Preparations of the masses - Haru 2014

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Jokoryu: “Not only not losing to Endo, this year it's sanyaku. I want to fight the yokozuna” and he is aiming to be the next Japanese yusho winner.

Jokoryu (25) had his first son born on the 17^th. He had registered the marriage with Mami Taguchi (27) on Aug. 7^th last year, he was introduced to her in winter 2011 by an acquaintance. Wife and son left hospital on senshuraku, the 3 already have begun family life.

www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20140204-1252922.html

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Ōsunaarashi was at the Foreign Correspondent's Club today.

http://www.fccj.or.jp/events-calendar/press-events/icalrepeat.detail/2014/02/12/919/-/professional-luncheon-osunaarashi-kintaro-sumo-wrestler.html

http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNSSXKD0597_S4A210C1000000/

“I will never give up. I'm going after the final dream of becoming yokozuna.”

About Ramadan: “I'm a sportsman and completely separate sumo from religion. Not being able to drink is hard, but I treat it positively as a rigid training.”

[Akinomaki 41,731]

The whole press conference

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140212-1256697.html

Edited February 13, 2014 by Akinomaki

[Sumikumo 0]

The whole press conference

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140212-1256697.html

I've just watched this, very informative. :-)

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Jokoryu (25) had his first son born on the 17^th. He had registered the marriage with Mami Taguchi (27) on Aug. 7^th last year, he was introduced to her in winter 2011 by an acquaintance. Wife and son left hospital on senshuraku, the 3 already have begun family life.

Jokoryu with family.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140216-1258611.html

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Ichinojo and Ishiura declared they will aim for juryo at the Haru basho, with the other former members Daikiho, Terunofuji and Takanoiwa at the victory celebration of the Tottori Johoku High sumo club.

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG2H5HS9G2HPUUB00C.html

[Johnofuji 232]

Thanks Akinomaki . Ishiura told me a few months ago that he was happy to take it slow and steady but I suppose when he has Hakuho to show him some extra smooth moves he can't help but to continue to rocket up the banzuke ---until he meets the larger more experienced opponents in Juryo. That right hand looks like it might slow him down but I am looking forward to some more dynamic performances. He has a great technical repertoire so I'm sure he can manage without that hand.

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Dohyo-matsuri at the Osaka Sumiyoshi-Taisha, where Tatsunami-beya will be for the basho like since 2007.

http://www.nnn.co.jp/dainichi/news/140221/20140221034.html

from the blog entry http://ameblo.jp/sumiyoshi-column/entry-11776999807.html

(maybe only to be viewed on the page? - I'll link the pics to the image pages, after viewing you can see them also on this page)

Edited February 22, 2014 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Like every year, the lower rank rikishi, gyoji etc. arriving with the “Sumo-train” Shinkansen in Osaka

http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140224k0000m050019000c.html

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140223-1261770.html

Kabutoyama-oyakata and Ikioi giving training instructions to kids in Kyoto

http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/sports/article/20140223000118

[Yubinhaad 11,954]

A bunch of asageiko pictures from the Kyokai, starting with a visit to a snowy Chiganoura-beya on February 8th.

The heya's banzuke board.

Warming up before keiko.

Masunoyama warming up with some suriashi and shiko.

Masunosho gets some advice from the shisho, former Sekiwake Masudayama.

Visiting the heya were some children from the Japan Football Association's Fukushima academy. Here Burinosato lends his chest to one of them.

Masunoyama doing squats with a weight bag.

Masaya and Masutenryu have a practice bout.

Masunoyama.

Masunoyama does some butsugari with Tsubomi.

Masunoumi does the same with Yakabe.

Burinosato and Masutoo have a practice bout.

Tsubomi and Masunoyama do some press-ups.

Some more weight work for Masunoyama.

About to lend his chest to Masunosho.

Warming down with matawari at the end of the session.

Commemorative picture with the visiting kids. The suited man on the left is JFA vice-president Kozo Tashima.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Yubinhaad

[Yubinhaad 11,954]

Now a visit to Shikoroyama-beya on February 9th.

Heya banzuke board.

Warming up with suriashi around the dohyo.

The rikishi pair off for some oshiai, pushing and shoving each other to prepare for the session.

Visitors from the JFA's Fukushima academy at this heya too, here being guided in shiko by Wakakoki.

The heya's rising star Horikiri lends his chest to Teraofuji.

Sotenryu about to lend his chest to Sasano.

Same here with Ishiharayama and Matsumoto.

Teraoumi and Bariki prepare for a practice bout.

Koike and Sotenryu in action.

Ohara.

Horikiri and Ohara.

Teraosho and Matsumoto prepare for a bout.

Ohara lends his chest to one of the visiting kids.

And now gets some pointers from the shisho, former Sekiwake Terao.

