Kintamayama 38,764 Posted August 23, 2012 (edited) 21 year old Georgian amateur Sumo ex-Juniors world champion Zaza (190/150), who beat Oosunaarashi in the finals for the under 18 crown in 2008, is in Tokyo looking for a heya. I even saw a picture of him with Tochinoshin courtesy of one John person. He visited the KKan yesterday, although he didn't enter and watched from the outside. He did visit the museum, say my sources. There are currently 11 heya without foreigners, so he may make it. He'll be there for two weeks and is planning to do keiko at some heya. I have a great shikona for him. Zazamaru. Edited August 23, 2012 by Kintamayama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark.Buckton 68 Posted August 23, 2012 wonder if this is the lad who used my mobile phone to call Tochinoshin at the 2005 or 5 SWC in Sakai? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 32,216 Posted August 23, 2012 The Nikkan article states that foreigners even after becoming Japanese nationals are still counted as foreign born, naturally. They imply that the foreigners quota is for foreign born rikishi, I heard that is is only for rikishi of foreign nationality - has that changed ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 16,484 Posted August 23, 2012 The Nikkan article states that foreigners even after becoming Japanese nationals are still counted as foreign born, naturally. They imply that the foreigners quota is for foreign born rikishi, I heard that is is only for rikishi of foreign nationality - has that changed ? Yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 16,484 Posted August 23, 2012 If I'm not mistaken, Zaza Balashvili is the Georgian I referred to in this three years ago: - The Georgian juniors team was surprisingly small, in number if not in size. IIRC every single one of them (all men) competed in the unlimited weight categories - one in the U18, three (I think) in the U21. I can't help but get the impression that Georgia isn't really into fostering grassroots interest in amateur sumo, but rather focussing only on developing more pro prospects. Incidentally, the U18 guy managed to get himself disqualified in his first bout for causing three consecutive matta by trying to have an ozumo-style tachiai (i.e. hands down and then not waiting for the starting call) - duh. He proceeded to steamroll through his two repechage bouts afterwards, then lost the bronze medal match, ironically enough, getting pushed out without resistance because he was waiting for a matta call that never came. Fun times, though perhaps not for him. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masumasumasu 902 Posted August 23, 2012 Does Tochinoshin have the most powerful legs on planet earth? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Igordemorais 75 Posted August 23, 2012 He certainly has the bone structure for it. Hope he finds a spot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Washuyama 579 Posted August 24, 2012 I have a great shikona for him. Zazamaru. Or Zazagaboru? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 32,216 Posted August 24, 2012 The Nikkan article states that foreigners even after becoming Japanese nationals are still counted as foreign born, naturally. They imply that the foreigners quota is for foreign born rikishi, I heard that is is only for rikishi of foreign nationality - has that changed ? Yes. Thanks for the link to that interesting topic. I still am far away from being up to date, concerning sumo and especially concerning the forum. I just can't get the search to be "my friend", as phrased recently. Half of my results are too crowded with irrelevant posts to find what I want. Flood control keeps nagging me and when like this time I get a result, it is only one no longer valid, not the one I looked for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 16,484 Posted August 24, 2012 (edited) Yes, unfortunately the search function, err, sucks since the big forum update earlier this year. (Through no fault of our excellent admin, I hasten to add.) For more in-depth digging I suggest using Google now, with site:sumoforum.net as one of the search arguments. Edited August 24, 2012 by Asashosakari Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 38,764 Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) As we saw in Nishinoshima's Ootake thread, Zaza went to Ootake beya today and had his first keiko session with the big boys. He looked bewildered at times but also showed forward moving sumo, beating some Sandanme rikishi in the process. "I was allowed to do fantastic keiko.The keikoba is beautiful and quiet..The shiko and the butsugari were intense.." he said. Egyptian Oosunaarashi who trained with him: "Zaza was really strong. His upper body is strong, but his lower body is weak, just like mine. I am praying he will be able to join the sumo world". Edited August 28, 2012 by Kintamayama 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 32,216 Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) Zaza lost all to Oosunaarashi. He said: "I want to become like Harumafuji", well ... Edited August 28, 2012 by Akinomaki Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Igordemorais 75 Posted August 29, 2012 His legs are clearly severely lacking Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nukri-nohana 17 Posted September 24, 2012 who knows more resent news about this ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pippooshu 1 Posted October 9, 2012 Info so curious. One young georgian grows up and one old georgian goes out from Sumo. Zaza will be the new Kokkai??? I hope it. Three georgian rikishi are arrived until Komusubi rank. All of them: Kokkai, Tochinoshin and Gagamaru like Georgiasubi... One more: something about Kokkai's danpatsu-shiki??? (Osh...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
