Rikishi Talk Senshuraku Aki Basho 2007

[Jonosuke]

Goeido (11-4) over Yoshikaze by oshidashi, 2.3 seconds

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(Getting his 11th win with a quick powerful jump out of tachiai and overwhelming Yoshikaze)

"I am especially happy that I was able to finish with a good sumo at the end. "

(Hearing he was a candidate for Gino-sho as well)

"I never expected to receive a Sansho award so if I could have, I'd love to get as many as I could. This will help me gain more self-confidence for sure."

"I am not good at saving at all so I guess the money would be spent quickly."

Maegashira West 14 from Neyagawa City, Osaka. Sakaigawa beya. Real name: Gotaro Sawai

Dohyo debut: 2005 Hatsu basho (in his third year at Saitama Sakae high school, earned the title of High School yokozuna). Makunouchi debut: this basho (Aki 2007).

183 cm tall, 140 kg. 21 years old.

Favorite moves: Migi-yotsu, yori.

Kyokutenho (12-3) over Tamakasuga by yorikiri, 12.4 seconds

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(Beating Tamakasuga and recording his personal best of 12 wins as well as awarded his fifth Kanto-sho. Looking back on his suspension after a traffic accident)

"This is so gratifying. It's really different from my previous four Kanto-sho. This one is the best."

"Even though I did overachieve myself this basho by winning this many but all along I felt unless I'd get a double digit wins, I would not be recognized to have returned to Makunouchi fully."

(A possibility of Yusho kettei-sen if Hakuho lost)

"I was watching the bout on TV rather calmly. To be honest I was hoping I could go up and compete in the kettei-sen."

Maegashira West 14 from Mongolia. Oshima beya. Real name: Masaru Ohta.

Dohyo debut: 1992 Haru basho. Makunouchi debut: 1998 Hatsu basho. Sekiwake debut: 2003 Nagoya basho. Kanto-sho: 5

191 cm tall, 155 kg. 33 years old.

Favorite moves: Migi-yotsu, yori.

Ama (10-5) losing to Kotoshogiku by yorikiri, 6.6 seconds

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"This basho provided me with good practical and learning experience. I will use the award money to strengthen myself further."

Komusubi West from Mongolia, Ajigawa beya, Real name: Davaanyam Byambadorj

Dohyo debut: 2001 Hatsu basho, Makunouchi debut: 2004 Kyushu basho.

Sekiwake debut: 2007 Natsu basho.

Shukun-sho: 1, Kanto-sho: 1, Gino-sho: 1

185 cm, 126 kg. 23 years old.

Favorite moves: Tsuki, oshi, migi-yotsu, yori, nage.

Toyonoshima (8-7) over Asasekiryu by oshidashi, 10.9 seconds

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(Getting his kachi-koshi and earning a Shukun-sho)

"I was thinkiing I'd be showing a disrepect to the yokozuna if I ended up getting make-koshi after beating him."

"It's gratifying to me to receive this award as it would not be given unless you beat a top rank rikishi in the yusho race. I am really happy to receive the three awards all in this year."

Maegashira East 5 from Sukumo City, Kochi Prefecture. Tokitsukaze beya. Real name: Daiki Kajiwara

Dohoy debut: 2002 Hatsu basho (after passing the secondary new recruit entry examination).

Makunouchi debut: 2004 Aki basho. Promoted to komusubi at the Natsu basho.

Shukun-sho: 1 Kanto-sho: 1 Gino-sho: 1

170 cm tall, 141 kg. 24 years old.

Favorite moves: Hidari-yotsu, yori, shitate-nage.

Kotomitsuki (10-5) over Kisenosato by uchimuso, 5.3 seconds

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(Finishing his first ozeki basho with 10 wins)

"I felt the basho was so long to me. I believe I achieved my minimum objective of finishing with a double digit win record. Especially when I am having a reception party for my ozeki promotion after the basho, I cannot go there with make-koshi, right?"

Aminishiki (10-5) over Kotooshu by yorikiri, 3.8 seconds

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(Finishing with a double digit record in his first sekiwake basho)

"If I ever start fooling myself thinking this is a good reflection of my ability, I'd fall down real quick for sure. Humility. That's what I need, I have to stay humble."

