Keiko news! September 2008

[Kintamayama]

Gazoinks!! Actual keiko news!! Wow!!

The Tatsunami Ichimon rengo-keiko was held today. KaioU is looking strong. He had 15 bouts against the likes of Hakuhou and Ama, going 5-5 against Hakuhou. Some strong yorikiri from his favored hidari- yotsu. "I'm in good shape since I'm training every day!", he said.

[Jejima]

Great! A KK basho for Kaio in September, and we will almost certainly see the 2009 edition of this poll. (In a state of confusion...)

[Manekineko]

KK? With two yokozuna variously exhausted/injured, Mickey passing stones, Kotooshu being Kotooshu, KaioU is a feasible yusho challenger!

[lone bush rolling through the Forum]

I can dream, can't I? Even though deep inside I know that good keiko => bad basho. :-P

[Asashosakari]

Great! A KK basho for Kaio in September, and we will almost certainly see the 2009 edition of this poll. :-P

Speaking of which, after 4 basho he has already exceeded the kachi-koshi expectations of 85% of the voters for the entire year!

[Anjoboshi]

Speaking of which, after 4 basho he has already exceeded the kachi-koshi expectations of 85% of the voters for the entire year!

Its now some years that I have the feeling that as long as people write something about KaioU retiring he'll continue and defy retirement. ;)

[Kotoviki]

Speaking of Keiko...

I enjoyed a nice morning of Keiko at Isegahama on Thursday, there were only two of us there, kind of nice..

Two of my favorites looked really good, much better than back in June. Tosahikari and Raiho!

Today was at a Koenkai session at Kasugano. I brought two friends with me and we were lucky to be seated at front by going early. The rest of the koenkai groups (one bus full from up in Kawagoe) and others showed around 0900 when the seiktori started their practice matches. There were at least 40 people there. It got a little warm.

Tochinoshin looked really good and was only beat after many matches by Tochiozan. As he got tired there were more but he looked good! Someone else who looked really good was Ri! He trained with the sekitori today (as he is the highest Makushita) and he really held his own and won many matches! Oyakata looked quite happy today as smiled more than usual I thought! He seemed pleased with most of the guys all morning!

I will write a bit more later and I'm uploading pictures. Took 1,100 today and somewhere near 600 or so Thursday.

I'm really excited for the basho now!!!

[Pak]

Speaking of which, after 4 basho he has already exceeded the kachi-koshi expectations of 85% of the voters for the entire year!

Its now some years that I have the feeling that as long as people write something about KaioU retiring he'll continue and defy retirement. ;)

I am glad Kaio did not retire. I have only been back watching sumo this year, and he has become one of my favourites. In the unlikely event he wins another yusho, I would certainly be happy for him. In the meantime, I'll enjoy watching his bouts. Now I will have to explore the sumo reference and see if I could determine who is the oldest man to win a yusho...

I know Asashoryu is still dealing with the injury to his elbow, but I had not heard of anything amiss with Hakuho. I recall reading something about his being tired from all the travel for the summer jungyo, but surely he has recovered from that?

Regards,

Pak

[Manekineko]

I know Asashoryu is still dealing with the injury to his elbow, but I had not heard of anything amiss with Hakuho. I recall reading something about his being tired from all the travel for the summer jungyo, but surely he has recovered from that?

Sorry if I mislead you, I was simply inventing reasons why KaioU could feasibly aim for yusho, and for that I had to hobble Hakuho somehow. (Weeping...) As far as I know, there is nothing really wrong with him. He is an expecting father (second time), but I don't remember that hindering him in any way the last time... (Bearded disguise...)

[Asashosakari]

[Hakuho] is an expecting father (second time), but I don't remember that hindering him in any way the last time... (Bearded disguise...)

Not anymore, actually; the child (a son) was born at 5 in the morning on September 2nd. 3060 grams at birth, smaller than his daughter last year.

Edited September 7, 2008 by Asashosakari

[Manekineko]

Not anymore, actually; the child (a son) was born at 5 in the morning on September 2nd. 3060 grams at birth, smaller than his daughter last year.

;-) OK, then the baby will keep him up at nights so he can't focus. I knew there'd be something! (Bearded disguise...)

Seriously - finally some good sumo-related news. Hakuho hopes the boy will grow up to be a third-generation yokozuna (his grandaddy is Mongolian sumo "yokozuna", as you know). I myself cringe at dynasties in general and sports dynasties in particular, so here's hoping the kid grows up to be a world-class musician, or at least a geek. (Weeping...)

[Arslan]

After being in Mongolia for jungyo Kaio was inspired by his Mongolian fans. (Bearded disguise...)

[Kintamayama]

Hakuhou went to Kasugano beya for degeiko yesterday-21 bouts, 20 wins, against the likes of Tochiouzan and Futenou."I'm pretty much in good shape now.My sumo has gotten better", he said.

[Kotoviki]

Obviously Hakuho is taking his keiko a bit more serious than Asa who was in and out of Kasugano in a flash today with only 10 bouts. He did win all of them but he looked exhausted after those 10!

Well, I was trying to post some of my pictures but I can't figure it out and I now have less than four hours till I need to get up!

Tochinoshin by far looked the best at Kasugano today with 18 wins. He did 7-0 till Tochiozan finally beat him.

Ozan had 12 wins and Futeno who was also there for degeiko with his tsukebito was at 9 wins. Others.. honorable mention.... nobody really stood out like Tochinoshin and Tochiozan really!

It is impossible to go to asageiko and go to work and try to write a report.. (Welcome...)

That is all I have now.. that and I'm still uploading today's 1,500 photos.. Yikes alive!

Good night!