Asashouryuu injured-keiko news

[paolo]

13 bouts, he was 11-2, both losses to Tochinonada.

just an average level Maegashira ....

..... "The Yokozuna is not in good shape. He looked really out of breath after 5-6 bouts. He had a small number of bouts. He can't go forward because of the injury, so he used a lot of throws. I think he'd be better off by training with the lower rankers first and then gradually upping the pace..... said Kasugano Oyakata....

not good athletic and technical news from an expert Oyakata...

"When you're out for a long time, it takes a while to get your 'dohyo sense' back. You find it hard to feel how far your feet are from the edge of the dohyo. But the Yokozuna is strong. When he'll get it back, I'm toast..", said Kasuganishiki, one of his sparring partners.....

polite but somehow embarassed comment from a low Maegashira...

In the end we have some news about Asashoryu's real shape and it is not good. Not that anything else could be expected after a 4 months' absence from real practice, but a real basho is just a month ahead and so many people are just waiting for an opportunity to kill the man.... Not an encouraging situation, it seems ! Are there any other comments ?

[Kintamayama]

Asa has been on his best behavior at Kasugano beya, after being denied access to Tomozuna beya for training and being accused of being a borderline neighborhood hooligan in his keiko attitude. He did lose it for a few seconds though-after being hatakikomi'd by Tochinonada, he let out an audible "aaaah, shit!!", and in a quick rematch, oshidashi'd him and added a few tsupparis as extra. But that was about it. Otherwise, he was seen giving advice to the lower rankers and being extra-polite, asking everyone if they were OK and stuff. Again, the sympathy scale seems to be shifting back to Asa in the online papers, but the pictures are still weird and getting smaller and smaller..

Asa flashing the photographer:

Asa doing the shake:

[Kintamayama]

No keiko for Asashouryuu today. "He's resting, resting!!", said a somewhat agitated Takasago Oyakata. From tomorrow, Takasago beya will be rebuilding their dohyo and it should be ready for keiko by the 21st. Asasekiryuu has a knee injury. "I still need to tape it up, but after the Banzuke announcement (on the 20th) I intend to do keiko with the Yokozuna", he said. No degeiko is planned, according to Heya people. "It's a great opportunity for him to rest his body", they said.

His personal trainer has given the green light for his participation in hatsu. He examined him for 30 minutes today and said his ankle is 90% healed. As for a re-examination by Dr. Hiraishi, the trainer said that because the leg was in such great shape there was no need for that.

[aderechelsea]

I am sure Asa does not have any idea about this motif which you see as marijuana. I see it as symbol of fire which means good in mongolia.

In Mongolia that thing grow everywhere, nobody knows , nobody cares.

this is hilarious ..... :-D

talk about hiding behind your finger

[kaiguma]

We must all agree to stop seeing fire when there is not even smoke!

This is clearly not Mary Jane, but Japanese Maple leaf. Move along, nothing to see here...

[Otokonoyama]

:-D

http://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E3%83%9E...tart=0&sa=N

I love Japanese maples!

Edited December 16, 2007 by Otokonoyama

[Guest Sunibono]

Oh, and Tamanoshima followed me into McDonalds and treated his tsukebito to a megamac (you heard it here first).

Hehehe :-D

This McDonalds is such an useful place...loved to go there. You can see the Kokugikan while having a meal beside Rikishi :-D

Ah, the Becker's around the corner is good, too...we enjoyed poutin with Iwakiyama there a

few basho ago. It was great fun.

That Mega Mac is a handful, though. I can only imagine the upcoming Tamago version.

[Chisaiyama]

That Mega Mac is a handful, though.

For those of us stateside McD fans could you please describe a "Mega Mac"? Every now and then here in California they will

have a Mac Family promotion where they have a Mac Jr. only one patty but all the Mac fixin's and the Mama Mac (the original) and a Papa Mac with 4 patties 2 on top and 2 on bottom. Is the Mega Mac similar to the Papa or something different?

Sorry only slightly OT

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

Will they allow Asa visit Mongolia soon?

Asashoryu

[Hananotaka]

That Mega Mac is a handful, though.

For those of us stateside McD fans could you please describe a "Mega Mac"? Every now and then here in California they will

have a Mac Family promotion where they have a Mac Jr. only one patty but all the Mac fixin's and the Mama Mac (the original) and a Papa Mac with 4 patties 2 on top and 2 on bottom. Is the Mega Mac similar to the Papa or something different?

Sorry only slightly OT

A Mega Mac is exactly like a Papa Mac. A Mega Tomato is the same thing with one of the top patties replaced with a thick slice of tomato. A Mega Tamago has one of the top patties replaced with egg, a la an Egg McMuffin.

[Chisaiyama]

A Mega Mac is exactly like a Papa Mac.

Arigato Hananotaka san, I suspected it must be like the Papa. I miss those it's been several years

since they have run that promotion in my area. The Mega Tamago would be one of my favorites

if available here.

[Kintamayama]

No keiko at Takasago (rebuilding the dohyo) so Asa went to the local gym and worked out.

[kunroku]

Will they allow Asa visit Mongolia soon?

Well, according to the press report here in Japan on December 13, Takasago oyakata indicated that he will not allow his deshi to go back Mongolia, not until Asa complete the Hatsubasho tournament at least.

If this reporter believes Asa will surely attend the opening ceremony on Dec.22, it may cause a trouble.

http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/general/sum...050014000c.html

[Kintamayama]

And the Japan apology tour continues. Today, the tour stopped at Takasago beya's annual encouragement party where Asa apologized to his supporters. "There is no excuse for my being such a bother.. I will be re-gambarizing, so please remember me!", he said.

As for keiko, everyone is still on holiday, including Asashouryuu.

Asa entering the venue:

Edited December 19, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

In his after-banzuke interview, the focus of the press was where he will be for the holidays. "I don't know yet..", was the answer, the real question being will he be going back to Mongolia or not. "I will not allow him to go. The press conference didn't fix everything.. Let him do his 'work' at Hatsu, then we'll talk about a trip home..", said a very determined Takasago Oyakata.

[Kintamayama]

Kitanoumi has joined Takasago and said almost the same words regarding a possible Asa Mongolian holiday retreat. "He has to concentrate on the coming basho right now. This isn't a regular return from a kyujo situation, and until we see some results from him he should be focused on the mission at hand. He just got back from recuperating in Mongolia, and if I were his shisho, I would unequivocally veto a return to Mongolia at present".

Asa has voiced interest in getting a permanent resident status. He is in Japan for 9 years now, and 10 years is the minimum for applying for the residency.

[Kintamayama]

More about Asa's press conference:

Lasted only 8 minutes, aggravating the assembled media. The conference started off as usual, but after about 5 minutes and a few "bothersome " questions, Asa's demeanor changed and became more abrupt. "You guys are worried but everything is as usual..", he said. And then- "Is that enough? I have a wedding to attend!", and with that, he got up and left.

He also said it felt weird to see himself on the west side of the banzuke, and vowed to change that as soon as possible.. "I didn't see the last banzuke, so it's the first time I see this unusual sight", he said.

[Otokonoyama]

I wonder if you could expand on that a bit Nish. It may be informative or interesting for non-residents.

[Kuroyama]

Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence

[Kintamayama]

Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence

Reading these guidelines the article does seem correct, but am I missing something?

[Mark Buckton]

Reading these guidelines the article does seem correct, but am I missing something?

Varies A LOT. Some can get it in 2 years. Asashoryu could get it anytime he wants.

2 years sounds a little fast for anyone bar those with Japanese ancestry but they work through a different form of visa anyway - no working / specialist in humanities for them. (although a Ginza hostess did get her visa in record time about 6 or 7 years back - her client being an immigration official IIRC).

I have permanent residency - got it after 5 or 6 years - so 5 or 6 years ago now I think. No difficulties at all but lots of paperwork. I really think they want to be sure you have a solid connection to the nation rather than dish them out to any Tom, Dick or Sally who will vanish in the not too distant future. Certainly increases the job offers!

Asa is likely to be viewed as a special case - as wrong as that may be - but I have to disagree with Nishi that he (Asa) could get it anytime he wants for several reasons but the main being that his spouse is non-Japanese - a major factor (and link) to Japan he has to do without. With both being non-Japanese, there is nothing solid keeping hem here and they may be viewed as 'singles' - not that that is a bad thing.

In fact - I think Konishiki was the poster boy for immigration when I first arrived - but that may have been him taking the nationality and promoting that aspect of life in Japan.

Another factor is tax paid and records proving it - probably to show you are a bona fide member of the city / town you live in and are contributing to the place you want to call home - permanently.

References count too but I don't recall in what way and if the names offered were ever contacted.

[Kintamayama]

And the beat goes on.. Guess who decided to spring a surprise visit on Takasago beya and those within? Santa Claus? Yaku Mitsuru? Britney's sister? Nope. Ms. Uchidate, in the flesh. Asa, regretfully, did not partake in any keiko. "I've heard he doesn't do a lot of keiko but I thought he'd at least be here.. I thought keiko was a daily routine, but I guess not visiting the keiko-ba very often is the usual routine here..", said the cynical Ms.

"A Yokozuna has the responsibility of guiding the young rikishi, devoting oneself stoically to his job in earnest!", she said. And then she turned her wrath on Takasago Oyakata. "When I went to complain to him, all he could say was 'err... ummm..' and left.", she said. "I really don't know the reason for the Yokozuna's absence.. All I can say is that it is inexcusable of course", muttered the Oyakata.

Edited December 21, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Gusoyama]

I think I know why i don't like Ms. Uchidate. It's not her opinion, its her delivery. Too snarky. (Holiday feeling...)

[Washuyama]

I agree... There has got to be a fairly polite way to say "Get Bent.." in Japanese.. (Holiday feeling...)

[Kintamayama]

Some more details of Ms. Uchidate's tirade:

When she mentioned "stoic", she was referring to the return to the ring of Pro-wrestler Kenta Kobashi, one of the most famous Japanese wrestlers who was diagnosed with kidney cancer and left the ring around June 2006. He promised his fans he would return, and he did a few weeks ago, bringing tears to the 17000 fans who came to watch him. She was making a comparison between the two "returns"..

As for the keiko itself : "I've never seen such half-assed (OK, she used the word quiet but she was being diplomatic..) keiko in top class University sumo clubs.. ( Audience: "Aaahhhh..") Takasago Oyakata did not even greet me and vanished from the scene (Audience: "Boooo!!)", she said. To which he replied: "I think that was inexcusable, but I don't move around at Ms. Uchidate's convenience.. ( Audience: "Ooooooohhhhhhh..."). She came on a bad day.. (Audience: Laughter..)"

Uchidate has declared she'll be coming around unexpectedly again, and has urged the other YDC members to join her. (Audience flees in panic)

Edited December 21, 2007 by Kintamayama