Orora

[Sashohitowa]

Not a long time ago, while driving back home after work, I realized that my wandering thoughts have actually landed on... Orora... Worrying, I agree...

But anyway I realized that this guy's persistence in ozumo is a big question mark for me.

First of all, how come happened, that there are two foreigners in Kitanoumi beya - Hakurozan and Orora? And, actually, Orora has joined the heya first.. So I just wonder why Kitanoumi beya have wasted their gaijin quota over a hopeless rikishi... Unless he is with Japanese citizenship? (Showing respect...)

Second of all, what he really is doing there? More than 7 years - should already have the idea in his head that he'll not make it to sekitori... So obviously, unlike maybe most of the foreigners entering ozumo, he is not in there for the money.. Then what is it that keeps him in mid Sandame and out of his home place for so many years? His love of sumo?

I would be very glad if someone can share his observations during keiko sessions... What Orora looks like? And does someone know - what are actually his duties in the heya - chanko, cleaning, is he someone's tsukebito?

Edit: I just realized that I have posted this thread in Honbasho talk, instead of Ozumo discussions. Sorry.

Edited October 3, 2007 by Sashohikufuhen

[Kintamayama]

But anyway I realized that this guy's persistence in ozumo is a big question mark for me.

First of all, how come happened, that there are two foreigners in Kitanoumi beya - Hakurozan and Orora? And, actually, Orora has joined the heya first.. So I just wonder why Kitanoumi beya have wasted their gaijin quota over a hopeless rikishi... Unless he is with Japanese citizenship? (Showing respect...)

Hakurozan joined before the one-gaijin-per-heya rule came into effect. I think. No, he actually joined after. And I agree, Hakurozan is a hopeless rikishi.

On second thought-Hakurozan joined Hatachiyama beya-when the Oyakata died, the heya merged with Kitanoumi. Lucky I know of a foreigner database..

Edited October 3, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Sashohitowa]

But anyway I realized that this guy's persistence in ozumo is a big question mark for me.

First of all, how come happened, that there are two foreigners in Kitanoumi beya - Hakurozan and Orora? And, actually, Orora has joined the heya first.. So I just wonder why Kitanoumi beya have wasted their gaijin quota over a hopeless rikishi... Unless he is with Japanese citizenship? (Showing respect...)

Hakurozan joined before the one-gaijin-per-heya rule came into effect. I think. And I agree, Hakurozan is a hopeless rikishi.

(Blushing...)

Point taken, unclear wording from my side...

[Kintamayama]

And, actually, Orora has joined the heya first.. So I just wonder why Kitanoumi beya have wasted their gaijin quota over a hopeless rikishi... Unless he is with Japanese citizenship? (Showing respect...)

Hakurozan joined before the one-gaijin-per-heya rule came into effect. I think. And I agree, Hakurozan is a hopeless rikishi.

(Blushing...)

Point taken, unclear wording from my side...

And I just edited my original post-with the real reason why there are two foreigners in Kitanoumi-beya..

Edited October 3, 2007 by Kintamayama

[ilovesumo]

Orora is sick and his parents (with the same illness, looking like him) wanted him to go to Japan with the idea

of medical care... Somebody that big could be somehow successful in Sumo, but more important than the idea of success was that, as long as he is active, he get's medical treatment for free. So him in the Heya brings 3000$ a month for his Heya (that's what the Heya gets per Rikishi) and him living on....Poor guy but a nice fellow.

[Jonosuke]

I think he is there for free chow and shelter.

His existence is a proof of ulterior motive held by certain oyakata. It proves a point that in Ozumo small guys can always beat big guys.

[Washuyama]

If what ilovesumo says is true (and I don't doubt you at all,) I must say he picked the right profession. What other career choice could someone of that size make? At least in sumo he's a giant among other giants.... I wish Kitanoumi would put him on a diet. I would like to see what he could do if he lost 100 pounds (or 100kg for that matter) ...

[Asojima]

If what ilovesumo says is true (and I don't doubt you at all,) I must say he picked the right profession. What other career choice could someone of that size make? At least in sumo he's a giant among other giants.... I wish Kitanoumi would put him on a diet. I would like to see what he could do if he lost 100 pounds (or 100kg for that matter) ...

