Sumo anecdotes from the past

[Kintamayama 47,104]

Unexpected things happen in the world from time to time. This is especially true in the world of sumo. And not just occasionally, but all the time. Yokozuna Hakuhou, who had won the yusho in the previous basho of Aki 2021 with a perfect record and was expected to be at the forefront of the championship race, was forced to take a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It's unbelievable, isn't it? But, well, that's life..  The beauty of  life is in facing and overcoming these kinds of challenges. The question is how to deal with these unexpected events. So, how did the rikishi cope with these unexpected happenings? 

 

The dangerous area dohyo-side

There's no place more dangerous than dohyo-side, where giant rikishi fall with great force. Some rikishi have been forced into retirement after being hit directly. Speaking of Kisenosato (now Nishonoseki Oyakata), in May of 2017, in his second tournament as a Yokozuna, he made a dramatic comeback yusho despite suffering an injury to his upper left arm the previous tournament, and sumo fans all over Japan worried that he might have not recovered or that he was overdoing it. On the second day after losing to Yoshikaze (now Nakamura Oyakata), Kisenosato was waiting in the wings for his match against Okinoumi (now Kimigahama Oyakata), and as he looked up at the dohyo to watch Terunofuji (now Isegahama Oyakata) vs. Tamawashi, Terunofuji was pushed out and fell on top of him. At the time, Terunofuji weighed 187 kg. The blow hit him directly on his already injured left shoulder, and then he was stepped on his left foot. It was literally a double punch of being stomped and kicked. Even Kisenosato, as expected, could not bear it, his face contorted, and he writhed in agony, clutching his left ankle with both hands. The atmosphere in the arena went cold. "Here we go again," he thought. However, when it was his turn, Kisenosato stepped onto the dohyo as if nothing had happened, and, despite Okinoumi's attempts, he easily won by using a right upper hand grip and an inside left hand and winning by yorikiri, earning his first victory. Truly an immortal man. Needless to say, the fans who witnessed this easy victory breathed a sigh of relief. Kisenosato himself must have been very relieved, as he said this to the surrounding press, making them laugh. "Well, all sorts of things happen (when you're dohyo-side). That took my mind off the bout." The direct hit was like a tonic. However, this was the last smile Kisenosato ever showed. As expected, the injury to his left shoulder had not healed, and he finally withdrew from the tournament on the 11th day. In fact, it was not just this tournament that he withdrew from, but eight tournaments in a row starting from this one, and he went on to retire.

Sumo Editorial Department- BBM Sports

Edited August 30 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,104]

Getting nearly crushed but having enough luck to save you is a wonderous thing. Luck follows those who are lucky enough to have it, all the way to the end. For a rikishi, the greatest stroke of luck is, of course, winning. In the Aki Basho of 2016, Ozeki Goueidou (now Takekuma Oyakata) seized this stroke of luck and won the yusho undefeated for 15 days straight. This commendable feat excited the whole of Japan. On October 28th, after that basho, the Aki jungyo was held in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. After asageiko and chanko, our hero Goueidou was taking a nap, lying face down in the dressing room. As he was on jungyo, the dressing room was of course temporary, with a metal locker about two meters high used as a separating wall.  Suddenly, a young rikishi on the other side bumped into the locker and it fell over towards Goueidou, who was lying down. This was bad news. "Oh, look out, it's dangerous!" shouted the people around him, waking him up.  With his superb reflexes, he quickly shifted his head to the side, and only his left arm was crushed underneath. Thanks to this, although he suffered a slight scrape on his arm, it was not serious, and Goueidou once again demonstrated his strong luck. Looking at the upturned locker kicking up dust, he said with a sigh of relief, "That was really close. I nearly died." But had he used up all his luck already? Goueidou's dream of winning the yusho again at the next Kyushu basho ended in failure, with a record of 9-6.

Sumo Editorial Department- BBM Sports

Edited August 30 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,104]

Life is full of unexpected troubles and mishaps. That's what makes it interesting, you might say. Wouldn't a life that passes uneventfully and monotonously be boring? The dohyo is also full of unexpected, or even impossible, events. The expressions and reactions of rikishi at such times are truly like those of great actors. It's hard to put into words, but we've taken the plunge and focused on the expressions of wrestlers when they face events that go against the script.

