Rikhis Talk Day 1 Natsu Basho 2007

[Jonosuke]

Baruto (1-0) over Kobo by yorikiri

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(Finally able to get Oicho done after three years due to the nature of his hair being too thin, brittle and not growing as quickly)

"I finally got it. I feel like I have finally became a Sumo rikishi after all these time."

(Getting his first win after coming back from his injury and now competing in Juryo)

"I was able to get the first step out first. I was so nervous today that I couldn't move forward until I got into a firm yotsu position."

Ryuo (1-0) over Tochinohana by oshidashi, 8.7 seconds

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(Winning his first Makuuchi bout)

"It feels so great. It definitely feels different up here. I saw the gunbai tipped up and thought to myself, this is it. It never gets better than this. I am sure the win gave me a bit more confidence."

Futeno (1-0) over Satoyama by hatakikomi, 14.0 seconds

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(Beating his junior from Nihon University Sumo Club)

"I've trained with him so many times back in my college days so I certainly did not want to lose to him. Even though he is my junior from the same club, once you are up on the dohyo, every opponent is your enemy."

Satoyama (0-1) losing to Futeno

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(Losing his first in his Makuuchi debut basho)

"I felt I got into a good position but from that point on, my opponent got real tough. He exploited my weakness. Futeno zeki starts generating his power at the dohyo edge. And I got caught by him pretty good."

(On the Makuuchi stage)

"The Makuuchi atmosphere is the greatest. It has a good tension."

Roho (0-1) losing to Miyabiyama by yorikiri, 2.3 seconds

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(Delayed in getting up at tachiai, despite asking for a Matta, his call went unanswered by gyoji Masanao Kimura and all of the dohyo judges. Left the dohyo looking indignant, swiping forcefully his towel from a yobidashi)

"My opponent got up before I had a chance to put my hands down. I pleaded Matta so many times. What is this? Is that gyoji a deaf or blind or something?"

Kokonoe oyakata (the chief dohyo judge)

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"He has to say a Matta right away. He was way too late. He looked like he was fuming but I can tell you the spectators were far more upset than he was."

"But I will tell you one thing, if we let a bout like this stopped every time, we have a Matta in every bout."

Takamisakari (1-0) over Kasugao by uwatenage, 12.2 seconds

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"It's been a while but today I was able to win one on day 1. It was just another desparate struggle though. I am happy that everyone is celeberating my birthday (becoming 31 on May 12)."

Kakuryu (1-0) over Tokitsuumi by oshidashi, 3.8 seconds

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(Beating his senior from the same Tokitsukaze Ichimon)

"I was able to quickly move forward. I get many opportunites to train with him so I knew if I let him have the mawashi, I'd be done for."

Tochiozan (1-0) over Takekaze by oshidashi, 8.3 seconds

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(Starting with a win in his second Makuuchi basho after winning 11 bouts and getting Kanto-sho in his Makuuchi debut basho)

"I never seem to be able to beat him in training sessions but I wasn't tense today. I was nervous yesterday but only for 15 minutes."

"I kept going after him from below and that led to the win today."

Ama (1-0) over Kakizoe by oshidashi, 2.7 seconds

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(Overwhelming Kakizoe with thrusts to the throat)

"The fact that I am staying in Sanyaku shows I have grown stronger. I want to keep going without destroying the image."

Chiyotaikai (1-0) over Kokkai by hatakikomi, 3.7 seconds

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(Tying the record of most basho, 50 basho, as ozeki with the late Takanohana and getting his first win this basho)

"As you know I am in a Kadoban right now so I need to keep winning. At the Hanamichi entrance, Tochiazuma oyakata (just retired former ozeki Tochiazuma) even wished me a luck and told me to do my best."

Homasho (0-1) losing to Kotooshu by hikiotoshi, 9.0 seconds

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(Dragged down by Kotooshu and ended up scraping his nose and chin)

"I went in low but the ozeki came in lower. I had to try moving forward much much more."

Kotoshogiku (0-1) losing to Hakuho by oshidashi, 3.0 seocnds

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"The plain truth is that he just overpowered me."

Hakuho (1-0) over Kotoshogiku

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"After getting out of tachiai, I felt there was no other way except to move forward. It wasn't exactly the way I wanted to go in. I got too tight at the end but I felt I was moving well."

"This win is the best present for my kid. I will be leaving right now. Of course she won't understand me at all whatever I say."

"Right now I have more of a feeling to grasp the opportunity rather feeling anxious like the time I failed in my previous promotion attempt."

Toyonoshima (0-1) losing to Asashoryu by oshitaoshi, 3.0 seconds

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(Decided to enter the basho despite requiring to have a painkiller prior to the bout)

"I was able to go with all I had today. That's all I expect of myself."

(About suffering the injury by the hands of Asashoryu)

"Basically I have nothing to say one way or another."

Asashoryu (1-0) over Toyonoshima

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"Once you start thinking your opponent is suffering from a pain, then you will lose for sure."

