Asashouryuu injured-keiko news

[paolo]

Asashoryu certainly needs to do good in Hatsu 08. But 12-3 will not be a problem, nor 11-4, or even 10-5. I make this guarantee - the Yokoshin will NOT make a recommendation for retirement if Asa wins double digits. They may make some snarky comments, but really, after the long (Kyokai approved) layoff, the minimum is 10-5, and anything better than 11-4 is gravy. Hell, 12-3 is Yusho territory.

Yes, but Asashoryu's first goal should be to make the pressure lower, and he should need a win or at least an outstanding result, that I am afraid he cannot achieve. I think that he can resist the pressure for a while, but not indefinitely. Some (possibly more than some...) snarky comments from the Yokoshin, as you say, together with other snarkier comments by somebody else in a good position ( Uchidate, the cartoonist, and so on) and of course by the press, could rapidly lead the pressure to an unbearable level, since there would be two more months before another basho gives him a second chance.

Don't you think so ?

[Bilu]

As much as someone half the world away from Japan can tell -

Asashoryu is in good form.

If Kinta-san would hold a 'Guess the Asashoryu' contest here, I would bet him to go 13-2.

Yes, he's returning, but..

- He has done more keiko than he normally does.

- He's in top motivation.

[HenryK]

Asashoryu certainly needs to do good in Hatsu 08. But 12-3 will not be a problem, nor 11-4, or even 10-5. I make this guarantee - the Yokoshin will NOT make a recommendation for retirement if Asa wins double digits. They may make some snarky comments, but really, after the long (Kyokai approved) layoff, the minimum is 10-5, and anything better than 11-4 is gravy. Hell, 12-3 is Yusho territory.

The expectations towards Asashoryu should be no different than to other Yokozunas. Once it becomes evident that he is unlikely to win another yusho he may be expected to retire. One single tournament, especially after such a long layoff, won't provide enough evidence for any such assessment. If Asashoryu performs way off-pace (e.g., poorer than 12-3), say, three times in a row, recommending retirement will start looking like a sensible proposition.

[Kintamayama]

"That Rabbi and the Priest joke never ceases to kill me..."

[philafuji]

Takasago calls Asa on his imaginary phone and tells him he refuses to let him go home for the holidays:

This may very well fall into your top 10 best captions of 2007,

[philafuji]

Hey look! Somebody put gum under this table!

Washuyama,

Nice work.

[Kintamayama]

Asashouryuu wanted to spend the New Year atop Mt. Fuji, intending to see the sunrise from there. "How high is it? How do you climb it? How long does it take? ", were questions he was asking today. But after he was told it could be slippery and dangerous at this time of the year, he changed his tune. "Maybe I should take a helicopter and fly over it..", he mused. "No way is he going to climb Mt. Fuji. It's not even keiko.. Helicopter?? He'll crash.", said Takasago Oyakata.

Asa trained with the Makushita and under guys at home today and had 16 bouts with them. His injured ankle is still bothering him. "I went to the doctor and he told me it looked much better. I won't be doing anything excessive, though..", said Asa. He was seen giving advice to the lower rankers, taking his time coaching them and trying to fight them on equal terms, doing actually what Kasugano said he expected a serious Yokozuna to do. He even brought up the rear of the suriashi "Conga line", right behind Asasekiryuu, shouting at him to keep his hips down.

[Mark Buckton]

Asashouryuu wanted to spend the New Year atop Mt. Fuji, intending to see the sunrise from there. "How high is it? How do you climb it? How long does it take? ", were questions he was asking today. But after he was told it could be slippery and dangerous at this time of the year, he changed his tune.

and if he doesn't know the conditions on Fuji - Japan's highest point - at the end of the year, he isn't the sharpest tool in the box.

In Japan how many years yokozuna? Every school kid in the land knows the height of that mountain and 'how' to climb it.

The 'official' climbing season is July 1 - end Aug IIRC but you can climb 365 days in reality - if you call it climbing.

I went up as far as #7 or #8 about 8/9 years back and got stuck in the outer edges of a typhoon leading to a forced decent - at around 1am - (we had been cleared to start by the weather / safety folk at about 10pm) but never did we feel in 'real' danger.

Wet and windy as well as a bit dark but it is more of a 'hike' than anything else.

Up again next morning under beautiful blue skies.

Now is snowy and probably not much above zero in the daytime but a few hardy souls will be there overnight 31st to see the sunrise -and presumably dreaming of hawks and eggplants!

[Fay]

"Climbing" the Mt Fuji isn't really a hard job, even in winter. It's not the north face of Eiger ...

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

This is getting more surreal by the minute. Climb Fuji in winter??? (I am not worthy...)

I think maybe he's been watching too much "Rocky 4"

In a typical snobbish attitude, you write that Asa wanted to be on of the mountain because you thought -maybe he's been watching too much "Rocky 4".

It would have been better If you check cultural background of that why Asa wants to see early morning sunrise on top of highest mountain in first morning of new year.

This is tradition that most men in Mongolia do go to top of the nearest mountain and watch first sunrise of first morning of new year.

typical picture of new year morning in Mongolia

If Asa allowed to go Mongolia, he will be among them to watch first sunrise of New Year. That is believed to be good for one's fresh start in the New year

Edited December 28, 2007 by Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

Asashouryuu wanted to spend the New Year atop Mt. Fuji, intending to see the sunrise from there. "How high is it? How do you climb it? How long does it take? ", were questions he was asking today. But after he was told it could be slippery and dangerous at this time of the year, he changed his tune.

and if he doesn't know the conditions on Fuji - Japan's highest point - at the end of the year, he isn't the sharpest tool in the box.

