Rikishi Talk Day 10 Aki Basho 2007

[Jonosuke]

Kitazakura (2-8) losing to Hochiyama by yorikiri, 13.6 seconds

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(Got out of tachiai prior to the final shikiri but still lost)

"It's all about intensity. Intensity! He was all psyched up to jump out too and you know I am always ready to get up any time. It was an excellent tachiai all around."

"Five more days to go. So let's do all our best now! Right. Let's do it tomorrow. Tomorrow! You understand, it's all about 'Ashita No Jo' (Japanese anime, Tomorrow's Jo)."

(How can anyone not like Kitazakura? He is truly a rare breed.)

Kakizoe (8-2) over Tamakasuga by tsuki-otoshi, 5.1 seconds

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(Getting kachi-koshi by winning seven straight. His quickest kachi-koshi since the 2004 Hatsu basho when he got kachikoshi on the day 9. Missed the birth of his son - 3,330 grams, this morning but said he got his photo via his cell phone as his wife went back to her parents home to have the child in Nagoya.)

"His face looked like mine all squashed. I felt sorry for the kid as my face is already all crumpled up and his is more (laughs)."

"As this is all during a basho so I know I had to focus 100% on sumo but I can't help think about both too."

"I don't feel as if I am a father already but I want to make sure I keep doing my job well. I have to do my best for them too."

Goeido (9-1) over Kasugao by yorikiri, 19.0 seconds

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(Showing a monster sumo despite his not so huge physique of 183 cm and 140kg, by manhandling 152 kg Kasugao)

"He is good at Kote-nage, so I decided to stay with him as close as possible today. I know if I just grip his mawashi shallow, he can get me by a throw, I needed to go really deep."

"I will be lying to you if I told you I'd won it exactly the way I pictured it. Far from it. I just happened to get a good tachiai. That's all."

(Told he had the top record along with yokozuna Hakuho)

"It's pretty unlikely, isn't it? People talk about as if I have a good chance but that is not just being realistic. But I definitely still want to finish with a double digit win record. I am not thinking about anything. All I can do is going out there and doing my best."

Sakaigawa oyakata (former komusubi Ryogoku), Goeido's shisho

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(On his prized pupil with 11 yushos including High School Yokozuna during his years at Saitama Sakae High school with a nerve of steel.)

"I can't even find a fault with him today. It was a good display of his ability. I never find it surprising that he has won this many already."

Takamisakari (4-6) over Tokitsuumi by yorikiri, 5.4 seconds

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(Getting a harite slap right across his face, the hand mark still visible on his face)

"It hurt so much. I got cut in my mouth too. But I endured it. I finally got the fourth win. I should be safe for now. I won't fall down to Juryo."

Toyohibiki (5-5) losing to Kyokutenho by kata-sukashi, 2.9 seconds

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(Despite the gyoji's gunbai going for him, losing the bout after a mono-ii)

"Actually I could see his feet stayed inside at the end. Nothing good comes out of any situation when all you are looking is down below while falling down. You should be looking ahead."

Kyokutenho (8-2) over Toyohibiki

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(Getting a win after the mono-ii and kachi-koshi in his Makunouchi return basho)

"I was so sure I stayed inside."

"Now that I came this far, I sure love to get a double digit wins."

"But Man, what was that hit me? Unbelievable! What is he? A raging bull? I will need to jot this guy down in my memory."

Takekaze (8-2) over Toyonoshima by hatakikomi, 2.0 seconds

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(Prevailing over the battle of short titans and getting kachi-koshi)

"I got it much quicker than I anticipated. I feel like I am doing exactly the same as always though."

"Five years ago at Aki basho, I made my Juryo debut, so this basho always has a sentimental value to me."

(On faciing Goeido tomorrow)

"Well my 'Take' and his "Go" use the same kanji. I guess it will be the battle of T-G then."

Toyonoshima (6-4) losing to Takekaze

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(Now losing seven straight to Takekaze)

"He is too short and compact that I can't even get inside of him. I was thinking of going out low from the tachiai. But I normally put out my chest out from my tachiai so as a result I ended up having my chin up. I just can't get into my pace against him."

Tochinonada (2-8) losing to Kakuryu by yorikiri, 2.9 seconds

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(Suffering make-koshi at maegashira 2 rank, the rank he has for the first time since the 2005 Natsu basho)

"I have every intention of hitting hard out of tachiai but my upper body would go up soon after. I am not moving at all."

Kisenosato (4-6) over Homasho by yorikiri, 6.1 seconds

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(Winning decisively in front of a throng of supporters coming in specially from his home town of Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture)

"I heard their cheers. They can give you so much more encouragement."

(By going with Hidari-yotsu)

"If I tarry around too long, he would have got into his favorite position so I thought I had to start moving forward by any means."