He has very little strength and no mobility. The only thing he seems to have going for him is his mass. If he loses that, he will drop to jonokuchi like a rock.

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

Anatoly Valerievich Mihahanov- Buryat Mongol from humble village Zaigraevo of Buryat Republic of Russian Federation.

http://www.mk.ru/blogs/MK/2007/03/05/sport/92756/

According to this article, when he was 16 years old he was 197kg (434 lb), 191 cm tall. Now he is 240 kg (529 lb)

Edited October 3, 2007 by Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj

[Washuyama]

If what ilovesumo says is true (and I don't doubt you at all,) I must say he picked the right profession. What other career choice could someone of that size make? At least in sumo he's a giant among other giants.... I wish Kitanoumi would put him on a diet. I would like to see what he could do if he lost 100 pounds (or 100kg for that matter) ...

He has very little strength and no mobility. The only thing he seems to have going for him is his mass. If he loses that, he will drop to jonokuchi like a rock.

I was figuring if he could/would lose the weight, he would gain strength and mobility. I think at 400 lbs, he would still have the size advantage over 95% of his opponents. His sumo now reminds me a little of Konishiki's last couple years... Too big to win. In Sally's earlier years (150-200 lbs lighter) he was almost a Yokozuna. Not trying to draw too close a comparison between Sally and Orora, not even close. My point is there is such a thing as being too big.

Lose the weight + increased keiko = better chance of success...

[Jakusotsu]

Lose the weight + increased keiko = better chance of success...

The first part won't be that easy if he's suffering from pathological obesity, so the second part won't happen at all. Poor guy indeed...

[Koneko]

But if he's ill he might not be able to lose weight, no matter how much he'd like to...depending on what's wrong with him, of course. Do you have more info on that, Ilovesumo?

Edit: gotta learn to post my comments right away. :p But...am I reading too much into Ilovesumo's comment on him having to stay to" live on"?

Edited October 3, 2007 by Koneko

[ilovesumo]

But if he's ill he might not be able to lose weight, no matter how much he'd like to...depending on what's wrong with him, of course. Do you have more info on that, Ilovesumo?

Edit: gotta learn to post my comments right away. :p But...am I reading too much into Ilovesumo's comment on him having to stay to" live on"?

That's what I have been told. I don't remember exactly who told me, but it was an insider.

I don't know what the illness is. But the body looks different from a "normal big human's body".

He is also very pale. It's not that he got that big by eating too much, the size comes from the illness.

Many edema. Look at his legs at the foto, you can see those.

As I said, as long as he stays in Japan, being an active Rikishi, he get's medical care for free. He visits doctors.

It's not a matter of Money. Maybe that wasn't easy in his past.

I don't see him as a Rikishi wanting to climb the banzuke... He is a sick young male...

[Koneko]

Yeah, poor guy. I've read so many times that he's just a big oaf that'll never amount to anything and obviously he doesn't even bother to try etc...but we often forget that there are reasons why people are what they are/behave the way they do. If he's seriously ill he deserves understanding, not scorn.

(Then I guess we could discuss whether or not being a rikishi is the best lifestyle for him, but if he's from poor conditions then maybe this is/was his only choice.)

[Guest japanjane]

Where is he from?

[Anjoboshi]

He is from Republic of Buryatia (Russian Federation).

http://sumodb.sumogames.com/Rikishi.aspx?shikona=Orora

[Asojima]

Where is he from?

Info from an obscure database.

[Guest japanjane]

Anyone know how this big, presumably unathletic, lad made his way from rural Russia to Pro sumo??

[Asashosakari]

Anyone know how this big, presumably unathletic, lad made his way from rural Russia to Pro sumo??

I don't have much to offer except rehashing contemporary SML posts, but it's a start...

Mainichi Shinbun via Jonosuke:

A 16 year old former amateur wrestler from Russia, Anatoly V Mihavanov (?) held his first press conference in Tokyo since arriving in Japan on December 11. He announced he would be joining Kitanoumi Beya and disclosed a new shikona, "Oorora (Mitsuru)" (a twist on 'aurora' ?). He weighs 198 Kg

and is 191 cm tall. Currently there are rikishis from U.S., Mongolia, Argentine, Brazil, South Korea and China but he will become the first rikishi from Russia.

