Ryu is a Persona Non Grata

[madorosumaru]

The Tokitsukaze Ichimon is pissed at the yokozuna for sending Toyonoshima to the hospital. Tokitsukaze Oyakata announced at asageiki that they, as an ichimon, have made a protest to the Takasago Beya. "If the yokozuna continues that way in keiko, he will no longer be welcome at our heya for degeiko."

The nine heya of the ichimon are all solidly behind this protest. Isenoumi Oyakata, former sekiwake Fujinokawa, a board member of the Kyokai, represented the Ichimon in making a verbal complaint last week to Takasago Oyakata at the Kyokai offices. Takasago Oyakata responded by saying, "I understand." He will further discuss the matter with Asashoryu,

Tokitsukaze Oyakata is still fit to be tied. He claims that since April 30 when Toyo was injured, neither Takasago Oyakata nor Asashoryu has apologized in any form. "If he pulls a stunt like that again, I am going to tell him to go home."

Update on Toyonoshima: The new komusubi has resumed keiko but he had wrappings around the ankle and the knee that were injured by the yokozuna. The workout consisted only of shiko and teppo. He had intended to lend his chest to the young guys but when he attempted suri-ashi, he felt twinges of pain. "I really wasn't in condition to do any sumo," he confided. As for whether he would be ready for Natsu Basho, Tokitsukaze Oyakata muttered, "We can't say for now."

Edited May 7, 2007 by madorosumaru

[Bishonohana]

"Mune wo kasu" (lending a chest) is one thing and the rikishis should be very honored, but to intentionally hurt them is another! I like Asa but it really upsets me to think that he can go degeiko and purposely hurt others!! What kind of sportsman is he?? I guess he just wants to go and terrorize the others so they will be afraid of him on the dohyo! Asashoryu has great enough technique that he should not have to resort to that kind of action. It's not the first time he's done this. He is the Yokozuna and he really should start setting a good examples and not a bad ones!

I'm glad that the Oyakatas are sticking together and protesting. It's about time!

Edited May 7, 2007 by Bishonohana

[slt]

This is pretty bad (and deserved)... but I wonder, is this the first time a rikishi injures another during keiko ? I mean, as far as I know, it's not like Asa has a habit of injuring rikishi prior to every basho, and injuries during keiko are not THAT rare, are they ?

I guess Asa's specific aggressive behavior seemed AIMED at causing an injury, in which case I can understand the reaction of Tokitzukaze Oyakata.

Has a yokozuna ever been banned from certain heya ?