Oban de gozaimasu

[Guest shimagaijimoto]

Hello all. I have watched this forum for some time because I really enjoy learning more about this sport/tradition. I must admit I am a fairly passive sumo enthusiast. I have never been to a tournament but I have been to the Ryogikan(?) in tokyo. I read everything I can about the sport but I can never seem to remember any of the names save a couple (also keeps me from learning this language very quick). I watch sumo on NHK when they have a basho and I have been known to jump up and cheer or clap to the surprise of the women in the room. I didnt watch any sumo when Asazilla was suspended because it didnt seem right. That being said... My favorite rikishi was Tochiozuma and Iwakiyama but Zuma had his hair cut and Iwakiyama has been slipping down the ranks. Of course I really like Asazilla, I think he is my favorite as of lately and I hope he stomps the golden boy Hakuho this tournament. I basically like all but as I said I can usually never place a name to a body. I have hopes of attending a basho but the dad says that when you go all you really do is get really drunk and then you dont notice the sumo. We'll see. Hello everybody. I hope that I can continue to learn more from ya all.

[Sasanishiki]

It is the Kokugikan in Ryogoku, but I quite like your contraction of the two. It sums them up nicely in one package

[Bealzbob]

Welcome. It is surprising when you start to watch regularly how you start to be able to recognise one rikishi from the other. I'm relatively new to sumo too and at the start I only knew very few by their face (apart from the obvious individuals like Kotooshu), but now I reckon I have the makuuchi division figured out. I wouldn't be able to recognise most of the juryo rikishi by their faces though ;-)

Edited March 13, 2008 by Bealzbob

[Tikozan]

(Clapping wildly...) to the forum and greetings from Germany (Clapping wildly...)