Kiwi Sumo Fan

[Kasugaran 0]

Hi there,

An introduction for me,

My Shikona is Kasugaran, a tribute to Kasugaoo and also my own country (those who read Kanji will know what I mean). I am from Auckland New Zealand and have been a fan of Sumo for nearly 20 years... whew! It used to be on TV here in the early 90's but they took it off and since then haven't really followed it. I now have NHK international, so I am back into it. I lived briefly in Japan going to school in Kyoto many years ago, but have lived a number of years in Korea and am married to a Korean. Therefore I have to support the Korean wrestlers and so Kasugaoo is the man! I am a bit of a fan of Korean wrestling and like the fact that Kasugaoo brings Korean wrestling moves into Sumo. I know he has been a bit up and down, but I am sure after 9-6 he is on his way up.... My all time favourite wrestler for the record is Chiyonofuji, no one will ever top him!

No avatar yet, am still thinking about it....

Enjoying the discussion keep it up. Am going through withdrawl symptoms at the moment, can't wait for the first Sunday in March.... can't believe it is only February!

春日蘭　씀

[Sasanishiki 57]

Welcome, I think that makes you the fourth acknowledged NZer on the Sumo Forum! Glad to have you aboard and look forward to your ideas and perspectives.

[Kasugaran 0]

Darn! Wanted to be the first.... Thanks for the welcome!

[Sasanishiki 57]

That honour goes to Sekihiryu, followed about a month later by me. Recently Kiwishiki has joined as well. Noone else out there has claimed to be a NZer, and I'm not sure about past members...

[sekihiryu 51]

That honour goes to Sekihiryu,

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me! (insert Homer Simpson smiley here) whoo hooh!

Welcome to the forum "springtime day orchid! :-)

Another Kiwi on the forum! choice!

Yep I remember clearly on TV3 on Friday evenings, that sports show, cant remember the name but Clint Brown hosted it and it had the sumo and only because of the Sally the dumptruck (Konishiki) angle.

What was that name of that Friday sports show?

On TV3 there was also "Wynns 3Sport Sunday" I cant for the life of me remember the name of the Friday night show? (You are going off-topic...)

[aderechelsea 124]

welcome aboard ...

i believe that long time fans always have something to offer in a forum from their experience....

i will be looking forward to your contributions.

[Fujisan 530]

Hi Kasugaoran- (Hugging...)

Throw in your salt and join the fray-

As you can see we have plenty of room for another Kiwi even if you are a bit of a fruit. ;-) (Whistling...)

[Kasugaran 0]

Thanks for all your welcomes. Yeah, the show was hosted by Clint Brown and it probably suffered because it made too much of a joke of sumo. Can't remember the name, sooooo long ago!

Don't know if I have anything particularly amazing to say about Sumo. I love a good match as much as the next guy, but being a Ssireum (Korean Wrestling), something finishing with a "nage" is what I look for! It's great seeing various nations represented in Sumo now, a nice change from 20 years ago. I am surprised to see there are no Turks (well none that I can see). Have there ever been any Sumotori from that great wrestling nation?

[Kintamayama 44,354]

I am surprised to see there are no Turks (well none that I can see). Have there ever been any Sumotori from that great wrestling nation?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know of one guy who made it to Japan and Michinoku beya, but left after a month of heya life-we used to correspond via ICQ. I forgot his name..

Other than him, I know not of anyone who made it from Turkey.

[aderechelsea 124]

I am surprised to see there are no Turks (well none that I can see). Have there ever been any Sumotori from that great wrestling nation?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You wouldn't be surprised if you knew the coverage we get on sumo around here. We have to wait for Eurosport's minimal coverage every now and then.

The infuriating thing is that Eurosport goes "off-air" around midnight here in Greece, just before sumo starts .... (Whistling...)

.

.

.

but this will change soon when this magazine will get a first taste of sumo when they include my article-report, of the recent Hatsu Basho, in next month's issue .... (Hugging...)

[Kaikitsune Makoto 203]

Welcome aboard!

It is good to see another Kasugao-fan. The best rikishi who is bad at sumo (Whistling...)