Warming down with shiko and other basics at the end of the session.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Yubinhaad

[Yubinhaad 11,954]

And finally a visit to Kise-beya on February 16th.

Heya banzuke board. Kise-beya is one of the largest heya, with a total of 30 rikishi. Six of those are sekitori, and a further 13 rikishi are in the Makushita division.

Iwasaki and Koba prepare for a practice bout.

Iwasaki again, this time with former Juryo Kizenryu.

Higonojo warms up with a weight bag.

Gagamaru warms up with shiko, while Tokushinho opts for push-ups.

The shisho, former Maegashira Higonoumi, watches over the session. The two rikishi in shot are Tsurubayashi and Hamaguchi.

Gagamaru continues to warm up on the sidelines. Today (February 23rd) is his 27th birthday.

Akiseyama enters the dohyo for a practice bout with Iwasaki.

And now a bout with Higoarashi, who won the Makushita yusho last basho.

Suriashi train.

The session concludes with sonkyo.

Gagamaru, Akiseyama and Komakiryu relax following the end of keiko.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Yubinhaad

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Endo 20-1 in keiko, losing the one to his amateur yokozuna junior Kawabata.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/02/25/kiji/K20140225007663620.html

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/news/140225/mrt14022517270000-n1.htm

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140225/sum14022516270002-n1.html


Endo's rikishi-nobori in his home town
http://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/ishikawa/20140225/CK2014022502000054.html

[Yubinhaad 11,954]

Pictures from the annual Orange Juice Consumers Convention rikishi-kai, held yesterday in the judo hall of the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.

Ikioi and Tokushinho.

Refreshments.

Onomatsu-beya duo Wakakoyu and Daido. Wakakoyu celebrated his 30th birthday on February 24th.

Kitataiki and Yoshikaze.

Masunoyama.

Juryo returnee Amuru.

Chiyotairyu and Kotoyuki.

Homasho.

Goeido.

Wakanosato and Kakuryu.

Kotooshu.

Kotoshogiku.

Shotenro and Daikiho.

Harumafuji.

Hakuho.

Endo.

Aminishiki.

With fellow veteran Wakanosato.

Tochiozan.

Takayasu.

Takekaze, Takayasu, Asahisho and Kaisei.

Kisenosato.

Isegahama-beya trio Aminishiki, Takarafuji and Homarefuji.

Kaisei.

Endo.

Hakuho answering questions afterwards.

Adorning his haori-himo (the woven string fastener) is this golden Shiranui tsuna and kesho-mawashi.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Yubinhaad

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Today Endo had his first ever degeiko (off-camera), at Izutsu-beya with Kakuryu, his possible day 1 opponent. According to the 2 they did 20 bouts in a row together. Kakuryu praised his good sumo, Endo: “The ozeki was just strong. Me getting overpowered went on an on.”
Oitekaze-oyakata had asked for it, both oyakata are on good terms and the 1 year the oyakata stopped Endo is over.
http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG2V4FCZG2VPTQP001.html



http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/sumo/2014/02/26/0006737543.shtml



http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140226-1262928.html

About 50 fans were watching Endo's first keiko in Osaka – today it's called a 19-2 for yesterday, 5-2 with Kawabata.

Endo 20-1 in keiko, losing the one to his amateur yokozuna junior Kawabata.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20140226-1262778.html

http://www.daily.co.jp/sumo/2014/02/25/0006737290.shtml

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140225-1262569.html

Endo gallery: http://mainichi.jp/graph/sumo/endo/001.html

[Kintamayama 47,174]

Endou entertained new recruit Kawabata (starting Haru at Makushita tsukedashi 15) among others two days ago at home and was 20-1, but lost to his young counterpart, who followed him through high School and college. "He's strong.. We trained together in High School and at college so I really missed him.." commented Endou later. Regarding his condition at theis early stage of preparations- "Some good, some bad.."

Their hair put together doesn't equal ex-Buyuuzan'a back hair:

[Kintamayama 47,174]

Endou went to train with Kakuryuu again today. He lost all his 20-ish matches. " I did as much as I wanted to. I was told by the Ozeki that my tachiai was much better today and that the rest will follow with practice. I'd like to use that as an incentive and gambarize!!" said a smiling Endou. He was covered in sand and was swearing a lot, but that's OK.

[Kintamayama 47,174]

Injured Myougiryuu had 19 bouts against Makushita and under opponents and won them all. He will soon start training with Sekitori as well. He is ranked the lowest he was (Maegashira 10) since entering Makuuchi. "These accidents happen. It was a good learning experience.." he said.

Sekiwake Goueidou is ranked as sekiwake for the 12th consecutive time, and that is the second best ever. He trained yesterday against the visiting Kasugano beya lads including Tochiouzan and was 22-9. "I was thinking only of moving forward," he said. As for his expected first meeting against Endou- "I can beat him.."

