Baruto Ozeki promotion

[Kintamayama]

Baruto and his wife Yelena Fujin - "I'm really happy - he won this basho, so it was brilliant! He is such a kind person.. He always looks cool!!", she said , commenting on his debonair appearance in full Japanese- clothed splendor, and in Japanese. "And Fujin means wife in Japanese - it's not my last name, you idiot!", she said to me. "When I was injured and down and troubled, and needed some loving care, and nothing, nothing was going right, she was there for me..", added the Baruto.

Baruto: "The guy behind me just gave me a wedgie.."

Wife: "Keep smiling.."

Edited April 3, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Jonosuke]

Three foreigner Ozeki all well below the 30-year-old mark, while the two Japanese are into the 30+. What will come of that ?

One 30+ will be gone shortly and the other you only guess his opponent's name on this forum, one of the below 30 will become a yokozuna and the other two will be 30+ ozeki.

[Asashosakari]

Awful tachi-ai.

Well, as another angle shows it's almost certainly because she had no suitable opponent:

[Achiyama]

Baruto trains to become the new yumitorikishi:

YMY actually holding him on his belly:

With the Red Sea Bream Snapper:

*******************************

As I see when Odzeki promotion happens the rikishi holds 2 big fish (I've seen such pictures of Kotooshu as well). Can somebody educate me "What is the meaning of this tradition?" Achiyama

Edited April 1, 2010 by Achiyama

[Kintamayama]

More stuff:

Dewanoumi Oyakata, one of the two delegates from the Kyokai who came to formally inform Baruto of his promotion, had some highly irregular things to say to him through Onoe Oyakata at the scene. "Sumo is important, but his private life is just as important, because everybody will be watching him like a Yokozuna from now on!!" - a warning, no doubt. In the past, Baruto was caught walking about town twice in casual dress and warned twice too. Still, during these festivities, it is not customary to bring up past indiscretions, but the "no more Asashouryuu" crowd seems to be prevailing at present. On his way out, Dewanoumi repeated his words to the reporters: "I wish him to make a great effort and aim upwards, but he has to put his private life in order as well, otherwise .."

Baruto was extremely nervous before the ceremony and managed to sleep three hours a night between senshuraku and Wednesday. He went to Kitanoumi rijicho and they came up with a simple speech. He was so nervous during the ceremony that he totally blacked out for a full ten seconds before he uttered the first word of his speech, and this, only after people there had to urge him to start.

Musashigawa Oyakata. "He should improve the powerful sumo he did this basho and not be satisfied with being an Ozeki and aim for Yokozuna - that is what I'd like to see. I hope he becomes serious and well-mannered and will be a role model for the other rikishi."

Tomozuna Oyakata: "I hope he will be doing sumo with the intention of becoming a Yokozuna. It sure would be nice if the promotion of the new Ozeki will light a fire under the butts of the existing ones.."

Kokonoe Oyakata: "I'd like him to become the the driving power behind the sumo world. He shouldn't be content with what he has achieved this basho - I hope he aims one step higher."

Dewanoumi Oyakata, his Ichimon leader: "Everyone has high hopes for him, so he shouldn't rest on his Ozeki laurels. I'd like him to aim one step higher. I am thankful to him for becoming the pillar of the Ichimon!!"

[ilovesumo]

Now is that BS again or true..........

I'd love em comments to be real. ;-)

Too much for today, going to bed..........

(May we adjust a new system please? Let's mark the April fools topics (by editing the title) the next day, not to confuse readers in future who come back and read the old stuff? This forum provides great info and the news men goofing like that kinda....ya know...makes it questionable.)

[Kintamayama]

Now is that BS again or true..........

I'd love em comments to be real. ;-)

Too much for today, going to bed..........

(May we adjust a new system please? Let's mark the April fools topics (by editing the title) the next day, not to confuse readers in future who come back and read the old stuff? This forum provides great info and the news men goofing like that kinda....ya know...makes it questionable.)

I like to keep you in suspense. but since you know how to look for the articles, you shouldn't be having any problems.

