Asashouryuu and tsuna uchi and Oyakata

[Kintamayama 47,175]

Seems the tsuna-uchi at Takasago-beya went on without the Yokozuna-here's the pic:

Still no sign of Asashouryuu. Tomorrow is Soken day. If he doesn't show up tomorrow, some hell will break loose.. Seems he disappointed some 30 rikishi who turned out for the Tsunauchi, and Oyakata is issuing polite threats. BUT wait a minute!! He didn't show up for the last two tsuna-uchis either, it seems.. "We still have time for the ceremonial dohyo-iri, on the 7th. The tsuna should be ready by then", said Oyakata. "He is not behaving according to the Sumo "way". If he doesn't understand this after being told many times, maybe I should grab him by the neck and explain it again? He seems to think that he can get away with anything because he holds a higher rank than I did when I was active, and that worries me", lamented Oyakata. "I hope he shows up at Soken tomorrow. Otherwise I will have to go around apologizing to everyone about his behavior", he added.

Edited January 4, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

Mainichi has an article up now.

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Asashoryu's unexplained absence leaves stable master fuming

Top-ranked sumo wrestler Asashoryu appeared at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Monday to train for the upcoming New Year tournament after skipping the year's first practice on Saturday and a rope-weaving event the following day without notice, irking his stable master Takasago.

The yokozuna rolled up at Ryogoku Kokugikan before 9 a.m. on Monday and after performing his warm-up stamps, stepped into the ring to push and shove fellow wrestlers. He dispelled doubts of a lack of practice with dynamic moves in his performance with Komusubi Tochinonada, proving that he was still in good form.

Earlier Asashoryu provoked his stable master Takasago to comment negatively on his behavior when he skipped the year's first training session in his stable on Saturday, then failed to show up at a traditional rope-weaving ceremony on Sunday.

Rope weaving ceremonies, in which new ropes are made, are held before the January, May and September tournaments in Tokyo, and usually the yokozuna participates to test the rope.

"This was the first rope-weaving ceremony of the new year, and he does not understand the exemplary stance he should have," Takasago said after Asashoryu failed to appear.

Wrestlers Toki and Asasekiryu had been called to the ceremony, along with stable master Jinmaku (former maegashira wrestler Fujinoshin). An old rope was used to test the length of the new one since Asashoryu was not present.

Initially Asashoryu, who returned to his native Mongolia for the New Year, was expected to return to Japan on Jan. 2, but other sources said that he had come back on the evening of Jan. 3, and he was reportedly seen at Narita Airport at this time.

The New Year sumo tournament begins on Sunday, Jan. 11. (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, Jan. 5, 2004)

[Tenkashoryu 0]

Now I am really getting worried about him. Indeed, not getting along with his oyakata is not a good sign. :-D What the heck is he really doing around there. :-D

May be there could be some chance that he is doing a secret-training with his brothers in order to keep away from media or to make distraction about him for this coming basho. In fact, it could be his strategy showing his opponents ( esp. for Azuma) that yokozuna has issues and he is not a strong candidate for the Yusho ( i mean to make them to underestimate). Also, I suspect that he is secretly training with his brothers. One of his brothers is even more technical and strong wrestler than Asa, so it would be good enough for the yokozuna to get pumped up before the basho. Moreover, it is almost impossible that he is doing nothing over there. Usually, even from my experience, when you are a active wrestler or athelete you can not stay longer without training cause physically and mentally it requires you.

(crossing my fingers that he would show up tomorrow) ;-)

[Tenkashoryu 0]

yahoo! My wishes came true so quickly. ;-)