Ssirum-techniques show sometimes and once he even took a ssirum grip in the middle of the mawashi layers and dumped his foe with uwatenage that way. Kasugao's sumo is both frustrating and exciting and I also hope he will be able to pay a visit to high maegashira so he could take on sanyaku. There is certain helplessness in his sumo at times but also very unique abilities in technique and physique. Bring that kotenage on! But why hasn't he performed his out of this world tawara hip power shows anymore so much? Maybe all those insanely strong defenses have caused him problems in that area..hope not.

When it comes to NZ, first things that come to mind are sheep, Wellington, somehow well-known real estate school(??), Sasanishiki and odd location (Hugging...)

And NZ has a somewhat "little brother of Australia"-reputation in my mind too. It is very innocent reputation for me so if it is big insult to NZ-people, I withdraw the statement but that is how NZ associates in my mind.

[Manekineko 200]

Welcome!

When I think of NZ, the first thing that springs to mind are All Blacks. (Whistling...) And that lovely silver-fern-on-black fan flag. I heard NZ is considering changing its flag - any chance of changing to that one? No?

BTW, until couple of days ago I thought that was a kiwi feather on the flag, not a fern. Only upon googling for it did I learn differently. (Hugging...)

[Elenrian 0]

Oh!!! Another sumo-fan from New-Zeland!!! You are 4 now!!! Welcome, Kasugoonofan!!!

To my mind, Kasuago is not an exceptionnal rikishi, but sometimes he fights very well!!! I like him... (but not too much!! (Hugging...) )

Concerning NZ-rugby, I love it: it is sooo efficient, playful (does it mean anything??), I love hearing the Haka!!! I tried to learn the words, but I only remember the first sentence (ka mate ka mate, ka ora ka ora, and-I-don't-remember!!!). I am a big fan of Jonah Lomu and I hope he will be able to go to the world cup in 2007 (as there will be certainly a match of the NZ team in my towm, I am veeeeery happy!!!)...

Anyway, sometimes NZ is beaten by another team on october 31, 1999, in twickenham, for instance, and it is very amusing!!! [i prefer Samoa (Whistling...) ]

Edited February 10, 2005 by Elenrian

[Kasugaran 0]

Thanks for all the nice words and your impressions of New Zealand... Nice and varied! All you need to know about New Zealand is that this is a very exclusive club and we don't just let anyone in!

I am not surprised that the Turkish wrestler couldn't hack the sumobeya, I am sure I couldn't either. It takes a special kind of person.... Like Kasugaoo maybe?

I am hoping to see more Koreans in the top ranks and hopefully Kasugaoo will lead the way!

Aderechelsea - Γεια σου! Μαθαίνω Ελληνικά στην Νέα Ζηλανδία.

Everyone Else - Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu よろしくお願いします！Be nice!

[ilovesumo 12]

Hi,

....don't know what's more to say :-S Welcome! (Dribbling...)

[aderechelsea 124]

Γενναια απόφαση να μάθεις Ελληνικά.

Καλή τύχη και όποτε θελήσεις κάτι θα προσπαθήσω να σε βοηθήσω.

Εχεις Έλληνες φίλους ή μόνος σου αποφάσισες να μάθεις;

[sekihiryu 51]

. I heard NZ is considering changing its flag - any chance of changing to that one? No?

BTW, until couple of days ago I thought that was a kiwi feather on the flag, not a fern. Only upon googling for it did I learn differently.

Edited February 25, 2005 by sekihiryu

[Elenrian 0]

I must confess the current flag is not really original!!! And it looks like the Australian flag, so I have problems to know if a flag is the NZ or the australian flag!!

The Australian one is with white star! OK

By the way, please forgive my ignorance, (oops) but what does signify the stars on your flag?

i noticed that the british flag is cancelled in the new flags. It is perhaps out of date?

The flags you showed are more beautiful!!! Personnally, I prefer these ones

i found this one somwhere on the site that Sekihiryu mentionned:

Veery original!!!

Edited February 25, 2005 by Elenrian

[Manekineko 200]

Stars on Australian and NZ flag are stars of Southern Cross, the most distinctive constellation of the southern night sky. The Cross points due south, and so plays the role which Polar (or North) star plays in northern skies.

I like watching night skies! I yet have to see the southern skies, though...

