Who the heck is this color commentator?

[yamaneko 2]

Im sure hes some big celebrity in japan, but since i havent lived there in 15 years i dont know who he is. Looks like a KISS wanna be, with this big costume and painted white face? Theyre giving him a lot of air time, and even allowed him to do a strange interview direct from Hosouseki, instead of the interview guy? Just seems undignified for sumo IMO. Dont get me wrong, i like gimmicks, but seems strange for a sport where they are so strict on everything.

[Jejima 1,314]

You can find out more here.

Im sure hes some big celebrity in japan, but since i havent lived there in 15 years i dont know who he is. Looks like a KISS wanna be, with this big costume and painted white face? Theyre giving him a lot of air time, and even allowed him to do a strange interview direct from Hosouseki, instead of the interview guy? Just seems undignified for sumo IMO. Dont get me wrong, i like gimmicks, but seems strange for a sport where they are so strict on everything.

[Shibouyama 1]

Looks like a KISS wanna be

More like a kabuki wannabe

[yamaneko 2]

Dang, this guy does know his stuff. The most interesting color commentary yet. Also, the interviews were the best ive seen. Every time the one nerdy looking guy does the interview, he asks the same dumb questions, and the rikishi are obviously bored, and just mumble soo desu ne, jubun no sumo this, the sameo sameo every time, But with this guy, they actually carried on a good conversation, and the guys actually enunciated their words without mumbling. Lets bring this guy back. :)

[Tatsuma Keiru 0]

Hey, he is a 300+ year old demon, I'm sure he knows more about sumo than all of us put together. :-)

[Dale 0]

Dang, this guy does know his stuff. The most interesting color commentary yet. Also, the interviews were the best ive seen. Every time the one nerdy looking guy does the interview, he asks the same dumb questions, and the rikishi are obviously bored, and just mumble soo desu ne, jubun no sumo this, the sameo sameo every time, But with this guy, they actually carried on a good conversation, and the guys actually enunciated their words without mumbling. Lets bring this guy back. :)

Yeah, he did a good job. Bring him back when he doesn't want to dress up like a clown.

Dale

[Mark Buckton 1]

he is 2040 years old IIRC - seriously. Plus a lazy stude as he only graduated Waseda in 1985

[sekihiryu 51]

[Jejima 1,314]

only in Japan......

[Kaikitsune Makoto 203]

Can't wait to see the whole 4 hour segment soon and listen to his comments. Mainoumi I like a lot and so but this guy was supposedly really good guest commentator and what can be more awesome than a guy with such history, outfits and style and yet loves sumo! :-D And even goes for bout details which is the core of sumo...

You gotta like those images! (Clapping wildly...)

[Zuikakuyama 1]

I always liked the guest commentators when they bring in the old matches that stand out in their mind.

Like today it was quite incredible to see the Wajima-Takanohana I match from the early 70s which featured 2 mizu-iris. It was also quite refreshing to see 2 top-ranked rikishis with Ama-like physiques go at it.

Maybe Dale could put those old matches in on the old classics library.

[sekihiryu 51]

I recorded that one yesterday (the Wajima - Takanohana bout) anyone want a copy just whistle.

sekihiryu at gmail

[sekihiryu 51]

You gotta like those images! B-)

yes Yoshidas lovely brown suit jacket stands out the most of all in those images! :-)

[Asojima 2,870]

I recorded that one yesterday (the Wajima - Takanohana bout) anyone want a copy just whistle.

sekihiryu at gmail

Remember it well. It was only one of the great matches they had. (Sign of approval)

[Higashimori 0]

Since I've started recording the full broadcasts a full year ago, there have only been two I've saved to disc (I usually just burn copies of the nightly digests and delete the full broadcast recording later) -- the one when Taiho was guest/color commentator, and yesterday's with Demon. Even though I was at the Kokugikan yesterday, I still watched the full broadcast last night just to hear this guy -- as has been said he really knows his sumo, and is funny to boot (I loved when he "corrected" the hanamichi reporter and said you shouldn't call the woman Kitazakura slammed into a "obasan" (old woman, grandmother) but rather a "fujin" (woman)). And as was noted, he really made those post-bout interviews sing. As Takanonami rightly admitted, there really was no need for him (Takanonami) to be there (although all three of them, NHK guy included, were great).

Here is Demon sitting at the "mukoujomen" location during Makushita bouts yesterday:

[_the_mind_ 0]

takanonami looks unhappy having to sit next to ol dude.

[Jonosuke 28]

takanonami looks unhappy having to sit next to ol dude.

Actually during the broadcast, he said they have gone out a dinner together a few occasions. Actually Takanonami commented a few more things he probably has not said if not for Kogure.

When Hokutoriki got his win and got his Kachikoshi, Kogure said he would get to do an interview with him. As they were trying to bring in Hokutoriki to the interview room, three of them (Takanonami/Otowayama oyakata, Kogure and Yoshida announcer) were making a small talk, Kogure said Hokutoriki just got married and his shishio re-married not so long ago, and that hasn't happen too often.

After Yoshida announcer listed the dates, Takanonami advised Kogure that the worst thing to do to an active rikishi who just got married was to mention that fact. Takanonami said the rikishi did not want to have his wife/family get the blame if they have a losing record and if they are winning, they want to have the credit not so much to the fact that they were winning because they got married.

