Everyone's preparations- July 2011

[Kintamayama 47,299]

Veteran Maegashira mainstay Takekaze went to Azumazeki-beya yesterday for the second straight day for training. He had a four-way going with Brazilian Kaisei (ahh, but was he sporting a Brazilian??), Takamisakari and new juryo Kaounishiki. Results- Takekaze 16-5, Kaisei 8-8, Kaounishiki 2-6 (too fat for more bouts, huh fatso?? Sideburns hampering your tsuppari? Huh? HUH?), and Takamisakari, ever the keiko klown, going 5-12. "You guys know as well as I do that keiko and hon-basho are two different things," humbled Takekaze, who will be 32 on the 21st.

Edited June 17, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 20,272]

Speaking of Kaisei...he made the cover of a magazine targetting Brazilian expats in Japan (circulation 58,000):

[Asashosakari 20,272]

(Hijack or loose interpretation of the thread title? You be the judge...)

Tomozuna-oyakata and his four bodyguards formally applying for police assistance in this year's round of yakuza attendance prevention:

[Orion 431]

Speaking of Kaisei...he made the cover of a magazine targetting Brazilian expats in Japan (circulation 58,000):

Not only the cover but a large article inside. Where the Portuguese resembles Spanish I can follow it fairly well.

Edited June 25, 2011 by Orion

[Kintamayama 47,299]

200 under Makushita and unders arrived in Nagoya today on the bullet -proof train.

Everyone:

Edited June 26, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 20,272]

NHK video

Edited June 26, 2011 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 47,299]

[Kintamayama 47,299]

Tokitsukaze beya went to Sakaigawa to play yesterday. Tosayutaka and Toyonoshima were seen grappling with Goueidou and others. Toyonoshima was 0-6 against Goueidou. "I've got a lot to learn yet," he said. He actually was quite busy lately, visiting the earthquake stricken areas and his own home town, so he has barely started training. Maegashira top Tosayutaka was seen training earnestly. "I trained earnestly.." he said earnestly. Goueidou was 22-3. "I'm dying for the basho to start.. I'd like to keep this spirit. Last basho I won 11, so I'd like to win something like 12 in this one," he optimised, quite earnestly.

Another Ernest guy:

Edited June 29, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,299]

Sekiwake Kotoshougiku is running for Ozeki this basho and is training hard. The heatwave that is currently hitting Nagoya isn't helping. To counter it, Kotoshougiku has been taking three-four hour naps immediately after keiko. "I don't do this in Tokyo, but this heat can cause a collapse.." he said. At night, he sleeps at least 7 hours. In the last 5 Nagoya bashos, he was makekoshi four times, losing 10 or more in three of them. Still, he is trying to get stronger. He lost to Kotooushuu 7-11 today. "That's not bad.." he said. Later he went to a kindergarten close by and interacted with the kids. "They gave me some genki!" he invented.

Genki- receiving Geek with kids:

Edited July 1, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,299]

Ongoing Ozeki aspirant Kisenosato went for degeiko today (!!!) to Hanakago beya with his Oyakata Naruto (!!!!) in tow. 20 bouts, 17-3. "I was really happy to go for degeiko at such a place!" he exclaimed.

[Kintamayama 47,299]

Hamanoshima (who is currently under "house arrest" for falling asleep on a highway) did some good keiko two days ago, looking good against the young guys of his heya:

Baruto looks on as Hamanoshima looks good:

[Kintamayama 47,299]

Kisenosato stayed at home and trained with heya-mates Wakanosato, Takayasu and Takanoyama- 30 bouts, 25-5. Last basho he seemed to have peaked about a week before the basho and then ran out of gas and barely got his KK. This time around, he is trying to gradually pick up the pace. "I'd like to sharpen up my movement right before day 1 and give my body a final 'squeeze' ", he said.