Edited February 27, 2014 by Kintamayama

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Endou went to train with Kakuryuu again today. He lost all his 20-ish matches. " I did as much as I wanted to. I was told by the Ozeki that my tachiai was much better today and that the rest will follow with practice. I'd like to use that as an incentive and gambarize!!" said a smiling Endou. He was covered in sand and was swearing a lot, but that's OK.

For today there are pics

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/02/27/kiji/K20140227007675560.html

yesterday only after-keiko pics

Mokuso

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/sumo/news/20140226-OHT1T00215.htm

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/02/27/kiji/K20140227007673070.html

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20140227-1263209.html

http://www.daily.co.jp/sumo/2014/02/27/0006739801.shtml

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/sumo/news/CK2014022702000171.html

http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/sports/news/CK2014022702000116.html

with singer Teiji Yamazaki, his e-mail penpal

http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/20140227/oth14022719160028-n1.html

earlier pic

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/west/west_sports/news/140226/wsp14022621010009-n1.htm

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Tochiozan on the 26^th at degeiko to Sakaigawa-beya was 22-10 against Goeido, Toyohibiki etc.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140226-1263011.html

Injured Myougiryuu had 19 bouts against Makushita and under opponents and won them all.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140226-1263008.html

The makuuchi Chiyo-brothers visited their home town Shibushi-shi.

With the mayor:

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG2V5H2BG2VTLTB00F.html

I found it useful to register for free at Asahi- and Mainichi-shimbun to read without charge all the rest of sumo articles they have hidden behind a login procedure.

Asahi lets one read 3 articles a day for free, that is more than enough for the whole sumo content.

Mainichi gives a week of full access also to the database of articles up to one year ago, but even after that the articles in the categories “shimen” and “area” can be read – and the pictures are all free to access.

[ALAKTORN 346]

Sekiwake Goueidou […] He trained yesterday against the visiting Kasugano beya lads including Tochiouzan and was 22-9.

Tochiozan on the 26th at degeiko to Sakaigawa-beya was 22-10 against Goeido, Toyohibiki etc.

Aren’t these conflicting? Who was 22-9(10?), Tochiōzan or Gōeidō?

[Kintamayama 47,174]

Sekiwake Goueidou […] He trained yesterday against the visiting Kasugano beya lads including Tochiouzan and was 22-9.

Tochiozan on the 26th at degeiko to Sakaigawa-beya was 22-10 against Goeido, Toyohibiki etc.

Aren’t these conflicting? Who was 22-9(10?), Tochiōzan or Gōeidō?

Not really, since Goueidou could be 22-9 and Tochiouzan could be 22-10 at the same time, since they did not exclusively face each other, if you read closely.

Edited February 28, 2014 by Kintamayama

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Kakuryu and Endo today both were on degeiko to Tokitsukaze-beya, Kakuryu was 19-1 with Toyonoshima, Tokitenku, Sotairyu, Asasekiryu etc., 8-1 of that with Endo, who was 7-2 with the others.
http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140301k0000m050036000c.html

Yesterday Endo lost all, but Izutsu-oyakata said he won 1 the day before, making it 1-39 on the 2 days: “He looks a bit tired.” Kakuryu: “I think Endo's tachi-ai has become better than on the day before.”
Endo: “In primary school I trained with middle school, in middle school with high school or university students. I have done it with those superior to me. This is similar. I was given a valuable experience.”
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/02/28/kiji/K20140228007677960.html

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20140228-1263645.html

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/02/28/kiji/K20140228007677890.html

bigger

[Akinomaki 41,731]

Ichinojo: the Mongolian Endo ? Towards becoming the first nomad as sekitori, born 450km away from the capital.

During the 4 years he has been in Japan now he hadn't visited Mongolia at all: “I want to invite my parents to Japan.”

On the 10^th he injured his right knee and did only light keiko that day:

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/sumo/news/CK2014022802000169.html

Aminishiki after lending his chest to the young ones was 9-8 with sekitori: Takarafuji etc. He announced he'll go for double digits and a sansho. He missed out on a sansho in spite of double digits 2 times before: “Now the shisho is chief shimpan, I guess that allows me to hope.”

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140227-1263495.html

Local boy Goeido at a talk-show: aiming for double digits
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140228-1263812.html

Tochinowaka visited his home-town of Amagasaki, close to Osaka, at m2 aiming for sanyaku

As usual with the mayor:

http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/hanshin/201402/0006743068.shtml

and at the encouragement party

http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/sports/201402/0006743166.shtml

Edited February 28, 2014 by Akinomaki

[ALAKTORN 346]

“On the 10th he injured his right knee and did only light keiko that day”

I hope it’s nothing serious… knees are a very dangerous zone.