New Bulgarian rikishi in Tagonoura beya

[Sashohitowa 6]

Thanks for the translation! (Enjoyable TV program...)

We've been there on a training camp a week and a half ago (in the stable of the Tokyo university "Nishi Dai" (?) )

Nihon University (Nichidai) probably, the one that has produced about 10 current sekitori and has ex-juryo Dewataira as coach.

Do you guys know if Daniel speaks some English? I imagine having Tongan Aotsurugi in the stable could be helpful at first, too.

I personally don't know that. But I believe they are studying English in the university, so he should have at least a general knowledge.

[Kintamayama 40,632]

Shikona- 碧山 Aoiyama. 1.89/150.

"I'd like to quickly become like the Ozeki (Kotooushuu, who brought him in, say the papers)", he said. "He is strong and has a serious personality. He is picking up Japanese quickly. He won't be given special treatment because he's a foreigner- he'll be brought up strictly!", declared Tagonoura Oyakata.

Edited May 1, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 16,827]

Ah! He was one of the two Bulgarians whose names I didn't catch at the Berlin Basho a year ago:

[Sashohitowa 6]

Does anybody knows the status of Aoyama now? Will Natsu be his the basho to sit out, and Nagoya to be his Mae-zumo? Or he will be mae-zumo now?

I can't see him in the banzuke in the Doitsubase, so I guess it is rather the first one? But shouldn't he be listed as a banzuke-gai, or something?

[Asashosakari 16,827]

Does anybody knows the status of Aoyama now? Will Natsu be his the basho to sit out, and Nagoya to be his Mae-zumo?

Yes.

I can't see him in the banzuke in the Doitsubase

That's a different issue. The new recruits aren't listed anywhere yet, not even at the Kyokai site, so of course they're not in the SDB either. (In a state of confusion...)

[Jonosuke 28]

From Sumo Magazine June issue:

Q: You were originally an amateur wresltler so how did you get started in sumo?

Aoiyama: When I was 12 years old I watched sumo on Eurosports channel and I started getting interested in sumo. Then around 17 years old, I started doing sumo, initially more or less half playing around but then I realized I enjoyed it so much that I started to train more seriously.

Q: How did you manage to finally join Ozumo?

A: My sumo coach used to train Kotooshu-zeki as well so when Kotooshu-zeki returned home in 2007, I was able to see him personally for the first time at our sumo association's office. Actually I have been hoping to join Ozumo for over a year, when Kotooshu-zeki contacted my coach to tell me of an opening available for a foreign rikishi this spring, so I came over here right away.

Q: How are you being treated by your shisho, okamisan and other recruits at the heya so far?

A: The oyakata is really caring and is someone you can really trust. He is directing me towards the right way. I feel the oyakata, his wife and all elder rikishi are all like my real family.

Q: Have you met Kotooshu-zeki since you arrived here in Japan?

A: After I arrived in Japan, he came with me to the Bulgarian Embassy to help me complete the paper work and everything just went so smoothly. He told me to do my best by working hard and listen to my oyakata well.

Q: Have you encounter any problems so far especially like food and customs?

A: Actually I don't like fish but I believe I will gradually get used to it. Since I was 12 years old I have been away from home training at wrestling camps so I feel confident I can adapt to any environment.

Q: Kotooshu-zeki was also at the college you were in, what were you studying there?

A: I have this dream of being able to teach sumo to students who want to learn and participate in sumo so I was studying to be a sumo coach.

Q: Perhaps you can utilize what you have learned so far then. Have you started training at the heya yet?

A: Yes I have started training sessions. I just love working out. My aspiration is to rise to a high enough rank to be able to face great rikishi like Kotooshu-zeki. Regardless I will do all my best to become successful.

Real Name: Daniel Ivanov

Born on: June 19 1986 (almost 23 years old)

Born in: Bulgaria

Education: Left during his second year at National Sports University in Bularia

Sports background: Played bastketball since 10 years old as hobby, from 12 years old to May last year competed in free style wrestling. Won several titles at national level.

Sumo background: Started around 17 years old. Captured sixth at the 2004 World Junior Championships Individual Heavy Weight class. 9th at the 2006 World Championships Heavy Weight class, 5th at the 2008 World Championship Group class.

Aspiration: First, to get to Makuuchhi.

Rikishi aspiring to: Kotooshu, heya's elder rikishi.

Favorite and non-favorite subjects at school: Mathematics and history.

Favorite food: Salt or tomato based chanko, yogurt

Not favorite food: fish, onions

Hobby: Fishing

Favorite persons: People like Kotooshu who persevered and accomplished success.

Favorite TV programs: Comedy programs.

[kame 0]

Thanks Jonosuke!

Good interview, seems like he's taking his training seriously. Having a problem with eating fish is gonna be tough at first (his hobby is fishing though!), but hey, the Mongolians overcame that.

[Pippooshu 1]

Does anybody knows the status of Aoyama now? Will Natsu be his the basho to sit out, and Nagoya to be his Mae-zumo? Or he will be mae-zumo now?

I can't see him in the banzuke in the Doitsubase, so I guess it is rather the first one? But shouldn't he be listed as a banzuke-gai, or something?