Personally I thought Kogure did a great job. It's been a while I enjoyed the NHK sumo broadcast so much as there were things not normally disclosed in the broadcast. For instance when Yoshida announcer asked Kogure to pick the best bout in the first half (of Makuuchi). Kogure thought for a while and he picked Kitazakura/Yoshikaze bout and was suprised to find out it was already in queue right away. Yoshida announcer added that they now use a disk to show a replay so it's an instant and it was.

[Kintamayama 44,354]

I'd say this is a true "color commentator', if I ever saw one..

[_the_mind_ 0]

Actually during the broadcast, he said they have gone out a dinner together a few occasions. Actually Takanonami commented a few more things he probably has not said if not for Kogure.

When Hokutoriki got his win and got his Kachikoshi, Kogure said he would get to do an interview with him. As they were trying to bring in Hokutoriki to the interview room, three of them (Takanonami/Otowayama oyakata, Kogure and Yoshida announcer) were making a small talk, Kogure said Hokutoriki just got married and his shishio re-married not so long ago, and that hasn't happen too often.

After Yoshida announcer listed the dates, Takanonami advised Kogure that the worst thing to do to an active rikishi who just got married was to mention that fact. Takanonami said the rikishi did not want to have his wife/family get the blame if they have a losing record and if they are winning, they want to have the credit not so much to the fact that they were winning because they got married.

Personally I thought Kogure did a great job. It's been a while I enjoyed the NHK sumo broadcast so much as there were things not normally disclosed in the broadcast. For instance when Yoshida announcer asked Kogure to pick the best bout in the first half (of Makuuchi). Kogure thought for a while and he picked Kitazakura/Yoshikaze bout and was suprised to find out it was already in queue right away. Yoshida announcer added that they now use a disk to show a replay so it's an instant and it was.

very interesting stuff Jonosuke-san, i had never thought about the married comments before, but it makes alot of sence. ....interesting about Takanonami and Kogure and the chit chat also, as Takanonami doesnt strike me as a chatty person. :) .....although its not like i get to watch the NHK broadcasts, so i wouldnt know 'nami's personality. also, even if i did get the broadcasts, i dont speak japanese so i still wouldnt know lol. thank you for the info though :) its always nice to hear unusual news about rikishi and former rikishi. i always liked 'nami, he looks like a huggable Buddha(SP?).

[Jonosuke 28]

Actually among the new crop of comentators (NHK calls them Kaisetsu - 解説) I find Takanonami and Terao to be the most helpful - well I like Mainoumi too but he tends to overanalyze but most oyakatas are not good to artculating their view nor exactly not insightful. The two I always liked are Oguruma and Kitajin as they are always interesting.

Getting back to Demon Kogure on Sunday and old video, he asked them to show a brief footage of Wajima and told then Hakuho reminded him of Wajima (like the way he walked etc). Takanonami or Yoshida announcer mentioned many thought Hakuho reminded them of Taiho. Personally I think Hakuho looks a lot like Futabayama.

I only got to see Demon the last hour and half but I really think it was well worth hearing him for five hours as he really knows the stuff (his bud Minatogawa oyakata thinks Demon knows more about sumo than himself).

[Itchygao 0]

Dang, this guy does know his stuff. The most interesting color commentary yet. ... Lets bring this guy back. :)

Exactly! Other than his taking the phrase "color commentator", WAY too literally , <g>, the guy obviously

knows his Sumo. The Rikishi are listening to the questions and giving detailed responses. Since it

isn't the canned interviews you so accurately mentioned, Reiko has time to translate during the pause

without being stepped on so badly I need a translator for her as well.

I second your excellent motion!

[Kintamayama 44,354]

On that show, Takanonami is quoted as saying that Kyokushuuzan is convinced there are only three basho per year..

I heard that Demon's interviews with the rikishi were special in that he got more than the usual grunts and "gambarimassss.." out of them. That notwithstanding, I think the blame is in the regular interviewers themselves. 9 out of ten, their questions are rhetorical.

TV guy:"You really went forward, neeee?"

Rikishi: ""

TV Guy : "It seems everything went your way today, neeee?'

Rikishi: "Hai..sou desssssss"

TV Guy: "Your opponent was totally surprised, neeee?"

Rikishi " Gambarimaaaaassss..'

Etc. Ask them a question that has no answer inside it, maybe you'll get a more detailed answer, neeeeeeee?

Grunt.

Edited January 17, 2006 by Kintamayama

[Higashimori 0]

On that show, Takanonami is quoted as saying that Kyokushuuzan is convinced there are only three basho per year..

Actually, as I remember it (don't have time to check the DVD), it was Demon who said that if he could, he'd like to ask Shuzan whether he thought there were only three basho a year.

[Kintamayama 44,354]

On that show, Takanonami is quoted as saying that Kyokushuuzan is convinced there are only three basho per year..

Actually, as I remember it (don't have time to check the DVD), it was Demon who said that if he could, he'd like to ask Shuzan whether he thought there were only three basho a year.

That very well could be..I was just quoting a quote I saw on a Japanese BBS. It seems more plausible too.

Edited January 17, 2006 by Kintamayama

[Jonosuke 28]

Actually there is an epilogue to this story about Demon saying Kyokushuzan thought there were only three bashos a year. I believe it was NHK's Kariya announcer who went over to Kyokushuzan and told him what Demon said on air. Kyokushuzan knowing Demon also went to Waseda University where he is taking courses now and being a ham that he is told the announcer, it's not that he thought there were only three bashos in a year but it's that he couldn't win no more than three bashos a year now.