New recruits for Nagoya 2009

[Asashosakari 17,637]

(Just as a reminder, the two new foreign rikishi will of course be in maezumo this upcoming basho. And I wonder if Tamanoi's undersized candidate will be taking the secondary test for the third time...)

On the heels of Tokitsukaze-beya's memorial service comes news of another new deshi for the recovering stable - and in a particularly sardonic twist, he shares both his alma mater and his surname with the deceased Tokitaizan. 22-year-old Keisuke Saito from Niigata has taken a bit of a winding road to Ozumo, graduating from Toyosaka high school in 2006 with the dream of becoming a rikishi. However, his mother had died during his first year of high school and his father persuaded him to pursue a "real" job; after two years of attending vocational school Saito was accepted into the Niigata prefectural police force this past April. But the dream wouldn't go away - he quit the academy just two weeks into his stay and decided to turn to Ozumo after all. Saito was active in judo during his high school days (reaching the quarter-finals at the prefectural level as his best result), and an acquaintance of his former coach ended up introducing him to Tokitsukaze-beya.

The shindeshi exam is scheduled for July 6th, though he's right around the 173 cm mark and may end up having to take the secondary tests as well. "I'd like to do sumo with maximum effort, and be an agile rikishi like Mainoumi was!", Saito proclaimed.

Shisho and deshi:

[Kintamayama 42,781]

Only 2 new recruits for Nagoya.

[Meikenonami 0]

You can find two more pictures of Saito here. Pictures were taken in May 2009 at keiko at Tokitsukaze.

http://www.sumo-germany.de/html/may_09_day_9_3.html

http://www.sumo-germany.de/html/may_09_day_9_4.html

[Asashosakari 17,637]

The other new deshi is 22-year-old 小林央弥 (something Kobayashi) from Tokyo. He's enrolling in Arashio-beya.

Meanwhile, two dudes with nice hair:

Saito cleared the height standard right with the minimum required 173 cm. (Not sure if hairstyle-assisted or not.)

[Gusoyama 70]

"Its okay, Saito-kun, we'll find your flag."

[Asashosakari 17,637]

Saito, newly christened Tokishibata (時新発田) after his hometown, 173 cm with spiked hair and on tippy-toes:

Slow-motion replay:

Edited July 6, 2009 by Asashosakari

[ilovesumo 12]

They cannot be picky anymore...

I fear the problem of a less and less in Sumo interested Japanese youth, but on the other hand, now some boys who really love it but would never pass the test, get a chance.

Best of luck for him. (Nodding yes...)

[kaiguma 0]

...now some boys who really love it but would never pass the test...

Just to clarify, 173 is the primary cutoff, no? He could still pass the secondary test if he is 172 (or 169) as long as he passes the secondary strength and fitness tests.

And he certainly looks very fit! Can't wait to see the little man in acion.

[sekihiryu 51]

reminds of the Full Mteal Jacket movie quote "You trying to squeeze an inch on me somewhere, huh?" I guess Saito squeezed that inch alright!

[Naganoyama 5,696]

NSK data - still has Saito rather than Tokishibata - Asashosakari is quicker than the Kyokai as usual.

SHIKONA	KANJI	NAME	HEYA	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DOB	BIRTHPLACE
Kobayashi	小林	Hiroya Kobayashi	Arashio	175	89	23 - March - 1987	Tokyo
Saito	齋藤	Keisuke Saito	Tokitsukaze	173	89	15 - April - 1987	Niigata

[Asashosakari 17,637]

Shusse

And to add, returnee Wakanishiki qualified as third among them.