Asashouryuu book out soon

[Kintamayama]

A new "tell-all" book about Asashouryuu will be going on sale on September the 2nd. It was co-written by Asa and a photographer friend and will include "his most intimate thoughts and accounts of what he really went through during his punishment". It will be called "Yokozuna Asashouryuu " and will be filled with private photos and interviews. He will be discussing his rivalry with Hakuhou as well. A snippet: "People only see a small part of you without knowing what you are going through and think they see the whole picture. They just decide stuff and write whatever they please.. There's too much of that going around.. I feel like shouting 'Hey!! Look at this side!! There is another side!!", he says. Regarding hinkaku: "I am not a hinkaku machine - I'm a human being. I should be able to say what I feel and air my thoughts. Am I wrong?"

Edited August 27, 2008 by Kintamayama

[aderechelsea]

any thoughts about an english translation? i guess not ....

btw .... is there any new sumo related books in english out there? Biographies or historical stuff in general?

[Musashoryu]

Yes....at times like this i wish i could read Japanese.....my library would be vast!.......i have seen the biography of Chad Rowan in english but i havent bought it as yet here is a linky

http://www.amazon.com/Gaijin-Yokozuna-Biog...7238&sr=8-8

[Asashosakari]

I dunno, a book like that seems like a great way to further erode what's left of the Asashoryu Fear Factor on the dohyo...

[ilovesumo]

Now that's a "wanna have".

[aderechelsea]

Yes....at times like this i wish i could read Japanese.....my library would be vast!.......i have seen the biography of Chad Rowan in english but i havent bought it as yet here is a linky

http://www.amazon.com/Gaijin-Yokozuna-Biog...7238&sr=8-8

bought that one a couple of years ago ... good read. Made me appreciate Akebono a bit more (only a bit though ... (I am not worthy...))

[Mark Buckton]

there are thoughts circulating regarding an English translation. If realised or not...... no idea.

[Sashohitowa]

"... what he really went through during his punishment".

It will be called "Yokozuna Asashouryuu "

It sounds like a big contradiction to me.

[Mark Buckton]

obviously ghost written (perhaps by Kazuko's ghosties), but I wonder if any other yokozuna have released a book during their career (as an active yokozuna)?

[Kintamayama]

obviously ghost written (perhaps by Kazuko's ghosties), but I wonder if any other yokozuna have released a book during their career (as an active yokozuna)?

AFAIK it's photos mostly and what is written is written by his photographer friend.

[Babaryutaikai]

It is NOT ghostwritten in some peoples' sense of the word and certainly not by Hosoki. I know the photographer, not to mention the yokozuna. It is a result of a series of interviews of Asa by the said photographer, Mr. Seiichi Nomura. The interviews were transcribed by Mr. Nomura and reviewed and proofed by Asa. An editor, just as with any book, then shaped it up. Just like the interviews in SFM.

In my opinion, it should be a coffee table book. The photographs are remarkable. Yeah, right, Mr. Toilet Paper Artist, there are a number of photos of Asa without his mage, buy they are all in Mongolia while on private business and they are absolutely gorgeous. (I always thought he was more attractive with just a Mongolian pony tail and his traditional Mongolian costume, anyway). Oh, and excuse me, there may be one or two with his mage down, having his hair soaped up by a tsukebito, in Tokyo. My heavens!!!

There are no plans for an English translation at the moment, but I will try. From what I know, there is a lot of his heart poured into the narrative. In any event, I cannot stop looking at it, and even without a translation, it is a keeper.

For anyone in the Tastuya bookstore in Roppongi Hills on Sept. 2, he will be signing the book around 5-6 PM. He'll probably be late:-)

Any Asa fan would want this book, Japanese, English or whatever.

[Otokonoyama]

As a lover of books, I for one, am eager to view it...

[Musashoryu]

Gotta get myself one of these books!

[Mark Buckton]

There are no plans for an English translation at the moment,

For anyone in the Tastuya bookstore in Roppongi Hills on Sept. 2, he will be signing the book around 5-6 PM.

I understand there are.

Perhaps this should read 'Tsutaya' - perhaps not, however, Tsutaya is a chain of video shops / CD with many a book also sold. Tastuya - never heard of it, although RH is so large it is possible of course. The name just sounds odd in Japanese.

[madorosumaru]

[Date & Time] 【開催日時】2008年9月2日（火）17:00～18：00

[Place]【会　　　場】TSUTAYA TOKYO ROPPONGI カフェスペース

[Procedure] 【参加方法】

TSUTAYA TOKYO ROPPONGI にて書籍『横綱 朝青龍』（ゴマブックス）をお買い上げいただいたお客様に先着で整理券をが対象となります。（整理券はなくなり次第終了となります。） (Purchaser of the book at Tsutaya Roppongi will receive numbered ticket for autographed book and handshake. Limited number of tickets. First come, first served.)

【購入特典】

サイン本＋握手

[information] 【お問い合わせ】

TSUTAYA TOKYO ROPPONGI　

TEL:03-5775-1515

[Pak]

I'll have to surf around after the book is released and try to find where to get a copy. My youngest son loves to watch Asa's bouts and he always has me do translations (very rough, given my so-so Japanese) of any articles in the sumo magazine that feature Asashoryu. If any of you in the know might have some insight of a resource besides amazon.jp that will ship to the states or the uk, or even the ISBN, please let me know -- I'd love to be able to get him this book for xmas.

Regards,

Peake

[Harry]

I take it this is the one:

Asa's book on amazon.co.jp

Details for those who want the ISBN and such:

価格： ￥ 1,869

# 単行本: 192ページ (pages)

# ISBN-10: 4777109674

# ISBN-13: 978-4777109678

# 発売日： 2008/9/2 (release date)

# 商品の寸法: 21 x 15 x 1.2 cm

Edited September 1, 2008 by Harry

[Pak]

Many thanks for the info, Harry! I didn't find it on amazon.co.jp when I looked earlier, but I probably fat-fingered the characters when doing the search.

Regards,

P

[Harry]

Many thanks for the info, Harry! I didn't find it on amazon.co.jp when I looked earlier, but I probably fat-fingered the characters when doing the search.

Regards,

P

You're welcome. Only the correct kanji for his shikona found it for me. Romaji (regardless of romanization) or the incorrect kanji (by mistake I tried 朝青竜 at first but it didn't work) will find some books about him but not this one or many others. Their indexing methods are interesting to say the least... With the correct characters it is at the top of the list.

[Babaryutaikai]

Thanks for clarifying the name of the shop for me, Madorosumaru. I knew I was typing it in incorrectly, but did not have further internet access until just now. And thanks, Harry, for researching the Amazon stock, which is something I could never do.

As for the English version, I know what I know and that's what I wrote. If there is a plan, other than my own personal one, that's great and I will be happy to see it come to fruition.

Irrespective, as I said, it is a beautiful book and if there is an English version, I hope they make that in coffee table size. And if it does come out in coffee table size, there will be many more photos, but that effort may be a while away.

Anyway, look for me on TV tonight - Monday, perhaps the 7 or 9PM news. (Neener, neener...)

[Harry]

You're welcome but you're right, 21cm is not yet coffee table size. I may get this one anyways. Not sure if by amazon or in person. Still trying to get the business trip to work this month...

[Kotoviki]

Harry, Pak... others

I will be happy to pick up the book for you and send it off.

I should be able to get them here out in the sticks in the suburbs of Tokyo ;-) We are country bumpkins but I should be able to round up the books for you all!

Just need a little time to get them wrapped and mailed!

Just contact me if you need some help. I love shopping, glad to help out! :-/

PS Harry, I'm holding out for your trip!

[Harry]

My office has mentioned it again. I'm trying not to get my hopes up prematurely but if not in time for Aki basho then sometime this fall they've said but I've heard it before...

Are you going to try and get a copy signed today?

Sorry, Babaryutaikai, I forgot to watch NHK news but perhaps TVJapan will repeat it.

Edited September 1, 2008 by Harry

[Kotoviki]

Sorry Harry,

I work from 9am til 9pm today (Tuesday) and I am out in the sticks...

No way to get there, the people will line up all day!

;-)

[Jonosuke]

I actually saw other pictures as well now and I think they are not as bad as described by Yaku Mitsuru as the pictures I saw are all tastefully done and beautifully captured.

Considering they are not shot in the middle of Ryogoku, we can't really fault Asashoryu on this.

However the publisher and photographer could have chosen more appropriate title as it is after all the book title is "Yokozuna Asashoryu" which implies Asashoryu's story and photos as public yokozuna. They could have something like "Asashoryu". A minute point but it helps as every Asashoryu's conduct is being analyzied and examined much more closely by media and public now.