Sekitori and sake

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

Brilliant post by Joe Kuroda onto ML!

I wonder who is that W-zeki Miyabiyama mentions.

Can't really be Wakanosato after you read Wakanosato's

comment :-/

Here the "secret talk" from the Nagoya Basho NHK's

Sumo Chukei magazine. With each Makuuchi rikishi

introduction, the NHK announcers asked about their

Sake (any liquor including Japanese Sei-shu or Sake).

I broken up into parts:

Asasekiryu Taro

---------------

"I can't drink any strong alcohol stuff like whiskey,

Japanese shochu, or Arkhi (Mongolian vodka). Perhaps

I can drink several glasses of

beer at one time. I go out drinking with the Yokozuna

sometimes. Once I get drunk, I become very quiet.

Basically I drink when I want to

drink. If I am pressured to go for drinking, I feel

like I don't want to drink at all."

Aminishiki Ryuji

----------------

"My relatives can drink quite a bit but I am more of a

social drinker. I don't particularly like drinking but

I like to go for a few drinks now and then. Especially

when a basho is over, I can relax among good friends.

My drinking buddies are Kaiho and Toki-zeki as well as

those from Aomori. Mostly I drink Shochu but I can go

for anything. I mostly drink for relaxing."

Iwakiyama Ryuta

---------------

"I guess, for superstition, I drink when I lose a

bout. I drink about five large glasses of beer one

time. Usually follow it with a bottle of Shochu. I

used to drink three bottles of Shochu and a bottle of

Japanese sake but now I don't drink that much. People

often tell me that once I get drunk, I get pretty

obnoxious and start

rambling but I never remember it at all..."

Kaiho Ryuji

-----------

"I like Shochu especially. I don't care if it's from a

particular maker or brand. I started drinking during

my college days but if I drink it neat, I get drunk

quickly so now I mix it with water. I'd rather go

drinking with a bunch of people than drinking alone. I

drink during a basho too, there is nothing like a good

drink after a win."

Kakizoe Toru

------------

"I cannot drink too much. perhaps several glasses of

draft beer. I often drink local Shochu from back home

in Oita. Last year after a heya party, I drank too

much and I lost my consciousness. Apparently I

started going after a tax driver who was taking me

back home. If I may, I'd like to apologize for my

behaviour to the driver and Buyuzan-zeki who took care

of me then. I am sorry."

Kasugao Katsumasa

-----------------

"I like all kinds of liquor, not just Korean ones. I

especially like sweet drinks - I once drank 30 glasses

of this drink made of vodka,

coconut milk and pinapple juice. Delicious! I didn't

even have a hangover the next day. But I cannot take

Japanese Shochu. I have no

trouble with Korean Shochu so I have no idea."

Kyokushuzan Noboru

------------------

"I get Mongolian vodka from home every month, about 20

large beer bottle size. In Mongolia, it's essential to

have one for any social

gathering. When you visit someone, you always take one

with you. That's why you need it so many. But right

now my favorite drink is

Shochu. I only drink when there is something good

happens. I never drink when I am upset or for trying

to forget bad incidents etc."

Kyokutenho Masaru

-----------------

"I don't dislike drinking. First, beer. Well that's

not a liquor. OK it's not just water but when it's

hot or after a round of golf, there

is nothing like a cold glass of beer. I can go for

half a dozen large glasses. As for Mongolian, it's

vodka. Now that is the drink. Friends often bring them

back from home but that's not a kind of thing you want

to drink so much."

Kinkaizan Ryu

-------------

"Well a glass of beer is my limit. Even then I hate

drinking it. I know whether Japanese sake or wine, it

tastes good and I like it. It goes well with food and

I understand the food tastes better with some

alcoholic beverages compared to Coke or Oolong tea.

But it's my body chemistry. I just go all red. It's

pitiful really."

Kokkai Futoshi

--------------

"I don't drink so much but if I drink at all it will

be wine. I can go for three bottles of wine at one

time. Occasionally I drink vodka with my father and

grandfather. In Georgia every family makes their own

wine. When I go back home, that is what I drink.

Personnally our home made wine tastes best. I drank

it when I got home just prior to the May Basho. I

think that contributed positively to the record in the

May."

Kotonowaka Terumasa

-------------------

"Beer, Japanese sake, Shochu, I can go for anything.

If it's wine, I remember I drank seven or eight

bottles one time. I especially like

wine and cheese. For a bottle of wine, I can go for

two plate full of blue cheese easily. I also put a

lot of parmesan cheese on pasta. I often empty out the

whole parmesan cheese box and there is nothing left

for anyone else!"

Kotomitsuki Keiji

-----------------

"I am not into any 'adult' type of drink like brandy.

My favorite is a sour mixed with something like Calpis

(carbonated yogurt flavored

drink). I like the sweetness. I used to order it since

my college days. I found not many places have it on

the menu. I once especially got made it for me at a

Ginza bar. If I cannot get it at all, I usually settle

with a grapefruit sour (sour in Japan are often made

with Shochu).

Kotoryu Hiroo

-------------

"I like Shochu. I especially like the one made from

potato, that unique flavor and taste I really go for.

I can drink it neat, with ice or water. I like

drinking slow so I can slowly get drunk. I often get

the Shochu information from friends in Kagoshima and

they send specially unique potato Shochu to me. I have

done quite a bit of research on it. I just hope I can

display a sumo style as unique as those potato

Shochu."

Shimotori Norio

---------------

"I guess I am in the middle camp - neither hate it nor

like it so much. I don't go drinking by myself. One

time at the University I had an experience of drinking

Shochu mixed with sports drink and got totally

smashed. Ever since that time, I usually pretend I get

drunk and leave quickly to prevent a possible major

disaster from happening. When I drink I feel my limbs

go weak. But I like going out drinking with good

friends. Mostly I am drinking Shochu now."

Jumonji Tomokazu

----------------

"I am from Aomori so I often am asked if I like

Japanese sake. To be honest I don't like it. Since

the time when I was a new recruit, I was

forced to drink it and got smashed. My favorite is

Shochu. Recently I am drinking brown sugar Shochu. I

like its sweet aroma and flavor in

my mouth. I also found it doesn't give me a bad

morning-after. But then again if you drink too much,

it's all same."

Takanowaka Yuki

---------------

"People think I am a good drinker but actually I can't

drink. A glass for cheers is just about my limit. When

I am asked for one during a heya function, I just tell

them frankly I do not drink. I think it's better than

having someone pour you a drink and not touch it as I

consider that is more of bad etiquette. Now I hope

everyone understands."

Takamisakari Seiken

-------------------

"I can drink anything but I like draft beer best. I

drink about five or six glasses but I get drunk very

quickly. I also need a good selection of finger food

to go with it. Sashimi, meat, anything is OK but if

there are a lot of good stuff, I can drink quite a bit

more. What

happens when I get drunk? Well I become more cheerful.

But then some suggest that I am already way too

cheerful..."

Takekaze Akira

--------------

"Well, for me, drinking and 'the 54 Club' go together.

It's a pretty well known drinking gettogether for

rikishis. It's made up of those

rikishis born in the Showa Year 54 (1979). I was

really happy that Hokutoarashi and Kainowaka invited

someone like me, a college grad.

Wheneve there is something happens to a member, we get

together. We can talk about anything. It's a club that

makes you feel a strong bonding beyond ordinary

winning and losses."

Tamanoshima Arata

-----------------

"Right now I don't drink at all. One time in my

College days, I was staying in a dorm and went to a

senior's room. There what we called 'clearing the

room' and we started drinking any bottle lining up on

the shelves, like Japanese sake, Shochu, whiskey. He

had everything. And

obviously there was a total mayham ensued. Now whether

at a party or reception, I just drink tea. I am living

healthy and spending quiet evenings these days."

Chiyotakai Ryuji

----------------

"Actually I cannot hold liquor at all. People say I

don't look that way but my body cannot take it and I

am not a good drinker. If I go out perhaps with a

meal, I may, but even then only a few times in month.

My limit is several glasses of Shochu with ice. My

folks in Oita don't drink so there is no alcohol

there. Perhpas it's in the bloodline. But even when I

am drinking, I know I don't like it at all."

Dejima Takeharu

---------------

"I am a beer drinker. I happen to like only a specific

brand from a specific maker. When I was a kid, I

tasted beer my parents were drinking and I thought I'd

never drink such a sour stuff in my life but now I

like it best. Especially after you sweat a lot, it's

the ultimate. If I ever win 70 straight matches or so,

I am wondering if the beer company put me on their

commercial..."

Toki Susumu

-----------

"While in Tokyo, I tend to go straight to home but at

other bashos, I tend to go out drinking every night. I

can hold a lot of liquor well

and one time I really went for Shochu too. I can

drink pretty much everything except Japanese sake. I

like going drinking locally made liquor with lots of

my buddies. I guess having a good time is my hobby. My

rikishi friends can all drink a lot."

Tokitsumi Masashiro

-------------------

"Well I cannot drink so...." (and the talk stops).

(Anything to relax with ?)

"I enjoy spending time with my family." (then starts

talking about his six month old son.)

"He can tell when I am on the dohyo and now calls me

'Papa'."

Tokitenku Yoshiaki

------------------

"In cold Mongolia, a lot of people drink. But drinking

40% vodka will give me a headache so I don't drink

much. Once I arrived in Japan, at

the University I often asked to go for drinking by

seniors and I used to drink Japanese sake, which I

like. But now I just settle with a

bottle or two of beer. When I go out with my Monglian

friends, I may drink a glass of vodka with juice as I

look out of place not drinking

at all."

Tosanoumi Toshio

----------------

"I can't drink even a drop of alcohol. If I drink even

a little bit, I get sick and start sleeping. Last

time I drank was when the seniors at university forced

me to go for drinking. I rather like sweet stuff like

cakes and cream parfait. I used to order it after a

meal at

restaurant. But now for health reasons, I am

refraining from sweet things. I really want to eat

them but I am trying my best to stick

with the resolve."

Tochiazuma Daisuke

-------------------

"If asked perhaps I go for a Shochu but I hardly drink

at all now and I am not a good drinker. Once when I

suffered consecutive losses, trying to change the

luck, I drank a lot till late. I didn't remember how

much I drank and I missed a morning training session

with a bad hangover. Anyway I was sober by the time I

got on the dohyo but obviously it did not lead into

any good results and I have been regretting it ever

since."

Tochisakae Atsushi

------------------

"I can't drink alcohol at all. Even in my own wedding

ceremony and reception, I was drinking oolong tea.

Actually I don't mind it all all

but when I had a muscle separation, doctors

recommended me not to drink any carbonated drink. Now

that is totally another story as far as I was

concerned. I have been drinking the stuff ever since I

was a little kid. When I see people

drinking it nearby, I go crazy but I know it's for my

health so I try to be patient. Just telling myself, be patient."

Tochinonada Taiichi

--------------------

"Well let me put it this way. I just took out from the

fridge the last of four beers I bought six months ago.

I only drink when a friend

visits me. I don't believe it's fitting to drink

while having a meal with kids. It's not that I dislike

drinking. If I drink, it will be

Shochu, with water. The best ones come from Kyushu. I

wonder if my seniors from Kyushu are reading this..."

Toyozakura Yasukatsu

--------------------

"I like drinking but I usually don't drink at heya or

alone. All I can manage is a glass of draft beer and

a bottle of Shochu. Schochu

has less calories so I think it's better. Once I went

out with a group of sekitori and had a drinking

challenge. I totally blanked out then. I

hope one day soon, both myself and my older brother

(Kitazakura) can have a good drink together as

Makuuchi rikishis."

Hakuo Shou

----------

"For a promotion or getting a Sansho award, we raise

our cups. But the content of my cup won't be alochol

until the next March when I become 20 years old. " (In

Japan the legal drinking age is 20 years or older.) In

Mongolia adults drink horse milk liquor. My dad who

was a Mongolian yokozuna was amazing. He could drink

and drink and he looked exactly the same..."

Hayateumi Hidehito

------------------

"Before I joined Ozumo, while going to university I

used to drink a lot. I just drank Japanese sake. I

needed nothing else, no snack, no

food. I just sat quietly and kept drinking. Once I

joined Ozumo, I reduced my drinking intake and ate

more so I gained more weight. I believed back in the

college days I drank three bottles of Japanese sake

one time but I don't remember it too well. When you

think about it now, it's a good memory."

Harunoyama Tatsunao

-------------------

"I was never a drinker and I don't drink much now.

But I like Shochu. My oyakata (former Ozeki

Wakashimazu) is from Kagoshima so we have a

good selection of Potato Shochu at heya so I started

drinking a bit now and then, mixing it with water or

ice. I don't know if you are

aware of this, some Shochu are very popular now so

it's very difficult to get a well known brand."

Futeno Izumi

------------

"I am trying to be sensible so it won't affect me the

next day. Having said that once I drank five bottles

of wine so you could say I am a drinker. After I got

promoted to Makuuchi, I get more occasions to be

invited by supporters for drinks so I have more

opportunity. But the most important thing is to

maintain good health. Often the supporters send an

ecouragement note the next day so I try to make me

more motivated to train hard to go higher in the

banzuke."

Buyuzan Takeshi

---------------

"I love Shochu. Lately I am beginning to be able to

discern the differences. I especially look forward to

go for non-Tokyo bashos as I

can try out a special local or regional brand.

Especially this particular place I go in Osaka.

Initially they did not stock any Shochu. I told them

how much I loved Shochu, they began to get more and

more. Right now they have over 100 different brands. I

think now that they have so many, I have to put a

challenge to myself to drink them all."

Hokutouriki Hideki

------------------

"I can drink but I don't try to drink so often. One

time all of us at the heya went for drinking and

started drinking red and white wine alternating.

After a while I started getting sick and rushed to the

washroom but I saw my oyakata going in there ahead of

me. I could not knock nor yell. Inside of me I was

screaming to him to get out of there quickly. I just

remember it was like a life and death struggle."

Miyabiyama Tetsushi

-------------------

"I like drinking. Perhpas a bottle of Japanese sake or

so. I guess that's average. Of course I don't try to

drink that much during a basho. But once you start

losing a lot, you may go for drinking to change the

luck. You can forger about the bad stuff and can sleep

well. The trouble I have is there are so many people

who can drink a lot are around here. Especially if I

go out with my best sekitori buddy, W-zeki, I normally

come back as a total wreck."

Musoyama Masashi

----------------

"Right now my favorite is 'Tantakatan'. It's a perilla

flavored Shochu. About four years I discovered it

during Hokkaido Jyungyo. It's

an easy quaffable liquor with a great after-taste and

I became the fan right away. Back then I could not

find it around Tokyo but now we started

seeing some appear here so it's great."

Wakatoba Hiromi

---------------

"I am not a good drinker. Just a glass of draft and I

am drunk. So I really am not fussy about what I drink.

When I drink, it's when I go out with lots of friends

and have good time. A couple of years ago, after a

friend and I drank 95% alcohol drink, I started

spewing bubbles off my

mouth and lost consiousness. I was immediately taken

to a hospital with acute alcohol poisoning. Since then

I am definitely refraining from drinking a lot."

Wakanosato Shinobu

-------------------

"It's rare that I ask for a drink. I like having

people around and the atmosphere it brings but I

cannot bring myself to drink. In my case it is the

eating I enjoy. If I eat till full, I can forget about

all the unplesant things that happened and will give

me more energy. Now being married for two months, my

favorite time is enjoying my wife's meal together.

There is simply nothing better."

Otsukasa Nobuhide

-----------------

"I don't like it. I used to get smashed with only two

glasses of sour. Back in my University days, it was

pretty tough as I was forced

to drink. Coupled with hard sumo training, I felt

there was one more mountain I needed to go past. So

now even if I am presented with a very expensive

liquor, I think I can drink it without a problem but I

can never feel it as delicious. I guess that's what I

regret most."

Kaio Hiroyuku

-------------

"OK, it's true when I was younger, just like what

everyone says, I could have drank a great deal. But

nine years ago when I lost 20Kg, I started reviewing

my food intake and I started eating right and

refrained from heavy drinking. Especially in Tokyo, I

have a place to

go home to so it's been a while I had one of those

'Bravely Legend' people tell you about. You have to

trust me. It's true. Honestly."

Asashoryu

----------

"I may drink alone at home sometimes but I like

drinking with a lot of people. I am getting into vodka

recently. I like drinking hard liquor cleanly. I have

a good selection of vodka at home. I am getting

shipped from a friend in Russia and some are very

unique. But there is nothing like a good drink after

winning the Yusho."

[Mark Buckton 1]

Extreme modesty above - 2 fake that I know. Privacy rights keep me from mentioning names but one initial is K.

Edited July 25, 2004 by Adachinoryu

[Azumashida 1]

I wonder who is that W-zeki Miyabiyama mentions.

Can't really be Wakanosato after you read Wakanosato's

comment :-/

Wakanoyama perhaps?

[Asashosakari 20,218]

I wonder who is that W-zeki Miyabiyama mentions.

Can't really be Wakanosato after you read Wakanosato's

comment  (Blinking...)

Wakanoyama perhaps?

That was my first thought too, but massive amounts of alcohol aren't a good idea for diabetics, are they? :-(

[aderechelsea 125]

Kaiho Ryuji

-----------

"I like Shochu especially. I don't care if it's from a

particular maker or brand. I started drinking during

my college days but if I drink it neat, I get drunk

quickly so now I mix it with water. I'd rather go

drinking with a bunch of people than drinking alone. I

drink during a basho too, there is nothing like a good

drink after a win."

that's why he can never win more than 9 bouts oer basho....He is drunk half of the days ..... :-(

(Blinking...)

[Kaihayaiha 0]

I wonder who is that W-zeki Miyabiyama mentions.

Can't really be Wakanosato after you read Wakanosato's

comment  (Blinking...)

Wakanoyama perhaps?

That was my first thought too, but massive amounts of alcohol aren't a good idea for diabetics, are they? :-(

Absolutely not. I haven't tried it but when I was diagnosed the doctors warned me severely about that.

[Azumashida 1]

I know of a "W" who is said to have once indulged in alcohol consumption in quite immoderate fashion, but I've heard those problems are supposed to be behind him by now... :-( (sorry, couldn't resist, no political debate intended here)

[hoshidango 0]

When I dealt with the Japanese business people, I was surprised by the drastic(one extreme to the other) difference between the one who can drink and who cannot. I cannot generalize, but I remember ones from Northen Tohoku were often big drinkers, looking normal after 10litres, can drive & even run. And some literally cannot drink any. I wonder if sumo trains wrestlers to drink(possible?) as well as eat, or drinkers have better success rate in making it.

[Chienoshima 0]

When I dealt with the Japanese business people, I was surprised by the drastic(one extreme to the other) difference between the one who can drink and who cannot. I cannot generalize, but I remember ones from Northen Tohoku were often big drinkers, looking normal after 10litres, can drive & even run. And some literally cannot drink any. I wonder if sumo trains wrestlers to drink(possible?) as well as eat, or drinkers have better success rate in making it.

I also observed the same thing when I worked for the french embassy in Japan. At that time, one pharmacist in our science department told me that the japanese did not have the enzyme, that destroy alcohol in the blood. Hence, they can get drunk with a single glass of beer !!

However, I also knew some strong drinkers in Tokyo, but most of them told me that their familiy came from the North of Japan to Tokyo. This leads to an another key fact, the ainu people. Indeed, people from Hokkaido are descendants of Ainu people, who were different from people living in Honshu for example. So, generally speaking (people migrate to the south), japanese people in the north have not the same genetic as other japanese people, and this may explain the drastic differences in drinking alcohol.

Best regards,

Chienoshima

[Kintamayama 47,171]

I suggest a sake-drinking Sekitori shall henceforth be known as a Saketori.

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

I also observed the same thing when I worked for the french embassy in Japan. At that time, one pharmacist in our science department told me that the japanese did not have the enzyme, that destroy alcohol in the blood. Hence, they can get drunk with a single glass of beer !!

Many oriental race people have diminished enzyme activity in the second phase of alcohol degradation. Alcohol will be destroyed just fine but the aldehyde that is the end product of the the first phase of alcohol is usually converted to asetate and there is an enzyme that does the work. Many oriental people have largely diminished activity of this enzyme so they have bigger amounts of that aldehyde-compound in the blood and that compound is a "poison" and can make the victim very sick and nauseous and hence they can't drink alcohol much at all. If I remember correctly now the antabus capsule which is one drastic alcoholism treating method (maybe not used so much anymore) also has the same affect of inhibiting the enzyme. So it is quite understandable that some rikishi can't drink no matter how much they would want to. It was perhaps in Thailand where this enzyme deficit is at its worst but certainly all over Eastern Asia.

Based on the interviews, at least Chiyotaikai and Tokitsuumi may be candidates to have this unfortunate (or fortunate, depends on how you look at it I guess heh) trait.

Kinkaiyama and Tosanoumi especially. Also Tochisakae...

[Mark Buckton 1]

I also observed the same thing when I worked for the french embassy in Japan. At that time, one pharmacist in our science department told me that the japanese did not have the enzyme, that destroy alcohol in the blood. Hence, they can get drunk with a single glass of beer !!

However, I also knew some strong drinkers in Tokyo, but most of them told me that their familiy came from the North of Japan to Tokyo. This leads to an another key fact, the ainu people. Indeed, people from Hokkaido are descendants of Ainu people, who were different from people living in Honshu for example. So, generally speaking (people migrate to the south), japanese people in the north have not the same genetic as other japanese people, and this may explain the drastic differences in drinking alcohol.

Best regards,

Chienoshima

Chie-san,

anthropolgically this is very mixed up. The majority of Japanese in Hokkaido are descended from modern 'southern' Japanese introduced during forced population exercises during the late Edo and Meiji eras and are no different to the residents of Tohoku irrespective of how different they want to be.

Linguistically Hokkaido is more similar to Tokyo than is Kyushu or even Tohoku. (where name influences exist which were influenced by Ainu)

Generally speaking the Ainu were even thought to have lived as far south a Shizuoka and Gifu before modern times according to archaeological remains and other evidence and it was the pushing back of these 'barbarians' as the 7th to 19th century Japanese called them that finally drove them to Hokkaido. Very few 'pure blooded' Ainu remain as most were exterminated or relocated and many of those who do are forced to hide their background.

The enzyme 'missing' is found missing in other nations in Asia and is estimated to affect 10% of all Japanese - throughout the nation and not only in one specific area - a nation ethnically mixed between the oval faced Polynesians who came in from the south and the northern and rounder faced introduced Koreans-cum-Chinese in modern terms. I'd suggest the pharmacist at the embassy get out a bit more and learn a little more before making what seem to be sweeping statements.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

I once read in the Daily Yomiuri (therefore must be true (Laughing...) ) that the strongest drinkers in Japan were found in its southern and northern extremes, and as you went toward the centre of the country, people were less and less tolerant to alcohol. Mie/Aichi prefectures were home to the weakest of all drinkers in Japan.

Could this explain those ugly Nagoya honbasho crowds?! (Applauding...)