Tochiazuma to wed

[Mark Buckton 1]

Picture the scene: ANR in his barber's chair. The barber's wife is talking about local food prices and trying her best with sumo talk - lovely old lady she is but ANR's left ear (the other was being cleaned out by same said wife) is firmly attached to the barber himself who informs me that Azuma announced last night he is to wed.

A 31-year old local lass connected to a hotel in the area (near Nishi Arai Eki for those who know) is to be the lucky lady. Been an item for the better part of 6 or 7 years he says.

May be in the media, may not be - never doubted my barber and won't start now.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Was this before or after he reshaped your eyebrows, trimmed your nosehair, shaved your ears & massaged your shoulders? (Blushing...) Damn, they know a thing or two about service here, eh (Blushing...)

[Mark Buckton 1]

Was this before or after he reshaped your eyebrows, trimmed your nosehair, shaved your ears & massaged your shoulders? B-) Damn, they know a thing or two about service here, eh (Applauding...)

Ear cleaning always comes at the end in my barber's place.

On topic though - nothing about Azuma yet? Noone heard this? Kinta-san?

[Kintamayama 47,138]

On topic though - nothing about Azuma yet?  Noone heard this?  Kinta-san?

Nope. If I learned anything, I'd say the announcement, if and when it comes, would be in a while, to distance his injury and hard work from the "light " connotations of a wedding. I'd gamble and say no way before Kyushu..

Edited July 20, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Mark Buckton 1]

Actually - just put this one to a family member I usually don't like to overload on sumo with and got a nonchalant - 'oh, that was on TV yesterday'. Nothing more but there it is.

[Chienoshima 0]

On topic though - nothing about Azuma yet?

[Kintamayama 47,138]

I don't know if this is connected, but there is a story circulating that Tochiazuma wishes to fly to Athens for the Olympics to cheer on Takako Hamaguchi, a wrestler in the 72 kilo division. She is the daughter of "Animal" Hamaguchi (presumably an ex-wrestler, anyone??), who is also the owner of the gym that Tochiazuma has been working out at since entering Sumo. Apparently, Takako and Tochiazuma are "old friiends". She has come around to Tamanoi to watch Azuma's keiko a few times in the past. Azuma is reasonably free from any real engagements between August 5th, the end of the summer jungyo and August 30th, the "Day of the Banzuke", so a trip is not entirely out of the question. The only thing that can put a damper on things is his physical rehabilitation program. IF he won't be able to go, "I'd like to send her something. I want her to win the gold medal, you see..", he said.

Encouragement from Tochiazuma, who just became the 4th rikishi (out of 12) to manage an immediate Ozeki return, will surely be a great morale booster, says the writer.

[Asashosakari 20,202]

"Animal" Hamaguchi (presumably an ex-wrestler, anyone??)

Yup, a 1970s/80s tag-team professional wrestler for sundry Japanese promotions with the occasional stint in North America, or so tells me this page via Google. He's his daughter's (Kyoko btw, not Takako) wrestling coach now and also trains pro wrestlers, it seems.