AOZORA

Is shukun-sho is only for those who win yokozuna? Hakuho can be a good nominee for shukun-sho this time, while Kotooshu is worth of gino-sho. For Tochiazuma, I think his ex-ozeki status will "prevent" him from the sho.

Last year he attended the Japanese TV program called "Junk sports". He was talking about his crazy childhood. He was asked that how often he had been arrested by police, and he answered "Only 5 times a week." One day after his usual arrest, his mother was really pissed off, and shouted to him "I will kill you and myself, It was better not to give you a birth " holding a knife in her hand. Taikai was so scared and cried to his mom, promising that he would never do it again and would join to sumo according to his mother's wish. That time, Kyushu basho was held, and his mother directly brought him to Kokonoe oyakata, former Chiyonofuji. That put an end to his meaningless life. (Sign of approval) He loves and respects his mother very much, coz he does not have a father.

Although I wish it to be the real hit, someone inside me tells that he was in overperformancing in Natsu basho.

:-) Hot congratulations from bottom of my heart!!! (Enjoying a beer...)

I voted for probably not, because I want it to be. Musoyama always has been a man of honor for me. Even he is injured he does not tell and show it. That's why we rarely hear about his injury. (Enjoying a beer...) LITTLE OFF TOPIC information! He reads and knows a lot. Last time he participated in Millionairre, the Japanese version of quiz program and reached to the final. He is amazing!! GO MUSOYAMA!!!!

Just to make it short, come to Japan and try to spend at least a year and you will understand the real situation. Only a little improvement in shin-deshi in one year and increase in cheap kenshos cannot be real signs of improvement at all. (Enjoying a beer...) If new recruitment is increasing constantly for at least 2 consecutive years, OK I understand what you are trying to say. About growth in cheap kenshos paid by again grandfa shachos, believe me it is just one result of Kyokai's short sighted policies. I don't wanna be dessimistic, and not saying that there are no chances for sumo's revival. Unfortunately, if everything continues like this, there is ???? Regarding foreigners dominance in sumo, definately one reason is that tousands of Japanese young talents and hidden-capabilities don't want to enter to sumo world.

My only one wish. If he is gonna continue his typical "nasty" sumo, I want him to retire quickly. If he wrestles like what he did in last half of Natsu basho, that is different matter.

(Licking lips...) True. there was little improvement in this year's recruit. BUT, it means nothing good about sumo's popularism. See the empty seats in every basho, and see who are buying these seats. All grandmas and grandfas. After their time is gone, there will be no one to watch sumo in Japan. Believe me, 98% of young Japanese have no interest in sumo and don't think they would have when they getting old. If you say those young Japanese that you are fan of sumo, most probably they will laugh at you. Sadly, this is the fact. I mean it is more risky for Japanese to become sumotori than foreigners do. Be realistic! Averege Japanese can gain enough money from being employed anywhere in Japan. And this is almost equal or more than average sekitori's gaining in total. I mean as a total!! Sekitori, of course will be paid more than average salaryman, but it is for very short time. There is of course some pension after they intai, but in other side salaryman can get every year increasing salary until they get retired. So in total, way of slaryman or blue-collar worker is less risky even than becoming sekitori. Not saying even sumotori!!. But see foreigners. Most of the foreign sumotoris are from developing country, Mongolia, Georgia, Russia, Bulgaria, China, Korea, Argentina and Tonga where average income is much less than Japanese. Is there any sekitori from developed countries, except US???. Think WHY? Even though, these foreigners fail to become sekitori, at least they learn some Japanese, its culture and get contacts here. Now think who is in (In a state of confusion...) bigger risk.

ONE POINT TO ADD. It is fairly true that not many capable young Japanese do not want to be sumotori at all. Sumo's popularity is in danger, especially among young Japanese. Every average Japanese nowadays can earn enough money, without becoming a "fat, funny" sumotori. Succeeding in sumo's world is amazing. But it is nothing compared to being successful in baseball or soccer. And there is ? , if you cannot climb to the top. There are many "poor" guys who had spent their golden young ages as a servant of sekitoris, however finished with being noone (No money, no reputation, old enough, ugly- fat guy who can do nothing but eat ). In short, it is tooooo risky being sumotori for Japanese.

I think Tokitenku will be promoted to makuuchi.

I cannot see any heya is gonna be dominent in the near future, and actually don't want it too. Dominance of 1 large heya creates very unfair competition. Think the times of Musashigawa dominance, when nasty Miyabiyama reached to Ozeki so easily while real men like Kaio and Tochiazuma were struggling to become Ozeki. Miyabiyama would hardly reach to sanyaku, and Musoyama would be only a good sekiwake if they were in other small heya.

Wakanohana III (Clapping wildly...)

My prospect is 1. Kotooshu 2. Hakuho 3. Hagiwara 4. Ama 5. Ryutei

I am posting it also without internet connection. Do we have any member from India, where 1.000.000.000 of people live? But how many members from Mongolia do we have? Think about it. Population of the country and number of the sumo forum members are not heavily related. Rather, it is related to popularity of the sport inside the country. By the way, GDP of Mongolia is 800 US$, and internet connection rate is higher than average developing countries. Usagi-san, yoku shirabete kara hatsugen shimasho!

:-) ;-) Very funny. Zenji-zeki I liked it.

NO ONe ELSE, Only ASAshoryu himself can stop him this time

TOCHI~A~~ZUMA~~ (Showing respect...)

Asashoryu in 2005. I hope he will be matured until that and gained more weight. (Applauding...)

Yes I understand Fuji san. They made "peace" last basho, and had "war" again. I hope this time they made real peace.

I guess Asasoryu and Kyokushuzan have bad relationship. I don't know what was happened between 2 Mongolians, but I always see Asasoryu is getting over-nervious when he wrestles against Kyokushuzan. Anyway, SUMO Kyokai warning was correct step for Asasoryu's shaming behavior as Yokozuna.

;-) I think he will do quite good around 10 wins.