Natsu 2014 trivia and fun stuff

[Kintamayama 45,524]

For the first time ever, 2 brothers were on shinpan duty at the same time. Izutsu and Shikoroyama both officiated the second half of today's Makuuchi bouts. Usually, the 5 shinpan in each judging group come from 5 different Ichimons. Izutsu has just become the deputy director of the judging department and since from Juryo upwards only deputy directors and upwards are allowed to be the head judges, it came to pass today. His deshi Kakuryuu was involved in the last bout of the day. "That was really intense, and it gave me a sense of security having my brother there with me," said Izutsu Oyakata later.

[Kintamayama 45,524]

Joukouryuu was announced as Tokushouryuu during the Makuuchi dohyo-iri today. "Happens a lot. I guess my shikona is difficult to say.. I've got to gambarize so there won't be any more mistakes.." he said.

[Kintamayama 45,524]

The judging department issued a proclamation warning the rikishi of the extra shoves after the match has been decided. "It is rude to your opponents and can cause danger to the fans!!" said the proclamation which was taped up on both shitaku-beya (dressing room) walls. This comes on the heels of Harumafuji's extra shove which drove Aoiyama onto an elderly man who was taken to hospital by ambulance as a result. "It's dangerous for the spectators and the rikishi can injure themselves. I am worried that other rikishi may try to do this as well.. I'd like the guys to go about it without losing their cool .." added Harumafuji's Oyakata Isegahama.

[dingo 1,294]

Extra shoves are of course not a nice thing to do and it's sad what happened, but part of me wants to say that when you sit yourself down in the front row of a ring where 150-kg athletes are regularly coming tumbling down, you've got to think of the risks involved... I remember someone knowledgeable saying a long time ago on this forum that the first few rows are usually left for people who have long ties with sumo and thus are a bit more experienced with dodging a human bullet.

[Asameshimae 220]

Forgive me a prejudice, but from what I've seen, the Mongolians seem to do it more, kind of as a "maybe next time / in your face" extra gesture. Could be a cultural thing, even if they are likely asked not to do it. I could wrong, and admittedly I have noticed it more in the upper ranks than anywhere else.

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

Excellent example by Goeido today how *not* to give an extra shove.

[Kintamayama 45,524]

Excellent example by Goeido today how *not* to give an extra shove.

I felt everyone was going out of their way to be nice today.

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

I felt everyone was going out of their way to be nice today.

Everyone except Aoiyama, that is.

[Kintamayama 45,524]

I felt everyone was going out of their way to be nice today.

Everyone except Aoiyama, that is.

Sure. He can't read Japanese.

[Asameshimae 220]

Extra shoves are of course not a nice thing to do and it's sad what happened, but part of me wants to say that when you sit yourself down in the front row of a ring where 150-kg athletes are regularly coming tumbling down, you've got to think of the risks involved... I remember someone knowledgeable saying a long time ago on this forum that the first few rows are usually left for people who have long ties with sumo and thus are a bit more experienced with dodging a human bullet.

Indeed, one problem with this being that a lot of them are older, hence slower moving and more fragile.

[Kintamayama 45,524]

Aminishiki is interviewed today after winning his fourth straight match, beating Kotoshougiku-the interview was held right after Endou's win over Kakuryuu. (Keep in mind that these interviews usually consist of the rikishi grunting and saying "gambarimaaas..")

Announcer: "That was great sumo.."

Aminishiki: "You mean Endou's sumo?"

[kuroimori 1,634]

Aminishiki is interviewed today after winning his fourth straight match, beating Kotoshougiku-the interview was held right after Endou's win over Kakuryuu. (Keep in mind that these interviews usually consist of the rikishi grunting and saying "gambarimaaas..")

Announcer: "That was great sumo.."

Aminishiki: "You mean Endou's sumo?"

Nice one! he also is undefeated against the microphone armed NHK guys :-)

[Senkoho 552]

let's not forget about this kyougi ni tsuite no setsumei by Izutsu-oyakata:

Edited May 14, 2014 by Senkoho

[Gurowake 4,104]

"It is rude to your opponents and can cause danger to the fans!!" said the proclamation

Did it really have two exclamation marks? I can't even imagine one for that message, let alone two.

[Asashosakari 19,653]

let's not forget about this kyougi ni tsuite no setsumei by Izutsu-oyakata:

Yeah, that was very weird...my understanding of mono-ii announcements is extremely spotty, but at various times I wasn't even sure he was talking about the same bout we'd just seen. What the heck was he talking about?

[Kintamayama 45,524]

let's not forget about this kyougi ni tsuite no setsumei by Izutsu-oyakata:

Yeah, that was very weird...my understanding of mono-ii announcements is extremely spotty, but at various times I wasn't even sure he was talking about the same bout we'd just seen. What the heck was he talking about?

What happened was at some point Jinmaku (who was right there, about a foot away) thought Tochinowaka stepped out, but he didn't. Then, to save face, they went on about thinking maybe at the end there was an isamiashi by Tochinowaka. Replays of course showed his feet were nowhere near going out inadvertently. And Izutsu tried to explain all this while switching Tochinowaka and Houmashou.

Edited May 15, 2014 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,524]

"It is rude to your opponents and can cause danger to the fans!!" said the proclamation

Did it really have two exclamation marks? I can't even imagine one for that message, let alone two.

Of course. Otherwise it wouldn't be a proclamation-just a note stuck on the walls, which it was, so probably no exclamation marks. I was speculating.

[Kintamayama 45,524]

Here is the proclamation. No exclamation marks. Even ends with "please."

[aderechelsea 125]

the proclamation definitely worked for Ikioi .... (Laughing...)

http://vimeo.com/95376171

[Kintamayama 45,524]

the proclamation definitely worked for Ikioi .... (Laughing...)

http://vimeo.com/95376171

To his credit, he was always like that.

[torquato 1,075]

My personal Sumo-trivia of the day, completely off-topic and not related to the natsu basho:

1.) The last non-foreign rikishi, aka a Japanese who won the yusho, was Tochiazuma in hatsubasho 2006. 8 years ago! Quite some time ago.

2.) Makuuchi is a sumo rank, maku-NO-uchi is something to eat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makunouchi

[Benevolance 2,511]

Technically, Kyokutenho was Japanese when he won his yusho.

[torquato 1,075]

I'm not such an expert and not following sumo for such a long time to be honest. This is what a database querry told me. He is listed as Mongolian there.

So, Kyokutenho gained Japanese citizenship?

Edit:

Second thought: I think we had this topic about nationality in sumo some time ago and if I remember correctly Asashosakari gave a good explanation... In Sumo it's about ones 出身 shusshin, your place of birth, your original descent, not what's stamped in your passport, right?

Edited May 15, 2014 by torquato

[Gurowake 4,104]

I recall that there's something specific in the rules to hold a kabu that explicitly says that holders must be Japanese citizens. That's written in stone, and can't be changed, so it explicitly allows naturalized citizens to hold them. The Japanese still regard the naturalized citizens as foreigners for everything else.

[Akinomaki 40,774]

Now　that's fun: the east makuuchi dohyo-iri had to wait, the gyoji leading it was missing, the one from the west came running and headed the east one as well.

Kise at last came with the new kesho-mawashi.　And the Endo applause gets bigger every day.

Edited May 16, 2014 by Akinomaki