Last news post before the basho-long!

[Kintamayama 47,185]

For the first time in 27 bashos, we have a complete full house -all Sekitori are participating. So, say some, this may prove the kosho abolishment has proved itself. Suddenly, everyone is genki. .(Or maybe the injured don't want to take that automatic slide down the banzuke, and are willing to endanger themselves needlessly..).

Upon being told his aite for day 1 is Shimotori, Asashouryuu said unto the media: "I would like to make the audience happy!", smiling his "hint hint, nod nod, say no more" smile. He was referring of course to the possibility of using his "Asashouryuu special", that tsuriotoshi he used three days ago twice against Shimotori in keiko.

He is aiming for a second straight zensho, a feat successfully performed to date only by Taiho, Chiyonofuji and Takanohana, since the advent of the 15 day tournament system.

His back injury? " My back is much better". On the night of his injury, he received a call on his cell phone. "How's yer back holding up? Are you OK? ", asked Taihou Oyakata. "The fact that he expressed his worry about my situation made me extremely happy", said Asashouryuu. Taihou's words seemed to have blown away the pain..

Big mess with the Governor Ota situation. As you may remember, women are not allowed on the dohyo. As Governor, Ms. Ota ,if she were a male, would be giving out a prize (500,000 Yen) from the dohyo to the yusho winner. As a female, she is not allowed to step on the dohyo, so her deputy has been giving it out for the last 3 years. Every year, Kitanoumi rijicho promises to "look into it and get back to you later", which he hasn't done yet. This year, he promised a "questionnaire".

This year, though, in the aftermath of the public outcry, a special committee has convened to see if this discrimination is illegal. This committee had decided that it is illegal, and has asked the Governor to not give out the prize at all this Basho. In the past, the committee had said that it wasn't right, but it wasn't illegal either. This time, though, they decided it was illegal. But their "recommendation" has no legal "teeth"- it's only a recommendation. In the past , this committee has issued 12 such "recommendations" on various issues since 1957, and all 12 "recommendations" were later implemented.

So, this means there is a chance, huh?? No. The governor has decided to go against this recommendation, and have her deputy give the prize out again. "Rijicho has promised me to look into this very seriously. I feel the citizens are against any kind of change. I have to go with the citizens!", she said. The committee members were quite angry, calling her decision not to follow the recommendation "rude".

Kitanoumi Rijicho thanked the governor for her decision, saying it was a "great honor" that the prize will be given out as usual.

Article in English:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getsp....s20040313a1.htm

Musouyama has a cold. He hasn't worked out these last days. "It's just a cold. I'll be ready", he said.

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Edited March 13, 2004 by Kintamayama