Asashouryuu keiko and new Mongolian details

[Kintamayama 47,178]

Asashouryuu came back with a vengeance this morning in asa-geiko at Takasago. First heya keiko this year after the strife. 20 matches against Touki and Asasekiryuu and others, all convincing wins.

"I am reflecting well on my actions", he said, after being blasted by various YDC members and threatened to be issued a "retirement suggestion' if his "un-Yokozuna -like behavior" persists. Reporter says he always says he learns from his mistakes, then something else happens proving otherwise.

He finally met Takasago Oyakata, who said unto him:" Don't 'invite' these misunderstandings. Show me that you are really reflecting upon your actions". To the media, he said- " He is reflecting upon his actions. You can see how hard he's training".

Chairman of the YDC suggested a tsukebito write down Asashouryuu's daily plans and submit them to Oyakata so he knows where he is, like in grade school.

But Takasago Oyakata fears that any plans to try to totally control his Yokozuna may backfire in the end. "He knows the importance of this matter. I told him to come to me if he's 'not sure' about something. I want to see him grow up. I will not lose my patience and continue guiding him", he added.

Only time will tell if Asashouryuu will really make an effort to conform, says the reporter.

Asashouryuu pushes as Oyakata reads..

The new Mongolian Gankhugag Naranbut who underwent the new entrants' physical today is a heavyweight 1.85 cm/6ft 2" and 162 kilo/357 lbs 19 year old. He was "scouted" by Asashouryuu and arrived in Japan in April 2001. Last April, his father died suddenly at the age of 45. "I promised my father I would do my best in Sumo. I am aiming for Yokozuna!", he said.

Edited January 7, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Fujisan 533]

Sorry cant resist a quote to go with the picture-

Oyukata-"Its no good hiding behind that post Asashoryu I can still see you and your still in big trouble."

[Onnagumo 4]

Oyukata-"Its no good hiding behind that post Asashoryu I can still see you and your still in big trouble."

(Whatever above, it is funny...) LOL (Yawning...)

[Naganoyama 6,024]

Yes it looked to me too as if Takasago was there to make sure that Asashoryu would not 'bunk off' (go AWOL from school).

[Fujisan 533]

Yes despite the fact that Asashoryu promised to keep him posted.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

It's an unfortunate situation. Is Asashoryu above the sport of sumo? Of course not, no rikishi is. But I suspect Asashoryu doesn't have quite the mortal fear of making a scene that many Japanese rikishi (and people) do.

He doesn't care for missing a tsuna-making ceremony, because what's the big deal? Some NSK/YDC, maybe even his own oyakata makes some noise to the press, then it's done, and he had his additional vacation time (if that's indeed the case). Alternatively, if something is wrong with his family's health, the argument holds even more -- of course he should stay with his sick mom as long as he feels like it in order to comfort her.

Granted, he has a big ego, and he's not showing respect for some of the traditions espoused by the sport. But the NSK also knows they can't do much about this, until he does something seriously wrong. What are they doing to do, ask their only yokozuna to retire because he missed a practice or ceremony because his mom is sick? That'll make the NSK's current fan/public relations situation even worse than its current dismal status. Asashoryu knows this and is taking advantage of it. Why would you think his ways will change in the future? It's not like he's a little kid now...

[Asashosakari 20,223]

What are they doing to do, ask their only yokozuna to retire because he missed a practice or ceremony because his mom is sick? That'll make the NSK's current fan/public relations situation even worse than its current dismal status.

Not if the large majority of (Japanese) sumo fans were to agree with the Kyokai.

(I'm not saying they would, just that it's a possibility.)

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Not if the large majority of (Japanese) sumo fans were to agree with the Kyokai.

But "the large majority of (Japanese) sumo fans" might not matter as much as the huge population of POTENTIAL sumo fans which will be harder for the NSK to attract without a marquee name, a champion who've above all others (until dethroned, hence the drama).

It's kind of like the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers right now. Sure they have a few good players, but all everyone cares about is LeBron James. People buy tickets when Cleveland comes into town just to see him, and they can't even name the other players. The NBA knows this and uses it to market games featuring the Cavs. Thankfully LeBron doesn't appear to have some of Asashoryu's ego problems, and anyways the NBA is a far superior marketing organization to the NSK unfortunately. But that's besides the main point and anyways this analogy probably only makes sense to the limited number of members of the forum who follow the NBA.

[Asashosakari 20,223]

Not if the large majority of (Japanese) sumo fans were to agree with the Kyokai.

But "the large majority of (Japanese) sumo fans" might not matter as much as the huge population of POTENTIAL sumo fans which will be harder for the NSK to attract without a marquee name, a champion who've above all others (until dethroned, hence the drama).

Yeah, but you said it would make their current fan situation worse. That simply doesn't wash if the current batch of sumo fans sided with the Kyokai. People who don't care about Asashoryu and sumo right now also won't care if Asashoryu were to be tarred and feathered and run out of town. Sure, doing that might come back to haunt the NSK in the long term, but that's a different matter.