In Japan how many years yokozuna? Every school kid in the land knows the height of that mountain and 'how' to climb it.

Your post doesn't make you sharp either. Actually who cares if it is difficult or not. One thing which is difficult for you can be not that difficult for others.

I guess Asa still have his mongolian rituals, his family tradition of climbing nearest mountain top to meet new day of new year. As we know he can not go back Mongolia, so naturally Asa is thinking about climbing on Fujiyama ....

[Mark Buckton]

I guess Asa still have his mongolian rituals, his family tradition of climbing nearest mountain top to meet new day of new year. As we know he can not go back Mongolia, so naturally Asa is thinking about climbing on Fujiyama ....

But after he was told it could be slippery and dangerous at this time of the year, he changed his tune. "Maybe I should take a helicopter and fly over it..", he mused.

How much of a ritual is boarding a helicopter? And there are several other 'yama' nearer to Tokyo than Fuji although not that high.

Takao / Mitake / Yamanote etc.

I'll bet Kintamayama knows a few others too - shudder to think!

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

How much of a ritual is boarding a helicopter? And there are several other 'yama' nearer to Tokyo than Fuji although not that high.

Takao / Mitake / Yamanote etc.

I'll bet Kintamayama knows a few others too - shudder to think!

I just wrote what I think.

ritual ?? xmmmmmmmm ritual not that complicated, it is just to watch sunrise. good for the soul . that is all.

I guess FUJI yama is Asa amibition (I am not worthy...)

[Kintamayama]

I'll bet Kintamayama knows a few others too - shudder to think!

The most famous one- Kintama Yama.

[Washuyama]

I'll bet Kintamayama knows a few others too - shudder to think!

The most famous one- Kintama Yama.

But I seriously doubt you would like 'Shoryu to climb THAT mountain.. (I am not worthy...) ;-)

[Kintamayama]

Kintamayama is located in Gunma-ken.

[kaiguma]

This is getting more surreal by the minute. Climb Fuji in winter??? :-O

I think maybe he's been watching too much "Rocky 4"

In a typical snobbish attitude...

Please I beg of you, stop psychoanalyzing everyone who dares criticize Asashoryu! Nishinoshima is also just "writing what he thinks."

Fact is, being warned by Takasago how it might be slippery, and then backing down from the idea is just a silly mini-drama milked by a hungry media. It's about as significant as the two discussing how good the chanko was yesterday! B-)

What we are really seeing is an over-protective oyakata willing to take no chances with semi-dangerous circumstances leading up to Asa's returning basho. The attitude is "why take even the slightest risk right now?"

Remember even Hakuho messed up his "unconventional training", climbing temple stairs, and broke his toe. A simple mistake like that would seriously damage Asashoryu's career right now and would certainly lead to his retirement. Subconsciously or consciously, this is still on everyone's mind.

[Kintamayama]

Last day of keiko of the year - light stuff with the lower rankers, 11 bouts. and a promise to have his best ever year next year. He is reportedly going to a Hokkaido onsen for his holidays.

His personal manager forgot to wake him, so he arrived late at around 9:20. He received an early New Year's present form the okamisan. "I'm a bit happy but I'm embarrassed", he smiled.

Asa giving the cameraman a look and telling him to get out. I don't know when that happened since it isn't mentioned in the article, so I wonder what the relevance here is..

Edited December 29, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

A bit more on the final keiko of the year. Takasago decided to end the keiko earlier than usual, as everyone was headed home or somewhere else for the holidays and preparations were necessary. Takasago announced the end of the keiko session, and suriashi commenced. That's when Asa arrived. "Sorry shisho-my manager (and driver) overslept, so I was late", he explained. Takasago re-opened the session, and Asa did some warming up and had some bouts with the lower rankers for about 10 minutes, ending the session at 10 am instead of the planned 9:30.. During the workout , he did squats with a 30 kilo sandbag in his hands. He then handed the sandbag to two tsukebito to try. "Heavy, huh?? ", he asked.

"Let's not make a big thing out of his being late. The Yokozuna closed the session, so let's look at the bright side..", said Takasago. Behind the boss' back, some deshi looked miffed, pissed and clouded.

Reporters asked Asa if what he went through this last year was a good learning experience. "Learning experience?? More like entrance exams to college..", he retorted.

Tardy but late - Asa arrives at the heya:

Edited December 30, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Asashouryuu addressing the heya - "It's been a cloudy year, I hope the next year will be sunny".

What he really said was:

Asa:"And then we managed to catch a fish about this big!!".

Oyakata: "Naaah, come on, you're exaggerating..It was maybe THIS big.."

[Washuyama]

Performing their new single "You Light Up My Life"... Due out in stores next week..

[philafuji]

Performing their new single "You Light Up My Life"... Due out in stores next week..

It appears Washuyama is giving Kintamayama a run for his money on the caption for this post.

[Ossetian Yokozuna]

They are muslims or fishhunters.

[Kintamayama]

Mongolia, Mt. Fuji, Hokkaido - and in the end, it's Okinawa. He was spotted yesterday boarding a plane for Okinawa. He will stay at a hotel that has good training facilities and will try to stay in shape while he's there till he restarts keiko at Takasago.

[slt]

Sounds pretty good - training, no big media fuss (unless of course he decides it's a good idea to color his hair green for New Year's or somesuch), hopefully we can have a few days of peace from the Asa-drama...

This coming basho is slow in the coming - I haven't quite understood, by the way, why the banzuke was announced so much earlier this time ; isn't two weeks the usual timing, give or take a day ?