this past year, translated into a 15-fight basho that would be like winning 4 and losing 11  :-)

I think he meant the sheer power. Even when hitting a deep fly ball to center and being out, the power can still be there, regardless of batting average.

Edited November 4, 2003 by Kintamayama

[Takanobaka 0]

Interesting interview, including Kintamayama-zeki's comments (especially the Oooo

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Still, I would hope he means the Matsui of the Pacific League rather than the Matsui of the American League....in Japan, the guy was a monster, but in the US, I wouldn't put him anywhere near the level of the 'yokozuna' of American baseball, in either power or average. Maybe someone should teach him who Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Barry Bonds, and Todd Helton are....

First of all, it was the Central league. Second, he never compared Matsui to a Yokozuna. He just said he wished his power was akin to Matsui's batting power.. Third, I'm pretty sure he never heard of the others you mentioned, since, as he says, he started following the Yankees since Matsui joined them. Fourth, I think he couldn't care less about the others. He's a fan of Matsui, not of American baseball...

I think..

[Zentoryu 154]

in Japan, the guy was a monster, but in the US, I wouldn't put him anywhere near the level of the 'yokozuna' of American baseball, in either power or average. Maybe someone should teach him who Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Barry Bonds, and Todd Helton are....

(Laughing...)

Matsui is not at the level of the players you mentioned. But... he still was far and away one of the best, most consistent players on baseball's most talented team. And he did something that most of the players you listed have never done: He shined at a time when the spotlight on him was at it's brightest, during the playoffs.

[Takanobaka 0]

in Japan, the guy was a monster, but in the US, I wouldn't put him anywhere near the level of the 'yokozuna' of American baseball, in either power or average.

Edited November 5, 2003 by Takanobaka