Hakuho (13-2) over Chiyotaikai by yorikiri, 3.6 seconds

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(Not being bothered by Chiyotaikai's Tsuppari, he went on to grab the left mawashi and easily winning the bout)

"After I lost the day 1, I really wondered what would happen to me. The toughest time was when I dropped my second bout. Throughout it was my family who supported me when I needed the most."

"I am very happy. This one is totally different from all my previous yusho. I feel pleased that I was able to fulfill the responsibility as yokozuna by winning the yusho convincingly."

Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai

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"This wasn't such an easy yusho for Hakuho. He must be relieved to get his first yusho as yokozuna, He had undue

pressures placed on him as the lone yokozuna, feeling he could not afford to lose. Obviously he probably felt he would be compapred against the other yokozuna. But this experiece will undoubtedly help him keep growing more from now on. I am certain that the next basho will revolve around Hakuho as it should. This yusho should afford him to become more calm and lead into more yusho."

Kumagatani oyakata, Hakuho's personal oyakata

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"When he lost to Toyonoshima on day 11, I told him he gave the record (kinboshi) that would stay with him all his active career. It was a bout in which he showed his bad old habit of Hari-sashi. I wanted him to feel the weight and responsibility of his rank."

"But overall I feel he has performed extremely well, fighting off the pressure of being a lone yokozuna, especially recovering from the loss on day 1. I know he has faced each day believing he could not lose to anyone. I look forward to him putting in more training so that he could be praised for displaying good sumo at the Kyushu basho. "

Hanaregoma oyakata (former ozeki Kaiketsu), Director of Judging

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"Hakuho has fulfilled his responsibility despite losing the day 1. I actually didn't feel he was under so much pressure being a lone yokozuna."

Mihogaseki oyakata (former ozeki Masuiyama), Associate Director of Judging

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"Hakuho got the front mawashi quickly today. I am sure he must be feeling relieved winning his first yusho as yokozuna."

Kokonoe oyakata (fomer yokozuna Chiyonofuji) Associate Director of Judging

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"We can rate highly of Hakuho shouldering the weight of lone yokozuna well. But his two losses were nothing to be praised for. It means there are areas where he is not solid enough."

Takanohana oyakata (former yokozuna Takanohana)

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"In the end Hakuho displayed an excellent sumo. He must be feeling this yusho as a completely different than the ones he had as ozeki."

Katsuji Ebisawa, chairman of the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee

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"Hakuho clearly demonstrated his position as the Ozumo's backbone by finishing with 13 wins and 2 losses. With the record he did preserve the yokozuna's honor. I am certain that he would be gaining more strength and self-confidence as he goes on."

Sansho Award

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Shukun-sho : Ama, Toyonoshima (both first time)

Kanto-sho: Kyokutenho (5), Goeido (1)

Gino-sho: none.

Yusho

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Makunouchi: yokozuna Hakuho (real name: Munkhbat Davaajargal), from Ulaanbaatar, Miyagino beya

Dohyo debut: 2001 Haru basho Makunouchi debut: 2004 Natsu basho

Promoted to ozeki after 2006 Haru basho and then won the Haru and Natsu basho was promoted to yokozuna.

192 cm tall, 151 kg. 22 years old.

Favorite moves: Migi-yotsu, yori, uwate-nage.

Yokozuna Hakuho's yusho celebration party was held at the Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Koto-ward Tokyo, with 120 invited guests and supporters. According to the Shrine officials this was the first time an Ozumo celebration party was held at the Shrine hall. At the party his wife commented, "Everyone expected him to win the yusho as a lone yokozuna so he had so much pressure placed upon him".

Jonidan: Hoshizakura beat Hatayama (from Kochi Prefecture, Shikoroyama beya) at the yusho kettei sen.

West 37 Hoshizakura (Real name: Myagmar Altangerel) from Mongolia, Hakkaku beya.

Dohyo debut: 2000 Kyushu.

182 cm tall, 136 kg. 23 years old.

Favorite moves: Tsuki, oshi.