[Sasanishiki 57]

I, on the other hand, do not support the change of flag, because I feel that to change it would be a huge bureaucratic waste of money, and that a flag is only part of the identity of a nation. Many countries have identifying features that have nothing to do with their flag, and this in no way means that we should cchange our flag to black. The Japanese rugby union and the team sport cherry blossoms as their symbol. This obviously has a connection to Japan, but not to the flag. Likewise, the All Blacks (and many other teams) wear black with a silver fern. This identifies them as a NZ team, but this does not mean that the flag should represent this as well.

I do not feel that having the Union Jack on the NZ flag, nor having a style similar to Australia's, is a cuase for concern. The proponents of other flags want seemingly want to erase part of history, something that we can't avoid, whether we like it or not. Some of the designs suggest using colours (red & black) and designs (swirls and fern motifs) that represent Maori culture. While I see it as unfortunate that these are not explicit on the current flag, I don't see how replacing one culture with another is going to make the flag more equitable.

Although this is open to debate, I don't feel that the NZ flag is oppressive or colonial in nature. I realise the need for South Africa (for example) to have changed its flag because of the racist regime that existed. I believe in a society as free as NZ's that oppression is really in the individual's mindset, not in the colour or design of the flag. Yes, wrongs have been done in the past to Maori and other ethnic groups (Chinese, Pacific Islanders) but I don;t think these are identifiable with a flag, rather a social or political belief at the time. These problems are something that is now clearly acknowledged in NZ history,. Many NZers of all races have served the country (and the flag), and I feel that the loyalty NZers have is towards the country. Our flag is not held as such a 'sacred' icon as other flags are by different countries (Stars & Stripes, for example). However, this does not mean that we should dissociate the current flag from our history.

We cannot help that we were settled by the English, nor can we help that we were so willing to be part of the empire that we sent many young men (Pakeha and Maori) abroad to die. We can recall this part of our heritage on our flag (as we currently do. I see this as a fitting token of remembrance. The rest of the flag is the blue of the sea and the Southern Cross, which I think aptly shows our position far away from others in the middle of the ocean, and our position on the earth. Other flags may represent some aspects of our nation, but for me they will never capture the isolation, yet the warmth and security, of being in NZ and overcoming such odds to be part of the world.

Athletes and others can aspire to the black jersey, or the black cap or black singlet, or some other uniform that contains a silver ferm or likewise. Let us be proud of their uniform and the distinct presence that it has. However, let that remain something special and privileged and removed from the flag. What would happen to these symbols if we ever decided to change the flag again (for whatever reason)? Would that discredit the silver fern or the black singlet? I hope they will never be brought into the same realm as politics or conflict.

[sekihiryu 51]

"Our flag has become an enduring symbol of national pride, both here at home and around the world," Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla said in a statement.

40 years ago the Canada went from this

to this

...enduring symbol of national pride...how I envy Canada.

I can appreciate both sides of the arguments- but the arguments for change are far more compelling and for me it has nothing to do with erasing the past, or disrespecting war vets, but it has everything to do with the future.

And as for a waste of money the NZ Govt already does enough of that on other "concerns and projects" this would be money well spent for a change.

Anyway thats enough from me, Politics are banned form this forum so over and out from me on this issue.

[sekihiryu 51]

Anyway sorry for hijacking your thread Kasugaoran :-|

I am actually a fan of Kasugao myself, he has a great physique, I stood next to him at the Haru Basho last year.

[Kasugaran 0]

Anyway sorry for hijacking your thread Kasugaoran (Showing respect...)

I am actually a fan of Kasugao myself, he has a great physique, I stood next to him at the Haru Basho last year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No worries, I am for a change of flag by the way!

You are lucky to meet / stand next to the man. I would love to have a chat to him some time about Koreans in Japan. Just checking up on the other Koreans... here's hoping for them!

[Fujisan 530]

Have you guys got something against the union jack? (Punk rocker...) (Punk rocker...)

Yeh me too :-D ;-)

[Kasugaran 0]

Wow, is this the longest intro thread ever? Can we keep it going? Being of Scots heritage, I have to say I have a problem with the Union Jack, so it has to go!

Looking forward to next Sunday ... I have told my wife, no evenings together for the next two weeks!