New Brazilian for Tamanoi

[Kintamayama 47,183]

A new Brazilian rikishi has entered Tamanoi beya, which is noted for having Brazilians. He will be the 7th(!!) ever Brazilian in the heya. He is Something Ruiz (Louis?) de Souza, 22 years old, 1.80 meters (5.9 ft.), 160 kilos(353 lbs.) from Sao Paolo. He started Judo when he was six, and Sumo at 19. Third place in last year's nationwide tournament, and he's a tsuki/oshi kind of guy.

Veteran Brazilian Kuniazuma's retirement opened the foreigner spot in Tamanoi. But wait!! There is another Brazilian registered with Tamanoi- Sandanme east 77 Azumaou, who has been around for 58 bashos. Strange thing is, that till July 1999 he was registered as Japanese. Then, his shusshin was magically tranformed to Brazilian. My guess is he goes back in the "closet" for Natsu, and becomes Japanese again.

Unless, we all have it wrong, and the one foreigner per heya rule allows for a new one that arrives after the rule was established.

I doubt the second alternative. Adachi-san-can you ask around?

If you want to know more about the "closet" and the skeletons within, read the foreigner thread in the pond at:

http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2664

[Mark Buckton 1]

Adachi-san-can you ask around?

Very interesting post above. Spoke to some koen kai members on Friday (my barber) who mentioned nothing unfortunately.

Will be at Musashigawa tomorrow and Tamanoi on Friday most likely but that won't really provide a chance as I'll have to leave before they all finish up. Will collar someone in the street if possible.

Bad point recently is the Tamanoi homepage. Tashoro (Tooyama) on Makushita is the master of tis and after a bad end to 2003 and far from impressive start to 2004 was told to get his finger out and focus on his job. Being a Uni chap he's pretty intelligent, speaks a bit of English (I mean 'bit') but was planning to make it bi-lingual with the help of yours truly. Apologised and said no way Jose in Jan / Feb and the page has been stagnant since.

Also, back on topic - I can't somehow understand why Tamanoi want another at the moment.

They are one of the biggest heyas with 23 I think registered lads now. Yet the stable (building and facilities) is tiny for that number. 3 floors but tiny. Some foodstufs for cooking are kept outside the kitchen on the street! The weight room is an alley next to the place and the weights are sometimes car tyres. The first floor of Azumazeki is probably bigger than all 3 combined.

They have been rumored to be moving for about a year but as would seen apparent, while they have the land bought, no building work is taking place because both the koen kai and the stable have nothing in the piggy bank. And they take on another young mouth to feed - that only brings in 60k yen a month doesn't it?

[Zentoryu 154]

They have been rumored to be moving for about a year but as would seen apparent, while they have the land bought, no building work is taking place because both the koen kai and the stable have nothing in the piggy bank. And they take on another young mouth to feed - that only brings in 60k yen a month doesn't it?

Right, it's 60,000yen for every rikishi Makushita and below. (I should point out that those numbers are at least 5-10 years old and may have gone up in recent years).

They also get extra training and support money for every rikishi in the heya during basho time. An extra 45,000 for Sekitori and 35,000 for Makushita and below. The heya also recieves extra money from the Riji-kai during basho periods, but those numbers aren't published.

Having an Ozeki in the heya means even more money, but it apparently isn't helping to much if the situation is as described by Adachi-san.

I wonder if it's a money management problem, or something like that.

[Kintamayama 47,183]

Having an Ozeki in the heya means even more money, but it apparently isn't helping to much if the situation is as described by Adachi-san.

It looks like that is history as well..

[Kintamayama 47,183]

Here is the new Brazilian : Seems his first name is Christiano. He wants to become a Sekitori in two years.

[tominishiki 0]

Here is the new Brazilian : Seems his first name is Christiano. He wants to become a Sekitori in two years.

Good luck to him. I see that he is already injured

[Manekineko 200]

Cutie! (Eek...) Good luck to him - there can never be too many cute sekitori. (Dripping sweat...)

[Mark Buckton 1]

Here is the new Brazilian : Seems his first name is Christiano. He wants to become a Sekitori in two years.

This lad is VERY VERY strong.

Saw him in 21 bouts today - won 18. Went against Sandanme and Jonidan but not Makushita. Lost his mawashi at one point and had to 'start again'. Lots of 'oshi' and gets down very well - under the other's defence. Isn' too hot on the mawashi - only seen one day though.