Maybe he will be a Makushita Tsukedashi, b'cause if you have a good tecnic background you can begin like Makushita, if I remember well... (Sigh...)

Edited June 15, 2009 by Pippooshu

[Kintamayama 40,632]

Maybe he will be a Makushita Tsukedashi, b'cause if you have a good tecnic background you can begin like Makushita, if I remember well... (In a state of confusion...)

He needs to be Jewish as well, if he's a foreigner, to qualify for that.. Is he Jewish?

[Pippooshu 1]

Maybe he will be a Makushita Tsukedashi, b'cause if you have a good tecnic background you can begin like Makushita, if I remember well... (In a state of confusion...)

He needs to be Jewish as well, if he's a foreigner, to qualify for that.. Is he Jewish?

??????????? What????? (In a state of confusion...) (In a state of confusion...) (In a state of confusion...)

[Sasanishiki 57]

Maybe he will be a Makushita Tsukedashi, b'cause if you have a good tecnic background you can begin like Makushita, if I remember well... (In a state of confusion...)

This is not correct. To gain Makushita tsukedashi you need to have won one of four specific Japanese amateur sumo tournaments. More information is here

[Pippooshu 1]

Maybe he will be a Makushita Tsukedashi, b'cause if you have a good tecnic background you can begin like Makushita, if I remember well... (In a state of confusion...)

This is not correct. To gain Makushita tsukedashi you need to have won one of four specific Japanese amateur sumo tournaments. More information is here

Thanks a lot! I didn't know about this specific rule! I thought about a generic condition. Thanks a lot for this info!

[kaiguma 0]

Maybe he will be a Makushita Tsukedashi, b'cause if you have a good tecnic background you can begin like Makushita, if I remember well... (In a state of confusion...)

This is not correct. To gain Makushita tsukedashi you need to have won one of four specific Japanese amateur sumo tournaments. More information is here

Thanks a lot! I didn't know about this specific rule! I thought about a generic condition. Thanks a lot for this info!

But that link is missing the clause Moti referred to. Of course Moti got it wrong... foreign entrants who have won one of the 4 specific tournaments must also be circumcised in order to qualify for tsukedashi status. Religio-ethnic background notwithstanding.

[Pippooshu 1]

Please...teach to me...but are you joking or is it real? The foreigners must be circumcised to enter in Tsukedashi rank?

[Doitsuyama 1,150]

Please...teach to me...but are you joking or is it real? The foreigners must be circumcised to enter in Tsukedashi rank?

Sure, and because of that there never has been a foreign tsukedashi entrant yet. They all had to start from the lowest division. Hey, because it's you I digged out an older post from venerable Zenjimoto to the Mailing List:

From the Tonkatsu sports web site:

---

TOKYO, JAPAN (Tonkatsu Sports News, 04/01/2003) -- In a shocking announcement, Nihon Sumo Kyokai Rijicho Kitanoumi today introduced what he called "necessary revisions to the Sumo Association's position on foreign rikishi participation".

According to the Chairman, the NSK has opted to modify the rules governing foreign participation in Japan's national sport, for the second time in just a few years. Currently, each heya (stable) is allowed to include one foreign rikishi (with the exception of several grandfathered-in heya which already included more than one grappler before the rule was instituted). According to the NSK, the new rule allows every heya to take on up to three foreign rikishi, but instead limits the number of rikishi allowed from EACH COUNTRY to just ONE - excluding, of course, Japan itself.

The move was apparently designed to stem the heavy influx of Mongolian rikishi into Japan's traditional sport, a phenomenon that produced the current perplexing situation of Mongolia outnumbering any of Japan's Prefectures in sheer numbers of competing rikishi.

Kitanoumi, however, denied that the rules change had anything to do with the strong Mongolian presence: "This is not a move to limit the number of wrestlers from any particular country or countries, but rather an attempt at allowing more international variety on the dohyo. We think it better serves the global exposure of sumo, as stablemasters now will have an opportunity to take on more talents from overseas if they wish, and that talent pool will have a wider reach to varied audiences around the world."

According to the draft which was unanimously signed into effect by the nine Oyakata on the NSK's Policy Board, the new rule will take effect one year from today (04/01/2004), at which time only the top ranked rikishi from each represented nation (excluding Japan) will be allowed to remain on the official Banzuke. Rikishi who are not the "best" of their respective country will be removed from the Banzuke at that time, regardless of their ranking position.

The announcement has created heavy shockwaves amongst the foreign wrestlers. "It is a very hurtful plan" was a visibly stressed Kyokutenho's brief response to reporters. The Mongolian, expected to take the rank of Komusubi during the upcoming Natsu Basho in May, would face forced removal from the Banzuke, unless he can best his Yokozuna compatriot, Asashoryu. The same fate would befall the other two Mongolians in the top Makuuchi division, Kyokushuzan and Asasekiryu, as well as the 30+ Mongolians in the lower, toriteki ranks.

In a statement to the Russian TASS News Agency, Russian brothers Roho and Hakurozan, two rikishi working their way up the lower divisions, commented on the heartbreak they now face: give up their nationalities, or see at least one of them return home within a year. "I was not planning on trying [for] Japanese citizenship just yet," said Hakurozan, "but it may be the only way for us both to remain here and continue to compete." "We both came here to follow our dream and do our beloved Russia proud... and [now] this has become a burst bubble. Tense times are ahead." added a teary-eyed Roho. Besides the brothers two further Russians are currently vying for that sole future Russian berth in sumo - Amuru and Orora.

However, any foreign rikishi trying to escape the new rule through acquiring Japanese citizenship may be up against heavy odds, as the current process to gain Japanese nationality takes a minimum of three years, and could be even longer for persons without any living relatives inside Japan. It may be easier for them to assume other different nationalities that have shorter application and processing times. It remains however doubtful that one year will leave enough time for the aquisition of ANY nationality.

Georgian shin-Juryo Kokkai commented: "So far I am lucky, being the only Georgian in sumo. But I can not imagine what my friends are undergoing. I hope the NSK reconsiders, or that [they] find a way to acquire new citizenship. I would hate to see [their careers] end like this!"

Kyokushuzan has told Tonkatsu Sports News though his tsukebito that he plans to go all out over the coming year, to try and attain a higher rank than his countryman Asashoryu, and that if he should fail in this quest, he will retire rather than assume another nationality. Assuming that Asashoryu will retain his position as Yokozuna (Grand Champion), Kyokushuzan would need to reach that rank in a previously unprecedented run from his current Maegashira position in just five tournaments, a feat that seems nearly impossible. Hearing of this, Yokozuna Asashoryu remarked that "with all due respect, [he] did not feel threatened by this prospect".

Other top-ranked Mongolian rikishi Asasekiryu could not immediately be reached for comments, but according to sources inside Takasago-beya, Asasekiryu has stated that he will seek to acquire German citizenship in order to remain wrestling. According to our sources, he has said that "he once had a Dachshund, owns a Blaupunkt karaoke machine, finds Lederhosen hilarious, and likes to chug St.-Pauli-Girl Beer, so the choice was obvious".

© Tonkatsu Sports News, Saitama, Japan

http://www.tonkatsu.ne.jp/eng/sumo/article...es.asp&4235

--

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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ZENJIMOTO Ken'ichiro <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Play Sekitori-Toto: http://www.sekitori-toto.com

Play Sekitori-Oracle: http://www.sekitori-oracle.com

Super Banzuke/SB Masters/LL Masters: http://www.superbanzuke.com

----------------------------------------------------------------

[Doitsuyama 1,150]

Oh, and while I am at it, here's another nice older rule discussion, posted from John Szczepanski to the Mailing List in 1999:

Controversial New Sumo Rule

[Translated from Thursday

[Pippooshu 1]

MANY, MANY THANKS!!! It's very interesting!

[Sokkenaiyama 64]

(In a state of confusion...) (Whatever above, it is funny...) (Whatever above, it is funny...)

Oh, man, this is priceless. Good stuff!

[Pippooshu 1]

Sorry, but do you know wich kind of ranking has Daniel Ivanov aka Aoiyama? I had read Jonidan 105 but maybe it's a mistake. Do you know? ;-)

[Kotoviki 16]

It isn't at Jd 105 but I can't find him anywhere. Doesn't he start Maezumo this basho since he couldn't last time? But he's not listed on Maezumo either & I don't find him in Jonokuchi. Maybe my eyes are crazy to match my brain?

;-) :-) (Applauding...)

[Kintamayama 40,632]

He's starting Maezumo on Tuesday with the two new boys and the unnamed Mongolian.

[Doitsuyama 1,150]

It isn't at Jd 105 but I can't find him anywhere. Doesn't he start Maezumo this basho since he couldn't last time? But he's not listed on Maezumo either & I don't find him in Jonokuchi. Maybe my eyes are crazy to match my brain?

;-) :-) (Applauding...)

If you meant Sumo Reference, I just have added the mae-zumo rikishi, and he is among the four (or more if another banzuke-gai guy joins them).

[Kotoviki 16]

Thanks for the clarification. I hadn't even thought about it until Pippooshu mentioned it.

Actually I meant the Sumo kyokai page! I know he was listed with the new guys last basho even though he didn't compete but since he does his Maezumo this time he should be listed somewhere on the kyokai site & he isn't there with the two new boys.

Then again the kyokai are not so smart!

Thanks again!!!! With only four boys their matches will finish up long before we get to Nagoya, that is too bad!!!

[Pippooshu 1]

It isn't at Jd 105 but I can't find him anywhere. Doesn't he start Maezumo this basho since he couldn't last time? But he's not listed on Maezumo either & I don't find him in Jonokuchi. Maybe my eyes are crazy to match my brain?

;-) :-) (Applauding...)

If you meant Sumo Reference, I just have added the mae-zumo rikishi, and he is among the four (or more if another banzuke-gai guy joins them).

Many thanks

[Kintamayama 40,632]

Aoiyama won his first Maezumo bout- beating the new Tokitsukaze kid by oshidashi. "I am an oshi man. I'd like to take my time and do a lot of keiko, and aim for Ozeki!", he declared.