Kintamayama 44,469 Posted February 10, 2004 (edited) 35 year old Senior Makuuchi Kotonowaka speaks out. He was injured in Kyushu, and missed Hatsu because of the injury. His recovery has been very slow. He was interviewed by Yamagata Shinbun, but I still found out.. Q-I'll get right to the point-if you have a bad Basho in Haru with not much of a cushion (Maegashira 13) what will you do? A- I will unwillingly retire. But I'm not thinking of that at this time. I don't want to push myself into a corner and cause myself any useless tension. I'll just have to face what comes. Otherwise, I can't do Sumo. Willpower is very important. Q-Do you think there are fans out there who would like to see "Kotonowaka Sumo' even if you drop to Juryo? A-If I drop to Juryo that would mean my Sumo has dropped as well. I've been in Makuuchi for 13 years now. I have no wish to continue in Juryo. Q- What is the situation of your injury? A- The left knee ligament injury is very serious, and seems to be worse than my prior injuries. I'm having difficulties bending. Truthfully, my knee is in a bad way. I have no choice but to compensate with my physical strength. Q-What tactics will you be using as you go in there with your injury? A- I'll try to go in there and try to put as little burden on the knee as I can. I'll try to do "quick" Sumo, short bouts. (Hmmm.. MD) I'll have to go for an all-out attack from the start and do my Sumo, then I may be able to succeed. Q-In order to achieve that, what kind of keiko are you doing? A-One hour of warm-up exercises, then training of upper and lower body, and sideways movement exercises as well. I primarily do frontal butsugari-geiko, and am slowly increasing the length of each session. Q-It was really too bad that you were riding a 7-1 record in Kyushu when you got injured against Takekaze.. A-I was convinced I was heading for a KK. The instant I was injured, my head became "white".. I couldn't move my knee and said to myself "Aaah..it's over". The 19th of November was the middle of the Basho and also my eldest son's 6th birthday. I had promised him the KK for his birthday. There was a lot of crying , disappointment and regret. Q-So now, you are planning to return.. A-Oyakata said to me after the injury-"No use going on if you're going to permanently not be able to walk. But that one elusive win I needed for the KK in Kyushu is haunting me. "I can still do it. I'd like to 'bloom' one more time", I said to Oyakata, asking him to let me go on. So here I am now. Q- What is your message to the people? A- My weight is now back to 175 kilos. I have added some more muscle. I'd like to put up a good fight, have good bouts. I'll use the memory of when I beat Yokozuna Takanohana by Yorikiri as an inspiration and go all out!! Edited February 10, 2004 by Kintamayama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted February 10, 2004 The 19th of November was the middle of the Basho and also my eldest son's 6th birthday. Thank you for the translation! Eldest son would mean at least two, if not even three yet Kintamayama-zeki tells me about a site listing rikishis' marital status and children and there he's said to have only one son. The plot thickens... ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kashunowaka 300 Posted February 10, 2004 I am keeping my fingers crossed for Kotonowaka. I feel somewhat consoled by the fact that even if he is only half as good as he was in Kyushu, it will still be enough for kachi-koshi in Haru. And the banzuke expansion gives him some extra leeway - 6 wins might be enough. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenjimoto 40 Posted February 11, 2004 GO, BIG GUY!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Onnagumo 4 Posted February 11, 2004 ;-) I can't thank you enough for this translation, Kintamayama-zeki.... I am sooooooo glad it was not our Paper Boy who left the forum! GO, BIG GUY!!!! ........ nothing more to add....... (Applauding...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Feginowaka 53 Posted February 11, 2004 I really do hope that he can win those important 8 bouts in Haru (even if 6 could be enough). As his biggest fan, I also know that this might be his last year and the moment for his intai comes closer and closer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Onnagumo 4 Posted February 11, 2004 As his biggest fan That's ME! ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naganoyama 5,871 Posted February 11, 2004 As his biggest fan That's ME! ;-) I won't dispute who is his greatest fan but just say that I think he might be one of the most popular rikishi. (Behind 4-eyes in popularity perhaps, but not necessarily deservedly so!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manekineko 200 Posted February 11, 2004 As his biggest fan That's ME! ;-) Not to forget ME! (Sigh...) Fingers crossed for K'waka... (Applauding...) (Heart) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted February 11, 2004 (edited) As his biggest fan That's ME! ;-) I won't dispute who is his greatest fan but just say that I think he might be one of the most popular rikishi. (Behind 4-eyes in popularity perhaps, but not necessarily deservedly so!) Even more popular than Tamarikido? (Sigh...) (Applauding...) Anyway, if anyone wonders, it's all set up for Kotonowaka even if he doesn't make it. Sadogatake recently freed up his Shiratama-stock, so he doesn't have to prematurely retire, should Kotonowaka start as oyakata. Edited February 11, 2004 by Yubiquitoyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 18,867 Posted February 11, 2004 Anyway, if anyone wonders, it's all set up for Kotonowaka even if he doesn't make it. Sadogatake recently freed up his Shiratama-stock, so he doesn't have to prematurely retire, should Kotonowaka start as oyakata. Has there been a (perhaps unofficial) change in jun-toshiyori regulations? I can't help but notice that a few years ago, pretty much everyone who retired first went with a jun-toshiyori and now almost nobody does, instead picking up regular kabu right away, even if they're just borrowed... Or maybe it's just that there are more regular toshiyori available for borrowing than a few years ago... :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted February 11, 2004 (edited) Or maybe it's just that there are more regular toshiyori available for borrowing than a few years ago... (Applauding...) Definitely, since borrowing was not allowed a few years ago (Laughing...) Anyway, I also wonder whether the jun-toshiyori was scrapped when borrowing was allowed again. I seem to recall it was said to remain, but it doesn't seem like it... Anyone knows for sure? :-) EDIT: About Kotonowaka I think there is a risk he might have to retire after Haru, but I definitely wouldn't bet on it. I mean, this IS Kotonowaka, and he's an enigma in some ways. And of course, he's a Koto... Edited February 11, 2004 by Yubiquitoyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted February 11, 2004 I like him, but I think he's done. Can't bend knee? Forget it. I wouldn't even be surprise to see him intai on day 1. I hope to be proven wrong... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 18,867 Posted February 11, 2004 Or maybe it's just that there are more regular toshiyori available for borrowing than a few years ago... (Applauding...) Definitely, since borrowing was not allowed a few years ago :-D Hrmmm...busted. (Laughing...) BTW, do you happen to have a timeline for those changes laying around, i.e. when the jun-toshiyori rules were introduced, when borrowing was forbidden, when it was allowed again, etc.? If you don't, no need to bother investigating (it's not that important to me), but if it's just a matter of copy&pasting info you already have, I'd be interested to know. Trying to figure it out by going through the SML archives is a recipe for insanity, I've found out... Anyway, I also wonder whether the jun-toshiyori was scrapped when borrowing was allowed again. I seem to recall it was said to remain, but it doesn't seem like it... Anyone knows for sure? :-) It must still exist in some ways at least, seeing as Musashimaru has a jun-toshiyori now...who was the last rikishi before him who received one anyway - Daishi after Haru 2002, right? EDIT: About Kotonowaka I think there is a risk he might have to retire after Haru, but I definitely wouldn't bet on it. I mean, this IS Kotonowaka, and he's an enigma in some ways. And of course, he's a Koto... Heck, I expected him to go deeply make-koshi in Kyushu, and then he started 7-1...anything's possible with him, damaged knee or not. Here's hoping for a good result. :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted February 11, 2004 I would hate to see him go as he is one of the few rikishi left from when I started watching sumo. But unless he's exaggerating, this knee injury sounds quite serious. Lack of mobility on the dohyo can be a killer. (Applauding...) While I don't expect him to pull off a Takanohana-like miracle and go out and win 12 bouts, I hope he somehow manages to get the wins he needs to stay in the top flight. But a part of me thinks this might just be the end for Koto. :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted February 11, 2004 (edited) Hrmmm...busted. :-) BTW, do you happen to have a timeline for those changes laying around, i.e. when the jun-toshiyori rules were introduced, when borrowing was forbidden, when it was allowed again, etc.? If you don't, no need to bother investigating (it's not that important to me), but if it's just a matter of copy&pasting info you already have, I'd be interested to know. Trying to figure it out by going through the SML archives is a recipe for insanity, I've found out...It must still exist in some ways at least, seeing as Musashimaru has a jun-toshiyori now...who was the last rikishi before him who received one anyway - Daishi after Haru 2002, right? Sorry, no timeline lying around for that... I'll check if I can find some dates tomorrow though... Regarding Musashimaru, it's a different ballpark. Ex-yokozunas (and I think ex-Ozekis, but slightly shorter time) have always had a respite before they had to get a toshiyori. It just hasn't been called jun-toshiyori in those cases, but they have simply kept their names. Edited February 11, 2004 by Yubiquitoyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaikitsune Makoto 203 Posted February 12, 2004 Well he is no stranger to competing with a bad knee. "Can't bend the knee" probably only means that he can't squat deep without friction (swelling I bet). His keiko sounds good to me and he never was a rikishi relying on knees. It is strange that lateral collateral ligament tear turns out to be worse than his ACL tears in the past. Maybe bad rupture. Slow recovery for athlete his age is not so peculiar either. And since he says he is doing sideways movement exercises already on the dohyo, he should be able to resume fuller keiko before basho attacks and looms. Lastly, Kotonowaka doesn't need special match keiko that much anymore. He just needs to strengthen up. The rest will come automatically. He isn't Nami either. Nami is in bad strength decline whereas Kotonowaka doesn't lose strength ever it seems. He can be an oyakata who does keiko with deshi for years to come. I hope he does. He is a giant and massive target practise. Kotonowaka rules! He is Mr Sumo and I still claim he has more than one kid no matter what Nikkan Sport says or Kaarle "Brunei rules" Kustaa. Someone needs to confirm this matter. It is of great importance in Haru to know whether Kotonowaka has 1, 2 or 3 kids in order to enjoy the intricasies of the atmosphere in Osaka where Ota is and fish tastes tasty. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Onnagumo 4 Posted February 12, 2004 Well he is no stranger to competing with a bad knee. No, he sure isn't. I remember watching his matches sometimes and thinking "oh my god, I don't think he will make it to the end of the basho...." and then he finished with a great kachikoshi (In a state of confusion...) For example, watch this: http://www.banzuke.com/~movies/natsu2001/060501mov.html Natsu Basho 2001, Kotonowaka-Tokitsuumi. He won that match pretty easily, but look how he's trying to avoid putting any weight on that leg. I remembered this particular match because it was so very obvious there. And yet, he finished that basho with a fine 9 - 6 record, and almost three years later he is still here :-) Kotonowaka rules! :-D :-) (Sign of approval) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites