Sign in to follow this  
Yubinhaad

Amuru intai

Recommended Posts

According to Onomatsu okamisan, Amuru has decided to retire and will hold his intai press conference at the Kokugikan tomorrow.

The 34-year-old Russian entered ozumo in the 2002 Natsu basho, along with unlamented compatriots Roho and Hakurozan. It took him almost a decade to earn promotion to Juryo in 2012 Hatsu, but a strong debut with 10 wins was cut short by a terrible knee injury, which forced him to sit out the next five basho.

On his return Amuru won the Jonidan yusho to start a run of 11 consecutive kachi-koshi and a well-earned Makuuchi debut in 2014 Kyushu. Overall he spent 9 basho in the top division, reaching a highest rank of Maegashira 5. A fine example of hard work paying off.
 

Kintamayama's report when Amuru's Juryo promotion was announced:
 

On ‎02‎/‎12‎/‎2011 at 07:27, Kintamayama said:

One of the new promotees to Juryo is Russian Amuuru (28). His older sister's husband is Japanese so that's how he got here in the first place. It took him 57 basho to become a sekitori, second slowest promotion for a foreigner since Ex-Wakaazuma (58). He arrived in Japan at the age of 18 having had some boxing experience, but after watching sumo on Russian TV decided to join. His shikona derives from a Russian river by that name. "I had a dream and followed it to Ounomatsu beya.. My dream is to become Ozeki, Yokozuna," he explained. Last autumn he had a torn ligament and missed Kyushu and Hatsu. His shisho pressured him to undergo surgery but he refused. "I would have been sidelined for a year and would have dropped off the banzuke," he said. He went for rehabilitation and using his own diet method (intake of proteins within 30 minutes after keiko) and perseverance and strengthening of muscles, he recuperated. He also added 10 kilos to his weight. After dropping to Sandanme after missing the two basho, he returned quickly and was 6-1 from Makushita 2 this basho, more than sufficient for a promotion to Juryo.

Amuuru went back to Russia only once during his sumo career, 5 years ago. His relatives asked him not to give up "till he gets a keshomawashi", one of the symbols of becoming a sekitori. He is planning on a second homecoming in the spring, and hopes to be ranked even higher by then.

 

  • Thanks 8
  • Sad 7

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow, best wishes to him. Seems like a great, tough guy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'll be honest, I didn't know he was still in sumo. It's been so long since I've seen him in the coverage. I guess he reached his limit.

What's impressive about him is that he had a massive injury break, took 5 consecutive basho off and dropped from J3 to jonidan, and then worked his way up to reach his all time high rank of M5.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Best of luck to him in his future endeavors. Nice to see that his family was very supportive of his career. He helped to cast a better light for the Russians in sumo compared to his compatriots.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Pics from the intai press conference of Amuru, with Onomatsu-oyakata

sum18051415020010-m3.jpgo sum18051415020010-m1.jpgoDdI4td3W4AAku5_.jpg:thumbo K10011437771_1805141439_1805141440_02_01.jpgo

s.jpg 201805140000681-w200_0.jpgo  0180514at35_t.jpgo

sum18051415020010-m2.jpgo 20180514-OHT1I50068-N.jpgo20180515-OHT1I50023-N.jpgo  20180515s00005000007000p_thum.jpgo 20180514s00005000187000p_thum.jpgo96958A9E81818A99E3E2E1E1E58DE3E6E2E7E0E2E3EAE2E2E2E2E2E2-DSXMZO3047893014052018000001-PN1-2.jpgo 

the oyakata looks quite happy

b_11254403.jpgoDdI4vTSW0AA3bXx.jpg:thumbo

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great to finally see a Russian rikishi go intai by his own.

Not because of force intai like Roho, his bro' Hakurozan and Wakanoho. I think all because of marijuana related things. For Aran i think he left Japan because of some problems with the mafia.

 

Amuru overcame a lot of adversity during his career. He was not huge, had some bad legs injury but he managed to fight in Makuuchi for almost 10 basho. Congrats' to him and i wish him good for his next career.

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
5 hours ago, kedevash said:

For Aran i think he left Japan because of some problems with the mafia.

 

Huh? I thought it was because his heya shut down and he'd lost a lot of physical strength because of his cancer treatment. I guess it would explain why he had such a quick danpatsu-shiki privately instead of waiting for one at the Kokugikan.

Edited by ryafuji

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I wasn't aware of the cancer treatment, but I was under the impression that after his heya shutdown, he quit because didn't get along at all with his new shisho.  There may have been multiple things involved though.  The "mafia" (which?  Yakuza, or Russian?) connection seems unlikely if there were other problems.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Today was the danpatsu-shiki of Amuru at a hotel in Makuhari, Chiba, near the heya, with about 150 guests.

final cut by Onomatsu-oyakata

  sum18061619500004-m1.jpgo 201806160001046-w200_0.jpgo 201806210000758-w200_0.jpgo

with the complete heya

20180616s00005000414000p_view.jpg

Edited by Akinomaki
  • Thanks 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Some 150 people participated in Amuru's danpatsu-shiki which took place earlier. Here's a few pictures I've found so far.

 

Spoiler

With an oichomage for the last time.

0VwyLgCi_o.jpg


During the ceremony.

4aFcNGZD_o.jpg


Jinku performance from former Maegashira Daishi, apparently quite an emotional moment for Amuru.

7Fla4yID_o.jpg


Looking good after a proper haircut and a change of clothes.

6xBUx9Lm_o.jpg


Among the guests was former stablemate Tanzo.

yQjMfhJy_o.jpg


Commemorative group shot.

aVKd9OQu_o.jpg


With Shiranui-oyakata (former Komusubi Wakakoyu).

GUFmilTE_o.jpg


With Onosho, Shiranui and former Juryo Keitenkai.

YSDQbSfX_o.jpg


Tochinoshin apparently arrived after the danpatsu-shiki and joined in the celebrations, here posing for pictures outside with Amuru.

F7innaDW_o.jpg

X9aekaSU_o.jpg

 

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 6

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I know Amuru was never one of the really big rikishi, but that's still some impressive slimming down.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 11/08/2020 at 12:33, Akinomaki said:

Ex-Amuru is now trainer at the gym Flex Tsudanuma in Chiba pref., and has started there Nikolay's online Sumo Dojo

Articles keep appearing about Amuru, he works there since last year April and aims to open his own gym in the future. To be able to give the proper instructions how to use the muscles etc., he's going to Japanese classes 3 times a week. The weight is 105kg now (192cm), down 30kg or more from his active days. He had 78kg when he came to Japan at age 18, his Japanese brother-in-law had recommended it to him. Now he's in Japan for over 18 years, longer than he lived at home.

His interest in becoming a trainer stems from his own serious injuries, left knee in makushita, right knee in juryo. He then received advice from experts and learned about the importance of stretching etc.: "I regretted that I didn't take care before the injuries."

The gym had to close for a month due to Corona, after reopening people were hesitant - that led to the Online dojo. He is instructing also in Russian and English, customers from abroad can join.

sty2009110001-g2.jpgosty2009110001-g1.jpgo prm2008310005-n1.jpgoprm2008310005-n4.jpgo prm2008310005-n2.jpgo prm2008310005-n3.jpgo

Edited by Akinomaki
  • Like 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Amuru always seemed like a cool and sympathetic rikishi, who had a good career in ozumo despite many injury setbacks. He always conducted himself well, unlike several of his russian compatriots. Roho especially springs to mind as having a less than ideal behaviour on the dohyo. The only benefit of  him and his brother Hakurozan being in ozumo, was the added entertainment of having the user Ossetian Yokozuna on the forums. I wonder what happened to that guy...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted (edited)

So ex-rikishi Amuru was just arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of sexual assault and theft. Last I'd heard he was settled down, married, and working as a personal trainer. Not sure how it all unraveled for him but an unfortunate development. 

Story in Japanese

 

 

 

Edited by Kaninoyama
  • Sad 7

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
6 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

So ex-rikishi Amuru was just arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of sexual assault and theft. Last I'd heard he was settled down, married, and working as a personal trainer. Not sure how it all unraveled for him but an unfortunate development. 

I literally just pulled up the forum to try and find this thread, because I've just moved to Japan and wanted to join a gym from an ex-rikishi (and according to Google, Yutakayama/Oyanagi's place in Akihabara seems to have closed). I remembered Amuru had started a gym somewhere. This is really sad news (anyone know any other ex-rikishi trainers?) and I hope it's not true. The comments section on that Yahoo article is... not great. Woof.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That's pretty shocking. He seemed like such a mild guy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

In the UK the police don't usually name a suspect until they have been charged. This is to stop innocent people having their reputations trashed by false allegations. Obviously things work differently in Japan.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted (edited)
14 minutes ago, Gaijingai said:

Well, in Japan if you are arrested for something, you can kiss innocence goodbye, as the system is set up for a 95% or higher conviction rate. 
Amuru story in English:

https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/57262

"Innocent until proved guilty" is not such an expected concept in a country with a ridiculously low crime rate. 

Edited by Bunbukuchagama

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Guilty until proved innocent is the case of the medieval Japanese justice system. Also it relies almost on confessions, as the system lacks the means to collect evidences properly. Anyhow, Amuuru is cooked. Really sad development. Probably his business and family life did not go as he wished and the stress resulted in some bad decisions. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, rhyen said:

 

So the reading between the lines is that Gagamaru is worried Amuru's attempts to launch his own business made him fall into the grasp of some bad people.

Edited by Koorifuu
  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this