He first saw Ozumo when he was eight years old. "I have decided to join Sumo as I believe the Kitanoumi oyakata is a great man. I am really happy that I get

an opportunity to learn Sumo in Japan," said Anatoly. At first he will no doubt experience some hardships as he hardly speaks any Japanese but he said, "I have nothing to worry about. I will just set the goal to become a rikishi like the oyakata and work hard towards becoming a Yokozuna."

Ever since his weight surpassed the wrestling heavyweight class, he has been eyeing no weight division sumo. Since first arriving in Japan last October, he already had an interview with the Kyokai and was looking for a heya to join with a help from a boxing gym. His shikona was selected by a "talento", Paul Maki, who was instrumental in him joining the Kitanoumi beya.

Amateur sumotori Shiroikuma was less enthused:

All this talk about him being big and so having big hopes just keeps reminding me of...

When we were at Nichidai this November, Yuri Golubovski of Russia took part in the sumo training camp. Now he's a real tough fella, came second in European Championships this year and third just this past weekend in the World Championships.

And I asked him about Aurora (well it was Mihahanow then), since the reports in the Japanese papers said he's popular in Russia and that he's a good wrestler. Well, you can't imagine the look on his face, full of contempt, and told me that no way Aurora was well known in Russia and a good wrestler. He knew him, since he's done wrestling, but you don't want to know what he thought of the kid's abilities. Said the kid seems to be very sick and that's why he's put on so much weight etc. And he said something which I keep thinking of every time I see "Aurora" in the subject. I said: "But yeah man, he's damn big" and he just looked at me and said: "So what? Doesn't mean anything." Very true...

And finally, because I just can't resist (though I'll skip the link to protect the innocent here):

Wow, 198 kilo, over 190 cm tall?!?!?! This guy ought to be in makushita with 2 years. He sounds like a mini-Musashimaru.

(In fairness, this excitable poster moderated his enthusiasm rather quickly after reading Shiroikuma's message.)

[yamaneko]

Ive always been curious about him as well. On a side note, I was going throug his old bashos on the db to see if he beat anyone of note, and i came across Daishoki in the last basho. http://sumodb.sumogames.com/Rikishi.aspx?r=915 This is crazy. This guy, has had SEVEN different shikona. WHen will this guy get the point? hes never passed sandanme, and i doubt shikona changes are helping him any. Oorora beat him last basho.

Depending on how the banzuke plays out, oorora, thanks to the win in the last bout over daishoki, will be pretty close to his career high rank.

[Flohru]

That's what I have been told. I don't remember exactly who told me, but it was an insider.

I don't know what the illness is. But the body looks different from a "normal big human's body".

He is also very pale. It's not that he got that big by eating too much, the size comes from the illness.

I don't doubt anything what you said, but I remember a couple of years ago somebody in the German Sumoforum translated an interview with Roho and Hakurozan in a Russian newspaper. They were asked about Orora and said, that he eats very much and most of all drinks a lot of beer, up to 25 (!) litre a day... Couldn't believe that and asked the guy who translated the article if he made a mistake, but he insisted that it was 25...

[Sashohitowa]

The article from the Russian site that Ikh provided is quite interesting. Thanks for that, Ikh!!

My Russian is not good enough for full translation (and, besides that, the article itself is huge), but let me try to summarize few interesting aspects...:

Анатолий Михаханов

[Sashohitowa]

Looks like a nice guy, actually.

And I REALLY would like to see that bike...

[Oimeru]

Thanks for the translation! This is very interesting indeed.

My dictionary-aided attempt to fill the blanks:

- Yes, but in Russia sumotori are presented as gluttons.

...

- They say that the Sumo stars walk in the streets with bodyguards. So that they're not torn to pieces for souvenirs. How do you travel in the city? By car?

[Doitsuyama]

Sounds quite different from ILS' description to me... (Whistling...)