 Snowy roads must be navigated carefully. On the second day of the 2013 Hatsu Basho, a massive cyclone developed, causing 8 centimeters of snow to fall even in central Tokyo. This celestial event led to the suspension of the JR Sobu Line, a vital link to Ryogoku, where the Kokugikan is located, creating snowy chaos. But the fans weren't the only ones affected. Rikishi were also desperately trying to find transportation to the venue. Ozeki Kisenosato (later Yokozuna, now Nishonoseki Oyakata), who usually commutes by car, suddenly had to switch to the train and then to walking due to the extremely crowded roads, catching his first train in a long time from the nearest JR station, Mabashi Station. Passengers were extremely surprised to see a large rikishi suddenly board the train, but Kisenosato recalled dryly, "There was no reaction at all." The problem, however, was walking on the snowy roads after getting off the train. Coming from Ibaraki prefecture where snowfall is rare, he said with a wry smile, "I had no idea how to walk in the snow, and it was scary. I guess the best thing to do is to lower your center of gravity a little and do suriashi.. That's how I finally made it to the Kokugikan." However, the effect of this "keiko", just like at the keiko-ba, was immediate. On this day, he defeated the west Maegashira 2 Kyokutenhou (now Ooshima Oyakata) with a swift attacking yorikiri, and when he returned to the dressing room, he said with a smile, "I had a good de-ashi.."

 

Sumo Editorial Department- BBM Sports

Edited August 31 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,104]

When you hit a wall, when you're feeling indecisive and frustrated, there's nothing more appreciated than a gentle, or even a firm, push in the back and a kick in the butt. Rikishi don't always have smooth sailing and things don't always go the way they want them to. They do have their ups and downs. Everyone has had the experience of feeling anxious and worried when nothing they do goes right, only to be inspired by a heartwarming word of encouragement from those around them, and starting on a new path. We'll introduce you to some of those dramatic encouragements.

 

Confidence isn't always "sprayed" on you by others. Sometimes, you "spray" it on yourself. The greatest Yokozuna of the Heisei era was Takanohana, a 22-time yusho winner. His godlike performance and strength had sumo fans of the time excited and going wild. Japan was in a frenzy, but it wasn't all good times. At 20 years and 5 months old, he became the youngest ever Ozeki, and in his fifth basho in Kyushu 1993, he had a 7-8 makekoshi. Prior to this tournament, Takanohana (then Takahanada) developed a severe cold, causing liver dysfunction and limiting his ability to properly train. Even the youngest and most talented Ozeki struggle to win if their balance of mind, technique, and body is severely disrupted. He started losing in the first half of the tournament, and when the press wondered, "Why?" he answered, with his head bowed. "I'm still trying my hardest. If you ask me why I can't win, I have no idea what to say." Then, on the final day of the tournament, with a record of 7 wins and 7 losses, Takanohana was pushed out by Yokozuna Akebono's powerful thrusts and choking force. Then, with a perfectly timed slap, he slammed his hands into the ground, sealing his bitter makekoshi. As he walked back, shoulders slumped, Takanohana muttered helplessly, "It can't be helped." When the press surrounded him and asked, "Will you start afresh on the jungyo (after the tournament)?" he raised his head and answered firmly, "No, it starts today." The sooner you start again, the better. It was a pep talk for himself. True to these words, Takanohana immediately gave up his post-basho rest day and immersed himself in training, seemingly to ease the frustration of his makekoshi. Just how powerful and effective Takanohana's pep talk was is clear. The following tournament, he seemed like a completely different person, winning 13 consecutive matches from the first day to secure his fourth yusho and creating a new legend.

Edited September 7 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,104]

 2021 was marred by the onslaught of the Coronavirus. Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, Saitama, and all of Japan were in trouble. They said that the best thing to do is avoid the three Cs, avoid unnecessary outings, and stay indoors, but there is a limit. At times like these, it's a good idea to take the plunge and change your mood*. This change of mood, this freshening of spirit, is a special skill of the rikishi. How do they do it? Well, let us introduce you to their unique ways of changing their mood.

*Note-Do NOT go out to a club at midnight, and DO NOT sneak out to meet your mistress when there's a curfew.. You are very easy to spot, wearing a hoodie and sunglasses notwithstanding.

 

With all due respect

Kyokai  regulations prohibit rikishi from growing beards because they consider them unsightly, but prior to February 2019, many rikishi would grow or shave their beards to change their mood. For similar reasons, long nails and tattoos are also prohibited. However, there were some rikishi who went so far as to change moods by shaving their beard. On the 10th day of the Hatsu basho 2017, East Maegashira 5 Takekaze (now Oshiogawa Oyakata), who was doing well with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses up to that point, appeared with the beard he had been growing completely shaved off, despite having won the day before. Unsure of the reason or motivation behind this, he was asked, "Why?" and without hesitation he mentioned  the name of his opponent that day, East Maegashira 8 Hokutofuji, a rising star 13 years his junior in only his second tournament since his debut. "He's a student Yokozuna like me. He's more than a decade younger than me, but I shaved my beard as a sign of respect. That's how a match starts – clean!" Takekaze remained active until he was 39 years old. The secret to this was humility, and the way he uses his energy in a different way. Of course, Takekaze's spirit won the match that day as well. After a fierce clash of heads, he won by hatakikomi, toying with the young Hokutofuji. It's sad that beards can no longer be used as a means to mix things up.

 

Sumo editorial Department- BBM Sports

[hakutorizakura 688]

I just found this thread, interesting stories! Very refreshing.

BBM: Bgolden Ball Mountain? 

[Kintamayama 47,104]

2 minutes ago, hakutorizakura said:

I just found this thread, interesting stories! Very refreshing.

BBM: Bgolden Ball Mountain? 

No, an online news outlet.

[Kintamayama 47,104]

Former Sekiwake Ishiura, Magaki Oyakata,(35, Isegahama), appeared at a talk event held at the Sumo Museum. When asked, "What is the most you ever ate?" he made a shocking confession: "When I was a first-year high school student, I was at a training camp at Nihon University, and I ate dinner for about six hours and gained nine kilograms. That's the most I remember eating." In a press conference after the event, the Oyakata elaborated on what happened back then. He was invited to dinner by some  person of interest so he went to a sushi restaurant, then later had a hamburger  and curry rice. When he returned to his lodgings, he received another invitation and went to a yakiniku restaurant. He continued eating for about six hours from 6:00 PM. At the time, he weighed about 70 kg, but he gained weight to 79 kg.

I thought you'd like to know..

[Bunbukuchagama 958]

4 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Former Sekiwake Ishiura, Magaki Oyakata,(35, Isegahama), appeared at a talk event held at the Sumo Museum. When asked, "What is the most you ever ate?" he made a shocking confession: "When I was a first-year high school student, I was at a training camp at Nihon University, and I ate dinner for about six hours and gained nine kilograms. That's the most I remember eating." In a press conference after the event, the Oyakata elaborated on what happened back then. He was invited to dinner by some  person of interest so he went to a sushi restaurant, then later had a hamburger  and curry rice. When he returned to his lodgings, he received another invitation and went to a yakiniku restaurant. He continued eating for about six hours from 6:00 PM. At the time, he weighed about 70 kg, but he gained weight to 79 kg.

I thought you'd like to know..

This doesn't seem possible, I am sorry. 

Even champion level competitive eaters cannot eat 9kg of food in one evening, but we are supposed to believe that a small 15-year old did it? 

[Reonito 1,760]

14 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

This doesn't seem possible, I am sorry. 

Even champion level competitive eaters cannot eat 9kg of food in one evening, but we are supposed to believe that a small 15-year old did it? 

Water weight, presumably? It's 3 g of water for every g of stored glycogen, plus extra fluid storage after salty food.

[Bunbukuchagama 958]

5 minutes ago, Reonito said:

Water weight, presumably? It's 3 g of water for every g of stored glycogen, plus extra fluid storage after salty food.

The water weight has to come from some source - did he just drink all these kgs?

Edited Tuesday at 23:46 by Bunbukuchagama

[Reonito 1,760]

1 hour ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

The water weight has to come from some source - did he just drink all these kgs?

9 kg sounds implausibly high for sure.

[Jakusotsu 6,362]

Perhaps that's the amount the restaurant charged.

Edited yesterday at 04:45 by Jakusotsu

[Kintamayama 47,104]

5 hours ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

This doesn't seem possible, I am sorry. 

Even champion level competitive eaters cannot eat 9kg of food in one evening, but we are supposed to believe that a small 15-year old did it? 

Why are you sorry? It's Ishiura. He's the bodybuilder. I believe him. He s an honest, hardworking individual. 

[RabidJohn 2,043]

10 hours ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

The water weight has to come from some source - did he just drink all these kgs?

In my youth I once drank 12 pints of John Smith's bitter from 7pm to 1am. That's over 6kg. I also had hamburger and chips, and I wasn't sick!

I know the Japanese can be boozers, too. 

Trying not to think about it but, I hope most of it was liquid...

[Jakusotsu 6,362]

4 minutes ago, RabidJohn said:

In my youth I once drank 12 pints of John Smith's bitter from 7pm to 1am. That's over 6kg.

Without going to the bathroom?

[RabidJohn 2,043]

16 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Without going to the bathroom?

Obviously not, but it went in way faster than it came out.

Also, F1 drivers can lose 4kg of sweat in a couple of hours. Fluids do account for rapid weight changes larger than you might expect.

[Sakura 1,523]

1 hour ago, RabidJohn said:

Trying not to think about it but, I hope most of it was liquid...

I admit, I wondered about the, er, bowel movements when I read the story.

[Bunbukuchagama 958]

13 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

In my youth I once drank 12 pints of John Smith's bitter from 7pm to 1am. That's over 6kg.

Have you considered how much of it left your body during this time span? 

There is no way you gained 6 kg by the end of your drinking session.