The Show Must Go On

[madorosumaru]

On one hand, there is a certain nameless one who reserves all his aggressiveness for confrontations off the dohyo, but on the other hand, there are noble warriors like Tochiazuma, who marches on despite the heartless obloquy from the Peanut Gallery.

We knew Tochiazuma was hurt during his bout against Dejima on Day 10, but it is only now that we know the extent of his injuries. Apparently, in addition to wrenching his already-damaged knee, the Ozeki stubbed his left big toe and fractured it in two places. The diagnosis of the injury, as revealed yesterday, is very similar to the one suffered by Hakuho before the basho which put him on the Kyujo List.

"The pain . . . it was the worst," Azuma told the press after his victory on Day 14. Kyujo was seriously considered, but Azuma felt it was "important to [continue to] make an appearance." He decided to gut it out to the very end.

Despite the unimaginable pain, he has not only remained on the dohyo, he has done his share to keep the basho exciting. It was he who took a bit of the wind out of Homasho's sails on Day 12. And yesterday, he defeated his rival Chiyotaikai in a battle of ozeki and reached double-digits in victories.

Edited November 25, 2006 by madorosumaru

[BFlatMinor]

I think he rather decided the yusho than he did keep the basho exciting, but fair game though. Great effort by him and (Laughing...)

[Jakusotsu]

And there were even educated voices betting on his kyujo.... (Laughing...)

[Phoenix]

:-) If he could just keep the mind set going and keep his body intact..... (Showing respect...)

[Asashosakari]

A "Tochiazuma Road to 100 Injuries" watch would be a much more realistic proposition than that other one, I'm afraid... :-)

[madorosumaru]

There is a term in Japanese, man-shin-so-i (満身創痍), which means the entire body is chockful of injuries. That is the case with Azuma. Sure, his toe will heal in a month or so, but his knee is all shot to hell. Worse than that is his shoulder where he suffered a fracture a few years ago. Doctors consulted at that time said it was a rare case--one-in-hundreds of thousands--to have a bone broken at that spot and that it would never heal properly. Their suggestion--and this was not just one opinion but the considered opinion of a number of specialists--was for him to retire.

Azuma decided to continue on--that he had nothing else he could do. In an interview around that time, his mother, the okamisan, confessed that she cried openly, something she said she almost never did, when Azuma won KK and returned to ozeki. Her son had gone through so much pain. He needed a painkilling shot just to get onto the dohyo. And on the dohyo, he refused to show any sign of distress. His father, the shisho, had told him on innumerable occasions that a rikishi must never indicate that he is injured or in pain. He should never even apply any bandage or tape if it can be helped. When the press asks how he is, he should always respond, "Everything is hunky-dory." According to his mother, Azuma never disobeyed his dad.

[Jonosuke]

If you are an ozeki, you are obviously facing top rank rikishis all the time and when you are facing tough opponents, it's natural that you suffer one kind of injury or another that forces you into kyujo sooner or later.

Kaio said he never experienced a day without any lower back pain in years and by just looking at both Chiyotaikai and Tochiazuma, their body looks rather ravaged by years and years of constant abuse. Even young turks like Hakuho and kotooshu have suffered from debilitating injuries lately.

But despite experiencing so much pain and hardships, Kaio looks relatively happy and peace with himself. Knowing many people care about you helps a lot. I have no doubt every rikishi alive wants to receive such dedicated undivided fan support and adoration like Kaio has been receiving in Fukuoka.

Kaio also has a wife who is deeply committed to his well being. I have seen pictures of him with his wife and you never come across such a wonderful smile on anyone's face like when Kaio is talking to his wife. I am sure it gives him enormous relief to be able to talk to someone and to be able to lessen the daily pressure of being ozeki.

I hope both Chiyotaikai and Tochiazuma can find such a soul mate soon. I know it takes a special kind of woman to be their spouse as both will likely become a heya shisho one day. Not make women in the modern day Japan want that kind of life. There is no doubt that having an understanding partner will help them a great deal in their constant quest to excel and ease their daily pressure and struggle in the extremely demanding positiion they find themselves in.

[kotooshu_bulgaria]

Jonosuke san,

Interesting to hear about Kaio and his wife and the photos you have of them. Do you by any chance have them scanned and in that case would you share them with us?

[Bishonohana]

Jonosuke-san and Madorosumaru-san ;-) thank you for bringing us threads like this at a time when the forum seems filled with personal attacks, borderline racist talk and downright slanderous abuse of the men doing the sport we love so much.

It's really uplifting to hear the real stories about rikishis perseverance, heart and spirit overcoming physical limitations. (Sign of approval)

(Hugging...) Well said!! (Sign of approval) I ditto that and thank you for giving us a perspective that was needed to close the Kyushu Basho with great spirit! (Laughing...) (Applauding...)

[Jonosuke]

Do you by any chance have them scanned and in that case would you share them with us?

OK but please note that the copyright for the pictures are with Ozumo magazine published by the Yomiuri Shimbun.

With his wife Mitsuko (Nishiwaki, former professional wreslter).

And

Relaxing with Ama.

I ask you, how can you not like this guy?

[Jakusotsu]

I ask you, how can you not like this guy?

Impossible. Kaio is the Yokozuna of hearts.

[Tikozan]

I ask you, how can you not like this guy?

Impossible. Kaio is the Yokozuna of hearts.

(Sign of approval) That's also my opinion. To be a real Yokozuna it's to late for him. But for his fans he is it.

[sumofan]

I ask you, how can you not like this guy?

Impossible. Kaio is the Yokozuna of hearts.

A couple of years ago, Kaio had everything to become a Yokozuna.

If it hadn't been for Asa, he probably would have been one already.

His power has always amazed me, and to me he is indeed a Yokozuna with the rank of Ozeki.

To me, he is Mr Sumo.

[Kaioshoryu]

I ask you, how can you not like this guy?

Impossible. Kaio is the Yokozuna of hearts.

A couple of years ago, Kaio had everything to become a Yokozuna.

If it hadn't been for Asa, he probably would have been one already.

His power has always amazed me, and to me he is indeed a Yokozuna with the rank of Ozeki.

To me, he is Mr Sumo.

Exactly how I feel too. For me, Kaio is sumo epitomised.