Takamisakari , Asashouryuu

[Kintamayama 47,181]

Takamisakari has decided to turn down all TV commercial offers for the moment and concentrate on his Sumo. He has received more than thirty requests to do commercials, but Azumazeki Oyakata has decided that it's best for him to turn these offers down. He has already done three commercials and numerous poster campaigns for all kinds of stuff, in a short span of a year. "Although there is a lot of pressure from the Kyokai to let him do it, I feel it's time he concentrated on the matters at hand", said Oyakata. Sakari had a terrible 5-10 basho at Komusubi, partly due to the injury he suffered at the hands of Asashouryuu at asageiko. "He should be ashamed to have lost by Okuritsuriotoshi in the first place", say voices from within the Kyokai. "I just want to do my best in Sumo. That is all", said Sakari himself.

He did his first keiko session after the "Backdrop trauma" of last October 30th. He chose to do "Yama-geiko" (I know what it means now - a circle drawn in the dirt, no tawara, outside under the skies..) with Kasugaou, 20 bouts, no results announced. At the same time, Asashouryuu was destroying Wakanosato, Wakatoba and others in an indoor keiko session (14-0), and was showing all kinds of Kirikaeshi maneuvers and stuff. Sakari added- "I decided to do Yama-geiko so as not to cause any trouble.. There's no point in hurting my shoulder again, now is there??"

Sakari has had great breaks this year. 3 sanshos, 3 commercials. "I also had a "break" in my shoulder..", he punned. He was looking genki again and happy and seems to have overcome his injury.

Asashouryuu has returned to the dohyo, as stated above. He had a hefty workout. "I'm surprised at myself, since I've been away for a while.. My breathing was OK. I'm satisfied", he said after showing some smooth moves and totally dominating the opposition. He has promised to go for 5 yushos in 2004.