Rikishi Talk Day 5 2008 Kyushu Basho

[Jonosuke]

Takamisakari (4-1) over Takekaze by yorikiri

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(Losing the previous day and coming back refreshed with a clean shave face)

"I looked pretty bad and my training partners all kept complaining how it hurt them."

Tosanoumi (4-1) over Koryu by oshidashi

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(Tying the eighth most Makuuchi appearance record by beating Koryu with perfectly executed sumo)

"Actually I am even amazed myself that I can display a superb sumo like this."

"I am jumping out of tachiai with a good posture and I am responding well to my opponent's moves. As well I can switch into offensive right away."

(On being the oldest Makuuchi rikishi at 36 year and 8 month old)

"Oh, I feel so young still."

Dejima (5-0) over Aran by yorikiri

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(No problem with Aran's henka attempt and making him look pretty bad by pushing him out with almost no effort)

"I was able to see his move well and I am moving well."

(Along with his heya mate, Miyabiyama, remaining the only two Makuuchi rikishi with no loss.)

"Well we have our new Juryo, Shotenro, with five straight win as well in our heya so we have a pretty stimulating atmosphere there. Bushuyama making Makuuchi gave everyone more motivation too."

(Reflecting on all empty seats in the arena)

"Back when I was an ozeki (from the 1999 Aki to 2001 Nagoya), we had so many spectators, overflowing to the corridors. When our shisho is working so hard to stem the negative tides, what all of us, active rikishi can do is to display exciting and good sumo for the fans with everything we have."

Miyabiyama (5-0) over Kasuganishiki by fusen

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(Having his winning streak intact after getting a fusen win)

"I am not in a position to say anything unless I get my Kachikoshi. I am just hoping I can go on with a good flow."

Musashigawa oyakata (former Yokozuna Mienoumi), chairman of the Kyokai

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(On his heya's Miyabiyama and Dejima)

"I must say those two old timers are doing so well. Well I guess it helps we are making them work hard in training sessions as they look like they are still moving decently."

Baruto (3-2) over Wakanosato by uwatenage

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(Even while getting pushed by Wakanosato, he knew he could overtake him in the end)

"I thought I had a bit more power than he did so I mustered all my energy I could generate at the end and went with a throw."

"But we are still early, we've got a lot to go so I can't relax yet."

Ama (3-2) over Futeno by tottari

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(Stopping his losing streak by latching out a Tottari from winless and clueless Futeno.)

"We had to do our tachiai again but I wasn't tense today."

"I've done a good workout in the morning and got myself psyched. I believe I will be all OK from tomorrow on."

Aminishiki (4-1) over Kotoshogiku by hatakikomi

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(Already getting his fourth win but not feeling confident)

"My feeling is I have to accumulate as many wins as I can while I can. When I analyze myself, in a case like this, statistically speaking, I will suffer something like three straight losses somewhere...."

Toyonoshima (4-1) over Kotomitsuki by katasukashi

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(Allowing Kotomitsuki to get the right mawashi but finding the perfect timing to deftly execute a Katasukashi)

"I had very little room to maneuver but I executed it with all I had."

(Now downing all four ozeki he faced to keep his one loss record)

"I feel a bit pretentious by saying so myself but I really think it's amazing that I did it."

(Winning 11 bouts in Nagoya by beating one yokozuna and three ozeki and even started aiming for ozeki but ended up getting Makekoshi last basho ranked at sekiwkae)

"I couldn't even manage Kachikoshi last basho and I was almost in tears from regret. Becoming an ozeki is my objective as well. I think as a Japanese yooung rikishi, we should be in the position Ama is in right now. We should not let him get promoted easily."

"But I know if I have to face my type of rikishi, I'd hate it too so I know what my opponents feel."

"When you get to face a group of ozeki first and get the wins in the first half, it will become much easier later."

Musashigawa oyakata (former Yokozuna Mienoumi), chairman of the Kyokai

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(On 171 cm little dynamo named Toyonoshima)

"I think it's a phenomenal feat for such a small rikishi like him to beat four ozeki."

Hakuho (4-1) over Hokutoriki by yorikiri

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"I wanted to keep myself calm and to go deliberately today. I needed to reflect on the yesterday's mistakes."

"So far I lost one already so I cannot say I have done really well. But I do have a strong feeling to keep myself in the yusho race till the senshuraku."

(Already getting 300th win in Makuuchi)

"Is that so? I guess it's pretty quick. But I'd prefer to focus solely on one single basho rather than having a long active career."

Record:

Tosanoumi - 1128th Makuuchi appearance (tying Tsurugamine, the eighth most in sumo history)

Hakuho - 300th Makuuchi win

Maegashira West 12 Kasuganishiki, 33. of Kasugano Beya has gone on kyujo from Day 5, resulting from a left ankle injury he suffered in his Day 4 bout against Tosanoumi. The estimated time of recovery is two weeks. His opponent on Day 5, MIyabiyama got a fusen win. This is 12th kyujo for Kasuganishiki.

Day 5 Admission: 3119 (the lowest number of tickets sold this basho, about 40% capacity)

Edited November 14, 2008 by Jonosuke

[kaiguma]

Record:

Tosanoumi - 1128th Makuuchi appearance (tying Tsurugamine, the eighth most in sumo history)

Hakuho - 800th Makuuchi win

correction?

Edited November 13, 2008 by kaiguma

[Shomishuu]

Record:

Tosanoumi - 1128th Makuuchi appearance (tying Tsurugamine, the eighth most in sumo history)

Hakuho - 800th Makuuchi win

correction?

Hakuho (4-1) over Hokutoriki by yorikiri

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"I wanted to keep myself calm and to go deliberately today. I needed to reflect on the yesterday's mistakes."

"So far I lost one already so I cannot say I have done really well. But I do have a strong feeling to keep myself in the yusho race till the senshuraku."

(Already getting 300th win in Makuuchi)

"Is that so? I guess it's pretty quick. But I'd prefer to focus solely on one single basho rather than having a long active career."

Middle finger mix-up :-( Nice to know I'm not the only one who never learned 10-key.

Edited November 13, 2008 by Shomishuu