Quotes from Day 15 - Haru 2009

[madorosumaru]

Asashoryu: (Tipping his black hat to Hakuho) I have to admit the fact that he is very strong. I need to work my hardest to do well next basho.

More Ryu: (Pointing to his problem elbow) I had some stiffness and I couldn't bend it properly. I couldn't put any strength in it either. Too bad. There was nothing at all to complain about in the first half [of the basho].

Hakuho: (Asked if he should get full marks for the basho) Don't you think so?

More Hakuho: (Dominating despite a touch of the flu and a bum ankle suffered in the latter stages) On the contrary, [the physical problems] made me take hold of myself and allowed me to relax.

Mrs. Hakuho: (Visiting the arena with the kids) I was able to watch my husband calmly and with confidence. He had promised me a wedding reception when he reached double-digits in yusho, so there will be one held sometime this year. I am looking forward to wearing a wedding dress.

Chiyotaikai: (Losing abjectly to Kotooshu to set a single-basho loss record for ozeki) I guess I embarrassed myself as much as I possibly could. look at me and make sure to not let the same thing happen to them. [sad smile]

More Taikai: (Admitting to a painful oblique and high blood sugar count) I need to make changes starting with my eating habits. I'll just have to do the best I can [next basho] and if that isn't good enough, I'll worry about what to do at that time.

Kokonoe Oyakata, Taikai's shisho: (Discussing his deshi's future) Obviously, next basho is going to be extremely tough. All he can do is to get himself well physically and carry on.

Harumafuji: (Reaching double-digit victories in his second basho as ozeki) I still have a long way to go. I need to approach honbasho bouts with a much more confident attitude.

Kisenosato: (Disconsolate after losing 10 in his debut as sekiwake) That was pretty darn sad. I need to get started from the beginning again. Gawd, how many times have I been saying that? I guess I really have to pound that into my head and get going.

Goeido: (Assuring himself of Kise's sekiwake spot by winning his ninth) I was a bit nervous because I thought I may not get promoted if I lost. There shouldn't be any problem with nine wins, don't you think? I am going to shoot for double-digits again next basho.

Tochiozan: (Finally achieving kachi-koshi after being frustrated for four days) I stopped doing my own sumo [during the losing streak]. I'm glad I managed to get a win today.

Kakuryu: (Defeating Homasho in a battle of sansho winners and assuring himself of sanyaku promotion) I didn't plan the [winning waza] katasukashi, but I am glad it worked. [Gino-sho] is an award you don't receive unless you do really good sumo. I want to not forget what I did in this basho and do the same kind of sumo next basho--one bout at a time.

Homasho: (Receiving his second straight Kanto-sho) This is an unbelievable feeling. I am confident that my sumo will still be viable even when I am promoted a bit higher.

Toyonoshima: (Reaching kachi-koshi by pushing out Futeno on the last day) I had an injury, so I am pleased that I was able to achieve kachi-koshi. I really miss doing sumo among the top echelon rikishi.

Shotenro: (Unable to get kachi-koshi in his makuuchi debut) That was too bad. The long basho is finally over. Well, I was able to get seven wins after a 1-5 start, so that gave me some confidence.

Bart Sez

Baruto: (Maintaining his sekiwake rank with a last day victory) Somehow, I managed to defeat [Kotomitsuki] with my last ounce of strength. I am soooo tired. My legs are soooo stiff. This kachi-koshi makes me soooooo happy!

Incidents of the Day

Homasho won his third Kanto-sho for fighting spirit and Kakuryu his second Gino-sho for outstanding technique. As many already know, Homasho's mentor, Shikoroyama Oyakata, and Kakuryu's shisho, Izutsu Oyakata, are brothers. As such, the two rikish often spar together in practice and get along well off the dohyo.

Kakuryu: (After defeating Homasho with a nifty katasukashi shoulder press/swing down) Homasho-zeki and I are good mates. I intend to continue doing keiko with him so we can keep pushing each other to get even better.

Homasho: (Smiling broadly despite his loss) I'm really glad that we both won sansho. Maybe, it's a kind of fate [for us to succeed in tandem].

Izutsu Oyakata, Kakuryu's shisho: (Referring to the closeness between his heya and Shikoroyama Beya) This is a match-up that I hate to see.

Shikoroyama Oyakata, Homasho's shisho: (Agreeing with his brother for one of the few times in his life) Ditto.

In another battle of two close colleagues, Aoki won the jonokuchi yusho by defeating Takarafuji. The two had spent four years together as teammates on the Kinki University sumo team. In January, Aoki, the captain of the sumo club, joined Kise Beya, while Takarafuji chose Isegahama Beya. In their first basho on the banzuke, both finished with records of 6-1. In the yusho-decider, Aoki took charge, not allowing his opponent a mawashi hold, and won with a thrust down.

Aoki: I am very happy. We know everything in each other's bag of tricks.

Mr. Ito, coach of Kinki U. sumo team: (In contrast to the two aforementioned oyakata) I would love to see the two of them fight each other every basho as they climb up the banzuke.

Edited March 29, 2009 by madorosumaru

[roydrager]

Thanks very much for your translation effort this basho. It adds hugely to the enjoyment.

[Takamizakura]

Mrs. Hakuho is one patient lady to wait 10 yusho & 2 kids before getting her reception. Mrs. Kotomitsuki lucked out in that department!

[madorosumaru]

Hakuho is planning a wedding reception in Mongolia in June with President Enkhbayar a possible guest. His marriage was officially registered in February 2007 but his bride was pregnant with their first child at that time so there was no ceremony or reception.

Another celebration will be held in Mrs. Hakuho's hometown in Tokushima sometime later this year. She will apparently have ample opportunity to wear her wedding dress.

[Treblemaker]

Hakuho is planning a wedding reception in Mongolia in June with President Enkhbayar a possible guest. His marriage was officially registered in February 2007 but his bride was pregnant with their first child at that time so there was no ceremony or reception.

Another celebration will be held in Mrs. Hakuho's hometown in Tokushima sometime later this year. She will apparently have ample opportunity to wear her wedding dress.

Well, they better hurry up and get that reception over with before she's due again.... and again....

Apparently, Hakuho is quite the (to borrow an expression from the NHK announcers) "pusher-thruster" even off the dohyo.