Chiyotaikai (8-2) over Aminishiki by hikiotoshi, 2.1 seconds

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(Getting kachi-koshi and winning against Aminishiki whom he has 13 win and 0 loss record.)

"Thank you very much. I am relieved now. I've been so tense lately."

"When you are accustomed to beating someone so often, you can pretty well respond to any move he can make. Besides he lost to Wakanosato yesterday so I figured his luck hasn't turned to anything better."

Aminishiki (8-2) losing to Chiyotaikai

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(Suffering his second loss by the hands of Chiyotaikai whom he has not beaten in his 13 attempts)

"Maybe just saying he is the one I'd rather not face means I am worrying about him too much."

(Went in low enough to stay away from Chiyotaikai's tsuppari but..)

"I thought to myself, Great, one moment and then I realized I was hitting the ground the next."

"Today, yesterday. It's enough to make you cry. It's hopeless. How can I get a double digit win record if I am losing like this?"

Dejima (5-5) over Kotomitsuki by oshidashi, 21.3 seconds

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"The point for today's bout was I got him really agitated and got him to pull."

(Beating Kaio, Kotooshu and now Kotomitsuki. Asked if he wanted to show he too has a pride as one time ozeki)

"Oh, hmmm. I don't feel that way at all. I am just trying to go out and do my best every single day. I am sorry I can't give you more illuminating comment."

Kotomitsuki (6-4) losing to Dejima

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(Stayed with Dejima's henka but unable to remain patient and ended up pulling)

"I had a really wretched tachiai. But even then I had to somehow create my own flow from it. I am feeling a bit pathetic about myself now."

Hakuho (9-1) over Asasekiryu by tsuri-dashi, 16.8 seconds

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(Showing the yokozuna sumo by setting himself in his perfect Migi-yotsu and freezing his opponent)

"Well it is my favorite form after all. I was able to get to the mawashi quickly and got a firm grip."

"From this point on, every single bout becomes so much more meaningful. I believe I just need to continue with what I have been doing up to now."

(On Goeido, also with one loss record)

"I see he is doing so well. He kind of reminds me when I first came up to Maku." (Hakuho had 12 wins in his Makunouchi debut basho.)

"Even prior to the basho, my lower back was bothering me so I continue to get a massage every night. But I am still showing up for our morning training session. It's been a long time I've been doing the morning session during a basho so sometimes it's really tough. But fortunately my wife wakes me up very nicely every morning."

Kumagatani oyakata, Hakuho's personal oyakata

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(On Hakuho)

"I finally believe he is realizing the responsibility of yokozuna and sees himself as yokozuna."

Kitanoumi oyakata, Kyokai chairman

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(On Hakuho)

"I can't think of any better way to win."

"For the yusho race Hakuho should be leading the way. I am hoping he can show his superiority to all of us."

Yusho Race Board

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Makunouchi:

1 loss - Hakuho, Goeido

2 losses - Chiyotaikai, Aminishiki, Takekaze, Kyokutenho, Kakizoe

Juryo:

0 loss - Baruto

Miyagino oyakata who was admitted to a Tokyo area hospital after complaining of chest pain was told he had no specific physical ailment. His condition was likely brought up by stress but he will stay in the hospital for the next several days for observation.

"Actually I think it may have come from a diabetes too. I understand he is expected to stay in there for a few more days. He doesn't walk at all and I hear he has heart problems as well so it is a concern," Kumagatani oyakata, heya's oyakata, said.

"I understand all he needs is more rest and therapy, but the condition is nothing serious. Since he also has a diabetes, I am concerned that it can trigger other more serious conditions," Kitanoumi oyakata said. Miyagino oyakata (Kanechika) was with Kitanoumi beya when he was active.

[Washuyama]

Hakuho (9-1) over Asasekiryu by tsuri-dashi, 16.8 seconds

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But fortunately my wife wakes me up very nicely every morning."

Does that mean what I think it means?? ;-)

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

Hakuho (9-1) over Asasekiryu by tsuri-dashi, 16.8 seconds

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But fortunately my wife wakes me up very nicely every morning."

Does that mean what I think it means?? (Laughing...)

I think It mean what you think it means. What a nice wake-up ;-) But his dad should know /tell him that Mongolian wrestlers don't stay with their woman during the competition, I mean "very nice wake up" is not an option. Boy YOU GOTTA WIN THE GAME FIRST

[Guest Noma]

Thank u, Jonosuke-san, for ur posts. I really like to read them :). Could u, pls, advise me the source of these quotes?

[Jonosuke]

I actually compiled them from a variety of sources but as many here agree Mainichi is good. I also jot down some from NHK's sumo broadcast as they have bits and pieces of information.

Most of sumo data related, I pick up from Jiji Press. Others are variously from Sankei Sports, Nikkan, Daily Sports, Chunichi Sports and Sports Hochi. I also tend to skim through other general papers such as Nikkei, Asahi and Yomiuri but I ignore Yukan Fuji.