All yusho other than Sandanme were won by a foreign born rikishi. The last and only time the five divisions were won by foreign born rikishi was at the 2003 Hatsu basho,

Takanowaka

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(On his retirement)

"Ever since I joined Ozumo at 15 years old, I have learned so much. I was able to even gain Sanyaku experience. The fact that I have had so many injurues was a result of my shortcomings. In the last several years I have not been able to display a good sumo but each and every single bout I had, I have no regrets over."

(The most memorable bout at the 2002 Kyushu basho day 8 against ozeki Musoyama)

"It was at my local basho and I was very happy to get a win from the ozeki.)

(Not certain yet of his next pursuit but Takanowaka says he wants to recover from his elbow and shoulder injuries first.) His Intai retirement cermony will be held at the Kokugian on February 16 next year.

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Kitanoumi oyakata, the Kyokai chairman, did not include any mention of Asashoryu incident in his Senshuraku speech as expected . He has not done so in his basho opening speech. There have been criticisms directed at him as many feel that the Kyokai as a public corporation has an obligation to explain their handling of the whole incident to the general public.

However Kitamoumi oyakata maintains that it was a personal problem caused by Asashoryu himself and the Kyokai had nothing to apologize for a Kyokai member whom they already had taken a disciplinary action.

Kitanomi oyakata's unwillingness to apologize for this type of matter is rather well known. When Roho had a run-in with photographers at the Nagoya basho last year, the oyakata said he would rather submit his resignation than to apologize to anyone.

Even Kyokai insiders are complaining about his lack of leadership. Some have suggested when Asashoryu first came back to Japan from Mongolia to apologize to him, if he sent Asashoryu to the Jyungyo tour right away and told him to do a dohyo-iri and do some promotion, then the problem may not have escalated as much as it did.

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Despite the absence of yokozuna Asashoryu, the Aki basho had six sold-out days including the Senshuraku. 350 general admission tickets were all snapped up by 9:10 AM yesterday. Kitanoumi oyakata, Kyokai chair, characterized it as a normal basho with a good finish.

"Overall we had a good basho with substance. Each individual rikishi approached the basho with a sense of urgency and as a result we had a stable and safe basho till the senshuraku," Katsuji Ebisawa, chairman of the yokozuna deliberation committee said.

Kyushu Banzuke Forecast by Mainichi

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East yokozuna Hakuho

West yokozuna Asashosryu

East ozeki Kotomitsuki

West ozeki Chiyotaikai

East ozeki Kotooshu

West ozeki Kaio

East sekiwake Aminishiki

West sekiwake Asasekiryu

East komusubi Ama

West komusubi Homasho

East M1 Kotoshogiku

West M1 Kisenosato

East M2 Miyabiyama

West M2 Dejima

East M3 Kyokutenho

West M3 Kakuryu

East M4 Tokitenku

West M4 Toyonoshima

East M5 Takekaze

West M5 Kasugao

Edited September 23, 2007 by Jonosuke

[ilovesumo]

Even Kyokai insiders are complaining about his (Kitanoumi’ｓ) lack of leadership.

Elections are coming closerですね。

Edited September 23, 2007 by ilovesumo

[Kintamayama]

I'd like to thank you for these daily posts which deeply enhance our Sumo experience.

Thank you.

[Kotonosato]

Kokonoe oyakata (fomer yokozuna Chiyonofuji) Associate Director of Judging

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"We can rate highly of Hakuho shouldering the weight of lone yokozuna well. But his two losses were nothing to be praised for. It means there are areas where he is not solid enough."

I don't see anyone complaining about these comments.

I hope you people who hate Uchidate remember this moment. If she had said the same thing, everyone would have jumped all over her.

PS: I second Kinta's thanks for these posts, Jonosuke. (Yusho winner...) They're great!

While I'm at it... Thanks also to Kinta for his contributions as well. (Showing respect...)

[Washuyama]

Kokonoe oyakata (fomer yokozuna Chiyonofuji) Associate Director of Judging

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"We can rate highly of Hakuho shouldering the weight of lone yokozuna well. But his two losses were nothing to be praised for. It means there are areas where he is not solid enough."

I don't see anyone complaining about these comments.

