Kokkai Interview

[Hakuyobaku]

Hope this is not too outdated. Anyway..

I don't think the yokozunas could beat me

Kokkai reborn in Japan

26 year-old Levan Tsaguria (Kokkai) had the most successful basho in his career. He won a record 12 bouts and almost had a shot at the Emperor's cup. He also won the fighting spirit prize. We contacted him yesterday in Tokyo...[..]

Levan, what was the main reason for your success?

Since I came to Japan, I never felt this fit physically after I won juryo yusho. There was always some kind of injury bothering me after that, but now even the pain in the neck that I thought would always haunt me is gradually easing. I feel that I am in a great form. I had decent preparation prior to the basho as well, practicing with Yokozuna Hakuho, which helped me improve many things. Second important factor in my success was the change in my fighting style. Time came for thorough changes in my wrestling, as most of the rikishi picked up on my my style. I am glad that everything went well. Now I feel more confident on the dohyo. I think tis may be the time for new career highs.

Right after the basho, you received a fighting spirit prize. How did you deserve it?

I had a really good tournament, finishing with 12-3 record, while the winner, Asashoryu finished 13-2. Practically, I became a vice-champion. After every basho, a special committee gathers to award the prizes, which, apart from the Sumo Association members, incorporates journalists. Of the 21-man committee, 20 voted for giving me the fighting spirit prize. By the way, I would have still gotten the prize even if I hadn't beat Kaio on the last day, or so I was told.

12 wins is a really good score. What are you planning to do next?

Get higher and higher positions in the rating. The most important thing again is not to injure myself. For a professional sumo wrestler, the most important challenge is injuries. I plan to enhance my training, new tactic of mine demands this. Before, I was known as a rikishi who relies primarily on his strength. I have to polish out many things, but Osaka basho showed that I can do it.

Are you planning to visit Georgia in April?

It all depends on Tochinoshin, that is, Levan Gorgadze. If he is promoted to Makuuchi, than we simply won't have time for that, since we have a jungyo in Los Angeles. If he isn't promoted, than we'll be able to swing by Georgia for a couple days, but that is not very likely.

As we know, Tochinoshin is already guaranteed a Makuuchi promotion..

Probably. But the Sumo Association makes the banzuke, so you can never be 100% sure before it's out. So we can have a small party after it's out..

You have a chance to return to the Komusubi position. What do you think, will you get it?

The thing is, that for that they have to add one more Komusubi slot. Probably, they have to, because M5 with a 12-3 result and jun-yusho really deserves it. I am about 70-80% sure that I will get it.

What do you think about Levan Gorgadze? He won a juryo yusho, now he is all but promoted to Makuuchi..

Levan is a really strong guy. Powerful and a good technician as well. Here, in Japan, many think that he will have great future. Most important for him is to heal his lower back and not to get injured again. This basho he was fighting with a severy lower back pain, this restrained him a lot. This is why he only won 9, he could do better.

Probably, it's not too early to say that soon we'll see first all-georgian encounter, what do you think about this?

We are like brothers, but that's off dohyo. When we're there, all we think is to beat the opponent. This is how sport is. Up to now, I haven't had a chance to fight him, even in training.

As we know, there's a small Georgian community in Osaka, which support you every basho..

True, there are about 20 Georgian supporters and their Japanese friends who cheer for us every year. This year they were there too, and it's always pleasant.

What kind of press do you get in Japan after Osaka?

Both in Press and on TV, everyone notes that i successfully changed my wrestling manner and now it's more appealing for the fans. The fact that I received a prize is also an argument that everyone was pleased.

Emperor's cup was decided in a last bout between Asashoryu and Hakuho. You probably supported Hakuho..

Now it really doesn't matter, who I supported. The stronger opponent won, this I can say. Three-way playoff, that's what I was rooting for..

So you reckon you had a shot at beating the yokozuna?

That's all I am thinking of these days.. I came one win short, then you'd see a real Kokkai. I was in the best form and in such a mood that I don't think they could beat me. Sure.

© N. Neparidze. Lelo.

[messi19]

Why is the interviewer claiming that Kokkai probably supported Hakuho in the senshuraku bout? There was no way there would be a kettei-sen involving him (Kokkai) even if both Hakuho and Kokkai won their bouts on senshuraku because Hakuho and Asashoryu were 12-2 while Kokkai was 11-3 and one of the Yokozuna had to finish 13-2...

[Sasanishiki]

Thank you for the translation. I think it is quite interesting that Kokkai himself is speculating about the things that we speculate about on the SF. Will there be an extra komusubi spot, etc? I guess it goes to show that they are interested in results as well as executing 'jibun no sumo' (my style of sumo). On his style, it is good to see Kokkai become more technically proficient and that it is working for him. I feel quite an affinity for Kokkai as I look a bit like him when I am in a mawashi - ask Petr (the Kotooshu of amasumo)!!

[Kuroyama]

Why is the interviewer claiming that Kokkai probably supported Hakuho in the senshuraku bout? There was no way there would be a kettei-sen involving him (Kokkai) even if both Hakuho and Kokkai won their bouts on senshuraku because Hakuho and Asashoryu were 12-2 while Kokkai was 11-3 and one of the Yokozuna had to finish 13-2...

Same ichimon?

[messi19]

Possible, but then again part of why Hakuho lost the yusho was a henka from a wrestler belonging to the same ichimon. I would be surprised if a european wrestler took that much pride in identifying himself with the ichimon he belongs to.

[aderechelsea]

Possible, but then again part of why Hakuho lost the yusho was a henka from a wrestler belonging to the same ichimon. I would be surprised if a european wrestler took that much pride in identifying himself with the ichimon he belongs to.

probably not but when it comes down to 2 yusho candidates and one of them is from your Ichimon you probably have (and want) to support that one ;-)

don't forget the yusho-party when the rikishi from the same Ichimon are guests :-)

[Gusoyama]

Thanks for the translation, you learn something new every day! I thought this was very interesting:

As we know, there's a small Georgian community in Osaka, which support you every basho..

True, there are about 20 Georgian supporters and their Japanese friends who cheer for us every year. This year they were there too, and it's always pleasant.