Listens well, doesn't understand fully and is pretty much shadowed by Tamanoi's new - in the closet - Brazilian.

Spacial awareness is lacking a bit or he is focussing on his own stretches so much that he doesn't see those being thrown out of the ring coming towards - and crashing into him.

Few keiko faux pas - to be expected.

Matawari - easy (judo helped no doubt) Fair bit of work on the weights and has thighs far bigger than Tochiazuma. Doesn't look his weight to be honest and has only 1 physical 'strange' point - his calfs are so thin in comparison to his thighs.

Lastly - Shibuya being groomed? - only against Makushita today

Yoshiazuma looks very strong

Ohidake still plays a role on the dohyo - with short hair

Azuma didn't appear bar to say hello and the media missed him - they (media) got a pretty rude reaction from the staff too it appeared - bad sitting positions and being ignored.

[Mark Buckton 1]

Got a request off forum about the pic Kinta-san posted.

Not very interesting but maybe of slight interest to some.

The new lad is facing the main trophy cabinet - a tatami area with shinto adornments and to his right (our left) is the main Tamanoi shrine. Over his left shoulder as we look at him is the kitchen area and near his elbow sits his Oyakata.

Over his right shoulder as we look - main changing room and to his 10 o'clock the weights area (alley next to the building)

Above the 2 white framed documents behind him is the list of rikishi on the standard wooden panels.

Azuma's practice area is to the lad's immediate right - couple of metres away.

Never been asked to do that before - hope it helps - and doesn't bore the others.

[BuBa 77]

With the light above his head, he looks like saint. :-D

[rodarvus 2]

Got a request off forum about the pic Kinta-san posted.

[...]

Never been asked to do that before - hope it helps - and doesn't bore the others.

No, it *really* was not boring.

In fact, it is great (at least for me) to learn about what looks like a sumo beya. :-D

In the past, I've seen descriptions of what rikishis do during the day, while they are at their beya, but I had never seen a good description on what a training room looks like.

Hoping I'm not too pedant here, but... do you or someone else has some good photos of a beya (maybe Tamanoi), so we can look at them, while reading your explanation? (W00t, w00t, w00t...)

[Mark Buckton 1]

Got a request off forum about the pic Kinta-san posted.

[...]

Never been asked to do that before - hope it helps - and doesn't bore the others.

No, it *really* was not boring.

In fact, it is great (at least for me) to learn about what looks like a sumo beya. :-D

In the past, I've seen descriptions of what rikishis do during the day, while they are at their beya, but I had never seen a good description on what a training room looks like.

Hoping I'm not too pedant here, but... do you or someone else has some good photos of a beya (maybe Tamanoi), so we can look at them, while reading your explanation? (W00t, w00t, w00t...)

Sorry - I've never taken any pictures in Tamanoi. Others I had of different places I no longer have. Hope someone else can help here.

Generally pics aren't really that good a thing to do - especially with a flash. Food & drink generally a no-no too and in someplaces women with skirts.

[hoshidango 0]

I hope this guy will make it to the first Brazilian major leaguer. Anyhow I feel one foreigner per heya is too restricted. If limit is 2 or 3 per heya then more Brazilian or whoever from overseas would have opportunity to join sumo, for more exciting diverse matches of personalities & styles

As for the theory of blaming on foreigners for declining popularity, I really don't know. At least now, it seems Asashoryu's strength and guys like Asasekiryu or Kokkai is stirring up new curiosities and interests again. As long as half or so of major leaguers are Japanese, I don't think it would matter for them much what race the wrestlers belong to (I mean not like all from Maegashira 4 & above are foreigners and under are Japanese, though). Rikishis projecting diversed styles and personalities seem to excite fans about sumo lately. The Japanese media has been trying too hard to convince everyone that Japanese must be at the top or whole sumo must be boring.

[Mark Buckton 1]

Any info on this lad's shikona yet anyone?

Tamanoi is closed till the 5th and no answers forthcoming from there. Kinta-san?

[Kintamayama 47,183]

Any info on this lad's shikona yet anyone?

Tamanoi is closed till the 5th and no answers forthcoming from there. Kinta-san?

Nope...But i'll keep my eyes open..