Mark Buckton 1 Posted November 20, 2006 As my "70-ish and Japanese" Japanese tutor says, "when you're dealing with the Japanese people, yes never means yes, no never means no, and nothing is ever as it seems or how you're told it is". so if I ask Tochiazuma if his real name is Daisuke Shiga (in western order) and he said yes, I'd have to have my doubts? ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fukurou 534 Posted November 20, 2006 "70-ish Japanese tutors" are always right. ;-) What I meant is that she's 70-ish, she's Japanese (she's from Hiroshima, graduated from university (I forget which one) in Tokyo, married, and then came to the US 30 years ago), and she's my Japanese tutor. But I'm sure you knew that (Henka!!!) Besides, you're right - I do NOT argue with Yamada-sensei. She's a sumo fan! (Terao was her favorite) There is probably more to this change of tsukebito than meets the eye. However, we are not insiders and therefore not privy to the intimate details. All we can do is speculate. Thank you for your thoughtful speculation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 20, 2006 11/20/06 Today is November 20 Play video Hello! This is Tooyama. Kyushu Basho Day 9. Since today is the 20th, I think we have a message for y'all from Takaazuma. Please take a look. Takaazuma won again today and has five straight wins from shonichi!!! He is at top of his form! Tamanoi Beya Note: What Chris is saying is the sales pitch from the Aeon stores: "On the 20th and the 30th, five-percent off!" I guess Tooyama taught him the phrase and and the poor kid is hilarious in his less-than-proficient Japanese. --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 24, 2006 11/22/06 Yobidashi - Shigeru Good evening! This is Tooyama. The picture above was taken by Shigeru, the yobidashi, from the yagura tower which is atop the entrance of the Fukuoka Center, where Kyushu Basho is held. Currently, Shigeru, the yobidashi, is affliliated with Tamanoi Beya. Shigeru joined sumo in March 2005 from Adachi-ku where the heya is located, and is now a jonokuchi-class yobidashi in his second year. A yobidashi's work is rather hectic and his assignments are quite diverse. First of all, the yobidashi, of course, calls out the rikishi names. They are also the ones who build the dohyo at honbasho and at the various heya. In addition, they do such things as carry the kensho banners around the ring, sweep the dohyo and hand towels to the rikishi. Further, they beat the drum that is shown in the picture above. Among those chores, Tamanoi's Shigeru takes his turn being responsible for the morning "Ichiban-Daiko." The yagura is quite tall and scary for a guy like me who has acrophobia. However, Shigeru sez: "It's a great feeling up there with a wonderful view." Recently, he has been sitting below the dohyo during the juryo bouts, handing towels to the rikishi. He appears on TV quite often, so many of you may have seen him. If you have a chance to watch TV tomorrow, look for this face. The other day, a high school student who is a Shigeru fan came by our lodgings and was taking pictures with him. At that time, the student fan said emotionally, "Shigeru-san, I consider you a hero (eiyu)." I don't know what Shigeru was thinking, but he responded "No, I use a Vodaphone!" I guess he confused ei-yu (hero) with au (cell phone). (Laugh) Well, that's our Shigeru. Please think kindly of him!! Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aderechelsea 124 Posted November 25, 2006 From what i remember during Natsu basho, Shigeru had one of the worst voices among the young yobidashi. i hope that it was just the age factor and the maturing process that made him squeal while calling the shikona .... (Whistling...) and because i am a hooligan even with yobidashi .... Go Keisuke !!!!! (he is Daiyubu's heya-mate) (Applauding...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 25, 2006 11/24/06 Thanks to Y'all Good evening! This is Tooyama. Thanks to all of you, I was able to achieve kachi-koshi today! At the moment, I am eating delicious yakitori at the neighborhood barbeque place with Ikeda, Isoazuma and Amanowaka-san. For Isoazuma and Amanowaka-san, it's a "Commiseration Party." But, for Ikeda and me, who managed to kachi-koshi, it's "Celebration Time." Only two days left for this basho. Please continue to cheer for us! Tamanoi Beya Message from Tooyama: "Thank you for your [congratulatory] e-mail. Due to your kind support, I was able to achieve kachi-koshi. I will continue to gambarize next basho!!!" --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 1, 2006 12/01/06 Thank You For Your Support Hello! This is Tooyama. Thank you for all the generous support you have shown again at Kyushu Basho! At the present, we are cleaning and putting back in order the Kyushu lodgings that we have used for a month. The picture above is a reminder of the event I told you about the other day. Tamanoi Beya is appearing on a TV program today at 9 p.m. "Those Things That Aren't Taught at Tokoro-san's School" It's a Two-Hour Special! I urge you not to miss it! I think it will be very interesting!! Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 3, 2006 12/03/06 Returning to Tokyo Hello! This is Tooyama. We are about to board the Bullet Train to leave Fukuoka, where we had been living for a month, and return home to Tokyo. All of you in Kyushu, thank you very much for your hospitality! December is going to be very busy, but Hatsu Basho is right around the corner, so I intend to do a lot of good keiko and get physically prepared to gambarize. We're going be on the Shinkansen for just about the next four hours. Well, off we go! Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 4, 2006 12/04/06 Ronaldinho?? Hello! This is Tooyama. We returned to Tokyo from Fukuoka yesterday. Keiko started from this morning. In the afternoon, we went to the hospital to visit Fujiazuma. But, sitting on the bed was . . . Ronaldinho??? Even from before, we all have been saying that Fujiazuma looks like Ronaldinho, but when he unties his mage and washes his hair, he is a spitting image. On top of that, today he was wearing a Team Brazil T-shirt that he said he gpt from Takaazuma (Chris). I had to take a picture. He got injured during his bout on shonichi of Kyushu Basho and returned immediately to Tokyo, where a check at the hospital revealed a torn ligament in the knee. Right away, he underwent surgery. At present, his post-operation progress has been good and he has begun rehabilitation of the knee. He won't be able to engage in any sumo for a while, but he is still young, so he should use the bitterness and suffering from this as a springboard to more gambarizing. He seems to be quite bored at the hospital and follows the blog on his cell phone, so I urge you to send Fujiazuma some messages of encouragement! Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 14, 2006 12/13/06 The Truth Is . . . Hello! This is Tooyama. Sorry for the delay in updating the blog. To tell the truth, I am currently in a hospital. My knee was bothering me, so I had it checked out and found that I had injured the meniscus. Arthroscopic surgery was recommended and I had it done yesterday. It hurt so much that I couldn't sleep last night, but I feel somewhat more settled today and have been able to gradually walk a little. I may just barely make it for Hatsu Basho, but I will work hard at rehabilitation with the intention of entering the tournament. Tamanoi Beya Note: The sign says: "Dept: Orthopedics; Patient: Mr. Yoshinori Tashiro, male, age 30; Doctor in charge: Orthopedics Group" --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 5,815 Posted December 15, 2006 Scouting ahead for his Ozeki? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaiguma 0 Posted December 15, 2006 Scouting ahead for his Ozeki? :-P Now that's dedication! Seriously, that is some rotten luck. He was Tochiazuma's tsukebito only a couple of basho prior and now both of them need Arthroscopic Surgery. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 15, 2006 12/15/06 Thanks to Everyone . . . Hello! This is Tooyama. Thank you for all the messages of encouragement! As result of all your support, I was discharged from the hospital this morning! Although I did indeed feel a lot of pain the day after surgery, I was able to walk even without a cane by yesterday. I will be doing various exercises at the heya in addition to undergoing rehabilitation. I am going to gambarize so that I can achieve kachi-koshi in Hatsu Basho! I have an announcement for you. The Tochiazuma-zeki desktop calendar, which many of you have inquired about, is now for sale! All the rikishi from the heya are on the calendar, so please use this opportunity to purchase one! Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 18, 2006 12/18/06 Tamanoi Pooch Hello! This is Tooyama. The dog that Ikeda is holding in the picture above is a female Golden Retriever named Momo. Those of you that have been following the Tamanoi HP may remember the photo below from three years ago. There used to be two of them, Momo and Taro, but Taro was given to a member of the koenkai. Now, there is only Momo, but look how she has grown! She runs all over the heya, but she is very well-behaved and listens to what we tell her. Normally, the okami-san takes her for walks, but from time to time, one of the rikishi would do that. If you see her around the neighborhood, try calling out, "Momo!" Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 21, 2006 12/21/06 Hatsu Basho Banzuke Announced Good morning! This is Tooyama. Today is Hatsu Basho Banzuke Announcement Day. We have been doing banzuke-mailing since this morning. Well, here is the Tamanoi Beya Banzuke for Hatsu Basho: Tochiazuma-zeki . . . West Ozeki Yoshiazuma . . . makushita e17 Shibuya . . . makushita e18 Tokiryu . . . makushita e32 Tooyama . . . makushita w34 Toshinyama . . . makushita w36 Teruazuma . . . sandanme e11 Takaazuma . . . sandanme e32 Ikeda . . . sandanme w48 Karatsuumi . . . sandanme e74 Isoazuma . . . sandanme e77 Daiseiko . . . sandanme e79 Nishitani . . . sandanme e90 Amanowaka . . . jonidan e78 Oazuma . . . jonidan w99 Ikinoshima . . . jonidan e102 Hoshiazuma . . . jonidan w104 Azumaoshu (formerly Kadowaki) . . . jonidan e120 Hamaazuma (formerly Iwashina) . . . jonidan w120 Fujiazuma . . . jonokuchi e27 Hatsu Basho Begins on January 7! Please continue to cheer for us in 2007!!! Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 22, 2006 12/22/06 A Huge Smile Good evening! This is Tooyama. Keiko started again today in preparation for Hatsu Basho. I finally had the stitches removed and worked out a sweat in the keikoba. This evening at dinner, Shibuya was munching away with a grin on his face. If you look closely at his hand, he is eating chocolate cake with his bowl of rice. Apparently, he received the cake for Christmas from a fan. "This is yummy! It really whets my appetite!!" I'm really worried about the guy . . . he is already 180 kg! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 23, 2006 12/23/06 Neighborhood Patrol Good evening! This is Tooyama. As part of the year-end "Neighborhood Watch Program," the rikishi have been patrolling the area around the heya with policemen from the Nishi Arai Station. It is only for about an hour each night but we take turns, two at a time, going around the neighborhood. The picture above shows Shibuya and Takaazuma on duty tonight. Apparently, Takazuma's older brother is a policeman in Brazil. According to him, Brazil is a rather unsafe country where cops normally carry around five guns while on duty. They feel they could be killed at any time. Takaazuma, being who he is, asked the policeman that accompanied them, "Can you please lend me your pistol?" The guy imeans business! (Laugh) They just returned, so I asked them, "How did your patrol shift go?" Shibuya answered, "Nothing much happened. All was well." However, Takaazuma said, "It looked like the bad guys took the night off!" (Angry) It seems he really wanted to nab one of them . . . We will be continuing to patrol for a while, so if you see us, please say "Hi!" Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cammy 0 Posted December 25, 2006 Shibuya the scariest cop ever (Showing respect...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 25, 2006 Shibuya the scariest cop ever :-P What about "Sheriff Shaq?" The Stupendous Sheriffs: Shaq and Shib Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 25, 2006 12/24/06 Christmas Eve Good evening! This is Tooyama. Tonight is Christmas eve. We had a cake at Tamanoi Beya. :-P Okami-san bought us some Kentucky Fried Chicken and the cake. It was a Christmas with just the guys but a good time was had by all. Keiko starts again tomorrow! When we wake up in the morning, instead of presents by our pillows, there will porbably be mawashi and towels. Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 25, 2006 Here is a special entry from the Tochiazuma Blog. 12/21/06 Post-Operation Status Good evening! This is Tooyama, webmaster of Tochiazuma-zeki Blog. I will be updating the blog on his behalf. He had successful arthroscopic knee surgery yesterday. He is still at the hospital but should be able to go home tomorrow. He plans to do rehabilitation while working toward getting in shape for Hatsu Basho. More status reports will be forthcoming. * * * * * Tochiazuma working out in the weight room at Tamanoi Beya two days later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 26, 2006 Tonight is Christmas eve.We had a cake at Tamanoi Beya. (Laughing...) Okami-san bought us some Kentucky Fried Chicken and the cake. It was a Christmas with just the guys but a good time was had by all. Unlike the boys from Tamanoi, Miya-Babe reveals in his personal blog that he bought his own chicken and cake and celebrated Christmas Eve all by his lonesome. (Tears forming...) However, just as he was feeling sorry for himself, he received a gift from a fan--a bright red warm-up oufit and a white parka. It turned out to be a wonderful Christmas, afterall!!! ;-) :-P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted December 26, 2006 From Futeno's personal blog: As was discussed in another thread, Futeno has been sick all week with a bad cold. However, by Christmas Eve, he was well enough to do some light keiko and also appear on a TV show with Kyokutenho. In the evening, he celebrated Christmas Eve with the "Young Guys" of the heya. Featured at the meal were what else? Kentucky Fried Chicken and cake from Fujiya. The line was so long at the Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet that the wait was over an hour!!! :-P ;-) (Laughing...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cammy 0 Posted December 28, 2006 Shibuya the scariest cop ever ;-) What about "Sheriff Shaq?" The Stupendous Sheriffs: Shaq and Shib Oh man I forgot about the very scary Shaq attack cop...wow that is a hard choice...which one to be more scared of. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 5,815 Posted December 28, 2006 wow that is a hard choice...which one to be more scared of. Scared of Shibuya?? I guess that only applies to people who haven't seen their own feet for a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
