madorosumaru 7 Posted July 18, 2006 A Brazilian citizen of Japanese ancestry, who was third in the individual division of the 2004 World Junior Sumo Championships, has joined Tomozuna Beya. He is, Ricardo Sugano, age 19, who arrived in Japan on the 16th and started keiko at the heya on the next day. Tomozuna Beya has a Brazilian-born deshi, Kainohama (Eiji Nagahama), but he got his Japanese citizenship in May, thus opening a slot in the one-gaijin-per-heya quota. Sugano began sumo only four years ago but in addition to taking third place in Osaka two years ago, he won the Brazilian championship last year. He was introduced to the heya by former juryo Wakaazuma. He hardly speaks any Japanese at this time and his first reaction to Japan was "Atsui" (Hot), which is the temperature in Nagoya. Asked what his goal is, he replied, "To be a sekitori." He is 194 cm tall and weighs 150 kg. Even ozeki Kaio is impressed: "The kid has an impressive body." His shisho, Tomozuna Oyakata, is in charge of new rikishi development. "We want to have a rikishi who has proper behavior both in public and private. Kainohama has been assigned to teach the young man the ropes. His debut is expected to be in Kyushu, but only if he fully undertands the proper sumo ways. If not, they will take as much time as is necessary. Another new gaijin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ikishima 0 Posted July 20, 2006 I wonder how far back that Japanese ancestry is? If it is not too far back, he will probably be a citizen before he is a sekitori if he stays in sumo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sasanishiki 57 Posted July 20, 2006 I wonder how far back that Japanese ancestry is? If it is not too far back, he will probably be a citizen before he is a sekitori if he stays in sumo. Yes, this could be a good way to get more 'foreigners' into sumo and still fly under the radar of the quota system. If you are Nikkei (of Japanese ancestry) and only go as far back as 3rd generation (I think) then there are ways of naturalizing as japanese that are easier than those who have no Japanese ancestry. Brazil and other parts of South America are obvious places, but also perhaps the US, Philippines, China and SE Asia provide grounds for recruting these nikkei athletes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Itachi 396 Posted July 21, 2006 What will be his shikona? Sugano? Something else? Will he appear in September? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaiomitsuki 408 Posted July 24, 2006 two pictures from the Tomozuna Beya web site Do you think that the man with a black T-shirt is the rikishi from Brazil ? He looks tall but don't seems to weight 150 kilos ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fay 1,677 Posted July 24, 2006 (edited) two pictures from the Tomozuna Beya web siteDo you think that the man with a black T-shirt is the rikishi from Brazil ? He looks tall but don't seems to weight 150 kilos ? Yes, that's him, next to Kainohama, who can make the translations and will be his japanese teacher. Well he is 1,94m so it's possible he has 150 kilo. Edited July 24, 2006 by Fay Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