"Unless I start out good, I won't get to have a good finish."

"I feel different this basho. I am not sure what really happened to me in the first two days the last basho."

Tochiazuma oyakata

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(Managing his new job as a security guard wearing the Kyokai supplied standard blue jumper)

"It's really comfortable to wear it. I also will need to observe the bouts more carefully now."

Maegashira West 10m Shimotori of Tokitsukaze beya forwarded his kyujo notice on May 13 indicating he would require two weeks of rest and treatment for herniated intervertebral discs.

[rhino]

Ryuo (1-0) over Tochinohana by oshidashi, 8.7 seconds

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(Winning his first Makuuchi bout)

"It feels so great. It definitely feels different up here. I saw the gunbai tipped up and thought to myself, this is it. It never gets better than this. I am sure the win gave me a bit more confidence."

...

Satoyama (0-1) losing to Futeno

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(Losing his first in his Makuuchi debut basho)

"I felt I got into a good position but from that point on, my opponent got real tough. He exploited my weakness. Futeno zeki starts generating his power at the dohyo edge. And I got caught by him pretty good."

(On the Makuuchi stage)

"The Makuuchi atmosphere is the greatest. It has a good tension."

Really nice to hear these two so enthusiastic about being in Makuuchi! I especially like how Satoyama hasn't let his loss sour the moment. Here's hoping he can pick up enough wins to stick around next basho.

Tochiazuma oyakata

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(Managing his new job as a security guard wearing the Kyokai supplied standard blue jumper)

"It's really comfortable to wear it. I also will need to observe the bouts more carefully now."

Only now do I truly realise that I will never be able to support Tochiazuma again (Sad goodbyes...). I'm glad that at least he seems to be content and without many regrets.

(Jonosuke, thanks a lot for doing this! Your translations always add a lot to my enjoyment of a basho. (Kimura Zatoichi...) )

[Asojima]

What is a jumper in American English? And what would you call what Tochiazuma was wearing?

In the colonies, it is either a jacket or a windbreaker. A jumper is a pullover garment.

[aderechelsea]

this is a jacket or a windbreaker indeed .... at least to my knowledge

[Kintamayama]

Roho (0-1) losing to Miyabiyama by yorikiri, 2.3 seconds

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(Delayed in getting up at tachiai, despite asking for a Matta, his call went unanswered by gyoji Masanao Kimura and all of the dohyo judges. Left the dohyo looking indignant, swiping forcefully his towel from a yobidashi)

"My opponent got up before I had a chance to put my hands down. I pleaded Matta so many times. What is this? Is that gyoji a deaf or blind or something?"

Kokonoe oyakata (the chief dohyo judge)

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"He has to say a Matta right away. He was way too late. He looked like he was fuming but I can tell you the spectators were far more upset than he was."

"But I will tell you one thing, if we let a bout like this stopped every time, we have a Matta in every bout."

"Hey, watch out for the manicure!!"

Edited May 14, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Manekineko]

I'll take this chance to ask an English language question. To me what tochizuma was wearing was a jacket. It could also be called a winderbreaker of windcheater but I think of those as being made of very light material. I know it's called a "jumper" in katakana english, but to me a jumper is a knitted pullover or sweater.

What is a jumper in American English? And what would you call what Tochiazuma was wearing?

A bit OT, but still... in Croatian we borrowed both words or their cousins. Jacket came in German version (Jacke, right?) kao "jakna". Jumper came from English as "d

[Jakusotsu]

Now going completely OT: in Germany we'd call Tochiazuma's new clothing "anorak" (of Inuit origin). Isn't it funny how languages tend to borrow terms for everyday things?

[Doitsuyama]

Now going completely OT: in Germany we'd call Tochiazuma's new clothing "anorak" (of Inuit origin). Isn't it funny how languages tend to borrow terms for everyday things?

Hmm, I wouldn't call that an "Anorak". Way too short and thin for that.

[Jakusotsu]

Hmm, I wouldn't call that an "Anorak". Way too short and thin for that.

Well, my mother would call it an anorak, but then again, she might even call it a blazer. (Sign of approval...)

[Raishu]

Hmm, I wouldn't call that an "Anorak". Way too short and thin for that.

Well, my mother would call it an anorak, but then again, she might even call it a blazer. (Clapping wildly...)

very funny. I guess my grandmother would call it "anorak", too.

but when I think of my mother, she would surely call it a "j

[Bishonohana]

this is a jacket or a windbreaker indeed .... at least to my knowledge

Off Topic, still:

Here in the USA, those are indeed a Jacket. Windbreaker is more made of nylon that cuts the wind, hence the name Windbreaker... In Japanese, though, it's called a "janpa." (Sign of approval...)

[Kintamayama]

It's a zibby. The ones with a zipper. Others are zibbelabooks, and the ones with buttons are tambalim.

Edited May 14, 2007 by Kintamayama