[Kintamayama 47,299]

Cornernumber Ozeki Kotooushuu went to Kasugano for degeiko today meeting no less than 8 opponents there, the likes of Tochinoshin (when is his shin finally arriving, BTW?) and Tochiouzan from Kasugano, and Sagatsukasa and Fujiazuma from elsewhere, among others. 21 bouts in all, no results Gibbons. "He has still yet to fully recover from his old wound, the right knee one. "I've got to go about it well.." he said. From now till the beginning of the basho, he will be training at his home base of Sadogatake. When will Ogatake be happy again??

Someone shoot me and put me out of my misery please.

Edited July 5, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Jaak 7]

Ongoing Ozeki aspirant Kisenosato went for degeiko today (!!!) to Hanakago beya with his Oyakata Naruto (!!!!) in tow. 20 bouts, 17-3. "I was really happy to go for degeiko at such a place!" he exclaimed.

With 18 wins over two basho, less of an aspirant than Kotoshogiku with 21 or Kakuryu with 20.

Although surprises can happen. How did Kitanofuji become ozeki with 8-10-10?

Never mind. Obviously because 2 ozeki spots must be filled, and Kitabayama

Edited July 6, 2011 by Jaak

[Kintamayama 47,299]

KaioU is worried. On the eighth, the whole contingent goes to Ise Shrine for the dedication dohyo-iri, which was originally supposed to be held in April but was postponed due to the scandals. Someone extremely smart decided it should be done two days before the start of the basho. The problem is that the distance between the parking lot and the dohyo is a cool 1.2 kilometers. The rikishi will have to walk that on a graveled path. In sandals. It is also a one hour trip by car in each direction from Nagoya. And the sweltering heat. "The heat- all that walking.. worrisome.." he said. The man with the thousand injuries is afraid all this may aggravate his situation further. Even the long bus trip may cause his legs to "freeze" so his Oyakata has asked for special permission for him to arrive in a private car. "This schedule is very alarming. That gravel path is a bother," agreed Tomozuna Oyakata.

That Gravel Path:

Edited July 6, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 20,272]

Goeido practicing his "hugging the Emperor's Cup" pose, just in case:

[Kintamayama 47,299]

Okinoumi was down with tonsillitis at the beginning of June, and started training only after arriving in Nagoya. He is going all out now to make up for lost time and has been going for degeiko to Oguruma beya. Last basho he was 7-8 but beat 3 Ozeki on the way. "I'm feeling great. If I can overcome the fatigue, I'll be right on the mark.. This time, no less than double-digit wins and a sansho!!" he promised.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

KaioU is worried. On the eighth, the whole contingent goes to Ise Shrine for the dedication dohyo-iri, which was originally supposed to be held in April but was postponed due to the scandals. Someone extremely smart decided it should be done two days before the start of the basho. The problem is that the distance between the parking lot and the dohyo is a cool 1.2 kilometers. The rikishi will have to walk that on a graveled path. In sandals. It is also a one hour trip by car in each direction from Nagoya. And the sweltering heat. "The heat- all that walking.. worrisome.." he said. The man with the thousand injuries is afraid all this may aggravate his situation further. Even the long bus trip may cause his legs to "freeze" so his Oyakata has asked for special permission for him to arrive in a private car. "This schedule is very alarming. That gravel path is a bother," agreed Tomozuna Oyakata.

One wonders how he survived the two-hour bullet train ride from Tokyo to Nagoya. Must have been practically unbearable... (Sigh...) And to think cars aren't allowed to roll right up to the inner sanctuary of Japan's most sacred shrine. The horror...

Yet somehow we're supposed to believe he's a viable ozeki, and unlike those uncouth ruffians, has never participated in any gambling or match-fixing... :-)

Edited July 7, 2011 by Otokonoyama

[Jaak 7]

One wonders how he survived the two-hour bullet train ride from Tokyo to Nagoya. Must have been practically unbearable... (Sigh...)

In which class of service do the rikishi travel on Shinkansen?