I hope you people who hate Uchidate remember this moment. If she had said the same thing, everyone would have jumped all over her.

PS: I second Kinta's thanks for these posts, Jonosuke. (Yusho winner...) They're great!

While I'm at it... Thanks also to Kinta for his contributions as well. (Showing respect...)

I think since Kokonoe/Chiyonofuji has "walked the walk" he is allowed to "talk the talk." But I would say those comments coming from anyone but Chiyonofuji, Kitanoumi or VERY few others, would have been inappropriate....

[Chisaiyama]

I think since Kokonoe/Chiyonofuji has "walked the walk" he is allowed to "talk the talk." But I would say those comments coming from anyone but Chiyonofuji, Kitanoumi or VERY few others, would have been inappropriate....

\

You hit the nail on the head here! Like Howard Cosell MS Uchidate has "Never Played the Game" and except in an Amasumo environment never can. As, hopefully, a devoted fan she is, like ourselves, entitled to her opinions but as a member of the YDC she should be more careful in her public pronouncements.

BTW, does anyone know how the members of the YDC are chosen or has that been the basis of another thread?

[Jonosuke]

BTW, does anyone know how the members of the YDC are chosen or has that been the basis of another thread?

They are appointed by the Rijicho. One term is two years and they can have up to five terms. They are generally selected from several distinct groups : newspapers and media, arts, academia and corporate executive ranks.

Actually there is no set qualification to become the member though it helps if you like sumo as you get invited to a public training session and a ticket to a basho. Basically they are there to be an advisory board with a specific task to promote or denounce yokozuna.

Initially as Ozumo outsiders, the YDC members were meant ostensively to serve as a reflection of public opinion as well as to provide academic and more socially responsible views as opposed to the Kyokai executives who basically lived all their life in the closed society of Ozumo world. There were supposed to counter a public perception that Ozumo was operated by a bunch of fat guys without high school education.

Incidentally other than occasional meals and basho tickets, they don't get paid at all. There are currently 12 members but they could have up to 15. The minimum number is 7.

Edited September 24, 2007 by Jonosuke

[Kotonosato]

You hit the nail on the head here! Like Howard Cosell MS Uchidate has "Never Played the Game" and except in an Amasumo environment never can. As, hopefully, a devoted fan she is, like ourselves, entitled to her opinions but as a member of the YDC she should be more careful in her public pronouncements.

I think it was precisely because she never played that game that she, and the rest of the council, were selected.

She's a lot more than just a fan though. Outside of a few sumo authors and journalists, there are very few writers who have done more to promote interest in sumo in Japan, both in print and on TV.

[Sasanishiki]

Incidentally other than occasional meals and basho tickets, they don't get paid at all.

And yet they are probably treated like royalty within the kyokai - unfettered access and all that.

I wonder if they get their accomodation and travel to basho paid for, and do many YDC members regularly attend basho outside of Tokyo? How many are actually based in tokyo? I know Uchidate was (is) in Tohoku a lot...

[Washuyama]

You hit the nail on the head here! Like Howard Cosell MS Uchidate has "Never Played the Game" and except in an Amasumo environment never can. As, hopefully, a devoted fan she is, like ourselves, entitled to her opinions but as a member of the YDC she should be more careful in her public pronouncements.

I think it was precisely because she never played that game that she, and the rest of the council, were selected.

She's a lot more than just a fan though. Outside of a few sumo authors and journalists, there are very few writers who have done more to promote interest in sumo in Japan, both in print and on TV.

I don't think this was a shot at Ms Uchidate (then again, it may have been and I just missed it), but the comment that Hahuho should have done better than 13-2 holds more weight coming from someone who actually did go zensho seven times. I also think Chiyonofuji understands that Hakuho is capable of going undefeated, with or without Asashoryu, should not accept a 13-2 as good enough. I bet he demands alot from his deshi but expects a yokozuna to only be satisfied with perfection.

[Kintamayama]

BTW, does anyone know how the members of the YDC are chosen or has that been the basis of another thread?

They are appointed by the Rijicho. One term is two years and they can have up to five terms. They are generally selected from several distinct groups : newspapers and media, arts, academia and corporate executive ranks.

A peek a boo: