Nicknames

[ryafuji]

When Channel 4 showed sumo in the UK in the 80s they gave all the rikishi nicknames. Most of them were I think made up by the production team but I think a few originated in Japan, such as "the Wolf" (Chiyonofuji), "the Giant Panda" (Onokuni) and "the Polar Bear" (Hokutenyu). Do any of the current rikishi have nicknames? Apart from Robocop, of course...

Edited September 20, 2007 by ryafuji

[Johnofuji]

Asashoryu told me he calls Roho Butsu butsu Face :-)

I wonder if he says it to his face as he is probably the only one game enough

[Otokonoyama]

Asashoryu told me he calls Roho Butsu butsu Face :-)

I wonder if he says it to his face as he is probably the only one game enough

If Roho was as bad (in the American slang sense) as he looked, he'd be ozeki by now. I think a lot of other rikishi could take him, rules or no.

Edited September 21, 2007 by Otokonoyama

[Mattjila]

Anyone know if Kintaro has an account? He's who I think of when it comes to rikishi nicknames. Someone needs to set up a wiki of all the Miyabiyama adjectives.

Edited September 21, 2007 by Mattjila

[Gusoyama]

Kintaro gave Kakizoe the nickname "Angelina Jolie", I believe.

Tochiozan became Tochiozone, and TochiO3 here

there's plenty others that I can't think of right now.

[Kintamayama]

Hakuhou- Vanilla Yokozuna

Kaihou - Looks like

Chiyotaikai- the Propeller Feller

Kotooushuu- Too Tall Osh

Kotomitsuki-Mickey

Aminishiki- Rickey

Ama- Sticky

Kitazakura-Littler Salt

Kakizoe- Anjelina Jolie

Hokutouriki- No hands

Etc.

[Chisaiyama]

For rikishi nicknames, some appropos, some derogatory, some well let's just say less than inspiring, one only has to click their hells together 3 times and say to yourself: there's no place liek Sumo Talk, there's no place like Sumo Talk. One can only say about them that what they lack in finesse they try to make up for with enthusiam.

While I visit both sites I must say that this is my favorite of all (with Kinta's coming in a close second). Here are a fiew of their gem's:

Kotomitsuki: Hit and Miss

Kotoshogiku: Geeku

Hakurozan: Henkarozan

Hokutoriki: Jokertoriki

etc.

Must say that prior to the last fiew basho they had Kotomitsuki pegged but Mickey has shown them up here lately.

[Kotonosato]

If I remember correctly, here's another from Kintaro:

Tamanoshima: The Chinless Wonder

[Sasanishiki]

Robocop is used in the Japanese media, and the nicknames you mentioned "polar bear" etc were used by Channel 4, presumably to differentiate the rikishi for those completely new to watching the sport. I'm not sure if those nicknames were used by the Japanese media though. They were probably not sued by the rikishi themselves, although they do call each other by nicknames - usually some contraction of their shikona or given names. Obviously most of the nicknames mentioned so far in this thread are the ones that are given by Fourm memebrs or other online gaijin sumo fans.

[Kintamayama]

They were probably not sued by the rikishi themselves.

I don't know if he sued them in the end, but I heard Konishiki was pissed off for being called "dump truck".

[Bealzbob]

My favourite is

Kotooshu - Faux-zeki

[Kotonosato]

I think we should start calling Iwakiyama, "Mugsy". Doesn't he have the classic gangster face?

[Jakusotsu]

I think we should start calling Iwakiyama, "Mugsy". Doesn't he have the classic gangster face?

Too bad he will never get to Noseki...

Edit: I remember Jejima calling him the "gibbous one".

Edited September 24, 2007 by Jakusotsu

[Washuyama]

I think we should start calling Iwakiyama, "Mugsy". Doesn't he have the classic gangster face?

Too bad he will never get to Noseki...

That was bad... (Yusho winner...) Funny, but bad.. (Showing respect...)

[Sasanishiki]

They were probably not sued by the rikishi themselves.

I don't know if he sued them in the end, but I heard Konishiki was pissed off for being called "dump truck".

Ha ha. Well spotted