Koto and Koto

[Mark Buckton 1]

FCCJ members interested in speech / lunch event with Kotooshu and Kotonowaka (Sadogatake) next week might want to look at the FCCJ homepage.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

From their website:

(12:30-14:30 Tuesday, April 11, the speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation)

Bulgarian Kotooshu shook up the world of sumo wrestling in 2005, amassing a strong record and rising to the sport's second highest rank.

That excitement was needed for the ancient sport, which had been at the dohyo's edge due to the absence of any real competition for the sole Yokozuna, Mongolian Asashoryu.

In the spring basho Kotooshu suffered from injuries and he is not expected to factor in the tournament's outcome, but many expect that when Bulgaria's biggest export to Japan returns to form he will again vie for titles and promotion.

You've seen him in the ring as well as in yogurt commercials. Now make your FCCJ reservations early for a tachiai with one of sumo's brightest stars and sunniest personalities, who will be joined by his stablemaster Sadogatake (formerly Kotonowaka).

To help us plan properly, please reserve in advance: at the Front Desk (3211-3161) or online (http://www.fccj.or.jp -- please log in to reserve). Please note that the charge for both the hot lunch and sandwich lunch is 1,260 yen, tax included. Reservations canceled less than 24 hours in advance will be charged in full. If you do not make a reservation or reserve late, your meal may vary from the scheduled menu.

[Kintamayama 45,565]

Pardon me, again, for being ignorant, but what is FCCJ?

[Fay 1,677]

Pardon me, again, for being ignorant, but what is FCCJ?

Puuuuh, I'm not the only one to be ignorant ... (Shaking head...)

[Asojima 2,874]

Pardon me, again, for being ignorant, but what is FCCJ?

By following the link he gave, it is the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan. (Shaking head...)

[Kintamayama 45,565]

At the gathering today, he was asked about the difference between wrestling and Sumo. "In Sumo, it's over really quick. A small mistake and you lose".

"I'd like for every foreign Sumo fan to put on a mawashi just once. Then he will know how hard Sumo is", he said. Talking about his start in Sumo :" At first I was terribly homesick, but I just told myself that I have to become stronger, and that feeling brought me to where I am".

Asked about the "one foreigner per heya" rule, he anwered: "I am a foreign rikishi myself, so I can't really say anything.."

Regarding the coming basho and his injury situation: "I'd like to recover from my injuries, and gambarize with the feeling that I can beat the Yokozuna!", he said.

Picture from the gathering:

Edited April 11, 2006 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,565]

CNN article on meet:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/04/11...o.ap/index.html

Edited April 11, 2006 by Kintamayama

[Kishinoyama 596]

kotooshu smiling! its amazing what can be done with photoshop these days B-)

:-( I wonder what would be a good caption for the photo.... (Whistling...)

[SonofCyrus 0]

It looks like he is at a wedding reception with the wine glasses in the foreground. I can't think of a good caption to go with that idea though.

[Kintamayama 45,565]

"The new kesho- mawashi is awesome?? You're kidding, right?"

[Kintamayama 45,565]

Another pic from the shindig - Osh and BigSado with international conspirators, I mean correspondents :

Edited April 12, 2006 by Kintamayama

[Gusoyama 104]

This next one is called "To all the girls I've loved before", and goes out to all you lovely ladies out there. *wink*

[Kintamayama 45,565]

Another pic:

[_the_mind_ 0]

Gusoyama has a simular thought as i while seeing that picture, it looks like Oshu is about to start singing(or already is), karaoke even.

[Zenjimoto 40]

Around these necks, FCCJ stands for Florida Community College at Jacksonville... :-P But I am afraid, I got excited over nothing here (Applauding...)

Cheers

Zenjimoto

[_the_mind_ 0]

Around these necks, FCCJ stands for Florida Community College at Jacksonville... :-P But I am afraid, I got excited over nothing here (Shaking head...)

Cheers

Zenjimoto

:-D nice try. i would have driven over there for that if it had been the case! :-)