Asashouryuu in Mongolia after intai

[Kintamayama]

Asashouryuu has landed in Mongolia and held a press conference. "I don't want to bad -mouth the Kyokai, but they had a lot of unsuitable demands..", he said."I definitely did not attack anyone!", he added, alluding to the alleged assault that ultimately led to his retirement. Asked about his future plans, he said he had none at this time, dispelling the rumors of his entering any martial arts organizations in the near future. He did emphasize, however, that he does not regret retiring.

Wearing a black Mongolian national costume and with mage, smiling occasionally, he answered questions fielded by the assembled 100 -strong reporters, but did not respond to any Japanese reporters.

Edited March 11, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Barang]

I would not be surprised if Asashooryuu enters to Mongolian politics.

[Fay]

I would not be surprised if Asashooryuu enters to Mongolian politics.

Oh, oh, a bloody nose for DAVAA Batbayar, former Kyokushuzan, is conceivable

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(I am not worthy...) joke, joke joke

[Asafan]

I would not be surprised if Asashooryuu enters to Mongolian politics.

Oh, oh, a bloody nose for DAVAA Batbayar, former Kyokushuzan, is conceivable

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.

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(Showing respect...) joke, joke joke

Asa will jump over him and go directly to presidency !

joke, joke, joke ! ;-)

[Kintamayama]

"I'm only human. There were things that I wanted to do my way. I wanted to make Mongolia famous around the world, so I put up with a lot of stuff.. I want a Mongolian to break the yusho record. I kept going under pressure just so some of the Japanese media guys can earn their living.. Now, I have no interest in Sumo. I've got the danpatsushiki in October, and after that-freedom!" Asked if he intends to turn to acting, judo, or martial arts, he answered: "None of the above. I have not decided yet. The only experience I have is with Sumo so I'll have to study other things and devote myself to my country. I will like to make the children's dream come true!"

Japanese reporters were told their questions will not be answered. "We're in Mongolia, so there's no point in asking and answering in Japanese," was the reason given.

Edited March 11, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Yaku Mitsuru, outside prevention convention member and Asashouryuu critic, after hearing Ex-Asa had complaints about how he was treated. "He's a total idiot, I think. He still has the danpatsushiki and obligations to the Kyokai so he should be careful with what he says. Does he not realize how much the Kyokai had been protecting him and taking care of him? He says the assault never took place? Then he should explain in detail what DID happen and what the details of the settlement with the victim were. It's not enough to say 'it didn't happen' and move on.. He said he intends to go with martial arts and maybe he's already in that mood, but he has to understand that every remark he makes can complicate Japan-Mongolian relations. He wasn't forced to retire-he is reaping the seeds that he himself has sewn and that was the reason for his intai, and THAT is what he should be telling the Mongolian people!"

A Kyokai riji: "It looks like he's spitting in the well he used to drink from (different idiom with kicking sand but you get the picture..). This will surely influence the danpatsushiki. Although he is a retired rikishi, but saying things at a press conference that he hasn't said to the Kyokai is a problem." His mouth may yet cost him 100 million yen, says the reporter.

"I may go into politics, business or martial arts. There are many things I would like to try," Asashouryuu said as well.

Edited March 11, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

And now, the press conference transcript, Japanese version:

Japanese reporter : Back in Mongolia for the first time after your intai...

A: Since we're in Mongolia today, I will only answer Mongolian's questions. I decline to answer questions in Japanese.

Q: Your feelings regarding Japanese sumo?

A: Looking back now, great memories. But, although I do not wish to insult anyone, there were a lot of unreasonable demands made of me. I am a human too, so there were things I wanted to do my way.

Q:What do you have to say about the NSK?

A: I was a member of the NSK so I'm in no position to complain about them. They have their strict rules, and they have to be adhered to. I have no complaints regarding the punishment, so I am not depressed. Still, I'm only 29, and not to mention Taihou's 32 yushos, I am sure I could have had more than 30. (some say he mentioned this as Mongolian newspapers were saying the Kyokai 'got rid' of him so he wouldn't break Taihou's record..)

Q: What about the assault?

A: The reports that I broke someone's nose are untrue.

Q: Has your family met you?

A: I really wanted to see my kids..

Q: Future plans?

A: I don't feel like watching sumo at the moment. I'd like to dabble in business, martial arts, politics - all kinds of stuff.. There is a possibility that I will be entering a world without sumo so I will be studying many things.

[ryafuji]

What IMO is the most interesting quote from the conference hasn't been mentioned here yet: " ''It's an undeniable fact that there were people who tried to kick me out of the sumo world." I guess he means people within the Kyokai?

http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/i...?storyid=490017

[kawika]

"Japanese reporters were told their questions will not be answered. "We're in Mongolia, so there's no point in asking and answering in Japanese," was the reason given."

I like that. When in Mongolia.....

[ilovesumo]

"Japanese reporters were told their questions will not be answered. "We're in Mongolia, so there's no point in asking and answering in Japanese," was the reason given."

I like that. When in Mongolia.....

Yup. How could they even try? I'd see that as an insult as well.

[Fay]

"Japanese reporters were told their questions will not be answered. "We're in Mongolia, so there's no point in asking and answering in Japanese," was the reason given."

I like that. When in Mongolia.....

Yup. How could they even try? I'd see that as an insult as well.

Sorry, it's more an insult from Asashoryu in my opinion. If it's an open press conference there is no justification to answer only mongolian questions. He could have answered their questions in mongolian so it would have been their problem to translate. But this way it's just ridiculous.

[Asafan]

"Japanese reporters were told their questions will not be answered. "We're in Mongolia, so there's no point in asking and answering in Japanese," was the reason given."

I like that. When in Mongolia.....

Yup. How could they even try? I'd see that as an insult as well.

Sorry, it's more an insult from Asashoryu in my opinion. If it's an open press conference there is no justification to answer only mongolian questions. He could have answered their questions in mongolian so it would have been their problem to translate. But this way it's just ridiculous.

I naively thought that one is free to answer or not to any question of any reporter even without any justification. Asa has been so harrassed by the japanese press that I can understand his statement here. Why would he help them to do their job ?

[Fay]

"Japanese reporters were told their questions will not be answered. "We're in Mongolia, so there's no point in asking and answering in Japanese," was the reason given."

I like that. When in Mongolia.....

Yup. How could they even try? I'd see that as an insult as well.

Sorry, it's more an insult from Asashoryu in my opinion. If it's an open press conference there is no justification to answer only mongolian questions. He could have answered their questions in mongolian so it would have been their problem to translate. But this way it's just ridiculous.

I naively thought that one is free to answer or not to any question of any reporter even without any justification. Asa has been so harrassed by the japanese press that I can understand his statement here. Why would he help them to do their job ?

Sure he is free to say no comment to all questions he doesn't want to answer, but to exclude japanese reporters from the beginning is bad style - well only my opinion of course.

[Asafan]

Yes. I admit it has a little taste of revenge, but it is quite understandable - only in my opinion, of course (Sign of approval...)

[ilovesumo]

Yes. I admit it has a little taste of revenge, but it is quite understandable - only in my opinion, of course (Sign of approval...)

not only a little taste. It's more a taste like telling them to leave him the **** alone, now that they finally succeeded in forcing him out. -and the quotes above made me think that he feels like that.

IMHO

[Fay]

Come on, Asa is not a victim of the evil Kyokai or the evil japanese press. It really wasn't so that he helplessly stood by all the time and waited for his destiny like a rabbit facing the snake.

[Pippooshu]

I'm so sorry about this bad touch of Asa's style. I'm little agree with his rage and I think in the Kyokai there were exagerated ultra-ortodoses guys but not only them! There are gentle guys also and he understands this. To exclude the jap reporters is horrible. He lives in Japan also. He is a rich man for Japan's love and Japan's press.

Big calm, Asa...more calm...

[Barang]

Good lesson for japanese press. They have done so muck mis-justice for him. Now is time for payback.

[wanderer]

He did not exclude Japanese press. Actually Japanese press is printing his interview etc everything. I am reading many complaints from Mongolian media though that many of the Mongolian reporters were left outside for some reason. There was absolutely no discrimination based on nationality. One paper even says the following:

"Japanese press was free to move in and out while our own enthusiastic reporters were being blocked by Asashoryu's big bouncers. We just wanted to see our hero. Why Mongolians have to be second rate citizens on their own soil!"

Mongolia is a free country and reporters have a right to ask and the person has a right to not answer. Simple is that. Questions from Mongolian reporters were not that warm either. They were provocative enough.

I don't see how he misbehaved here. He said what he thinks. I see no reason for him to lie about his feelings in order to not offend Japanese. If he loses 3 million $ because of what he said, that is his problem. Mongolians are entitled to ask and hear what Asashoryu thinks.

[Tamaikazuchi]

Spitting in the well he used to drink from.....

I like that.

[HenryK]

Spitting in the well he used to drink from.....

I like that.

I'd rather say that he provided a lot of water for well from which a lot of people drank. Now that he is gone a draught is threatening.

Interesting that post-sumo Asa generates more interest here than the upcoming basho.

Edited March 12, 2010 by HenryK

[Asashosakari]

Interesting that post-sumo Asa generates more interest here than the upcoming basho.

Why, are there normally large amounts of posts and speculations about an upcoming tournament? I don't recall that.

[01010101]

You are right, nothing to discuss but Asashoryu as usual.

[Kintamayama]

The Mongolian President has refused to meet with Asashouryuu, sending his deputy instead. After watching the press conference, he decided meeting him could "fan anti-Japanese feelings", as his people put it. Another speculation is that Asa was an avid supporter of the former President, so that may also have played a part.

Musashigawa rijicho was angry as well. "He shouldn't have said that. He himself owned up to what he did and retired.."

[ryafuji]

He did not exclude Japanese press.

He didn't exclude them, no. And no-one has said that. But he refused to answer any of their questions.