In any case, most of my posts are made up anyway.

[ilovesumo]

I do know how to, but there are others who might have problems. I am not always self-centered. ;-)

[Asashosakari]

Just to add, those unusual comments were clearly directed not only at Baruto, it was as much a warning toward his shisho Onoe-oyakata to show sufficient leadership to his deshi. After the disaster that Takasago's relationship with Asashoryu turned out to be, they're (unfair as it may be to Baruto) clearly concerned about preventing any possibility of having another loose cannon top star on their hands.

Me like. At least they're proactive about it this time around, and if Bart turns out to be a model ozeki (or more), these comments won't even be a footnote to his career.

[ilovesumo]

Ok, I went through the japanese online-paper's topix. Indeed、there are such comments. The tenor is - no more Asashoryu-like behaviour!!!

One topic asks "Is he a different type then Asa?"...not much of a relation between both cultures one would say, but as Asashosakari said, they fear the gaijin to be outa line and want to kick his butt right before he might do anything that wouldn't fit his new status. I remember years ago, Bart wasn't too happy to go with Onoe to form a new Heya in a "shed" and expressed that - no go for the Japanese....

Now everybody is looking foreward to the era of the white (Hakuho) and baltic Yokozuna - as the rivalry is important to "keep" Sumo interesting (in fact, there has to be much more interest if they wanna remain as they are... )

Was there any such stuff in the media when Osh was promoted? Not so much, right? As he is a quiet fellow and there was no fresh Asa-desaster left in people's minds...

Bart carries a heavy load now. The Kyokai agreed to make him the new happy face of Sumo, the friendly new image they need to boost the popularity.

He must be strong to make it to Yokozuna and remain one, just like Hakuho, his rival he has to fight all the time and beat him in about 50% of the cases. Erm, I don't wanna walk a mile in their shoes...

Good luck boys.

[Barang]

It seems that many people including me have high hopes of Baruto

[lenc]

Before any kind of Yokozuna run he should win his first Makuuchi Yusho.

Aren't getting the yusho and starting a yokozuna run basically the same thing. I mean you can't do one without the other really.

[Orion]

Before any kind of Yokozuna run he should win his first Makuuchi Yusho.

Aren't getting the yusho and starting a yokozuna run basically the same thing. I mean you can't do one without the other really.

No. We're thinking three basho in the future. Before you can aspire to be a yokozuna you already have to be a strong ozeki. Its dangerous to talk in this way about a man who hs only just made it to ozeki.

[Asashosakari]

No. We're thinking three basho in the future. Before you can aspire to be a yokozuna you already have to be a strong ozeki. Its dangerous to talk in this way about a man who hs only just made it to ozeki.

It's not like it's stopping the Japanese press; Sports Hochi already pushed the "can he make it to yokozuna after an unprecedented* two basho at the ozeki rank?" notion yesterday.

* In the six-basho era.

[Asashosakari]

It's a bit of a surprise... One expected Kise or Goeido, or perhaps one of a bunch of "potential" young stars to beat Baruto to the Ozeki Post. And from recent bashos, even going back more than a year, that well's pretty much dried up. Ain't gonna be another Ozeki promotion for a long time, based on the lack of continued successes.

You know, for somebody who was caught by the suddenness of Baruto's ascent to ozeki, you sound remarkably sure that nothing like that can possibly happen with somebody else. Considering the exact same stuff was written after Ama's promotion only a year ago as well (I'm not saying necessarily by you) - perhaps we all could simply take a step back and admit that predicting the timing of major promotions is almost always a complete crapshoot?

Edited April 2, 2010 by Asashosakari

[Harry]

It's a bit of a surprise... One expected Kise or Goeido, or perhaps one of a bunch of "potential" young stars to beat Baruto to the Ozeki Post. And from recent bashos, even going back more than a year, that well's pretty much dried up. Ain't gonna be another Ozeki promotion for a long time, based on the lack of continued successes.

You know, for somebody who was caught by the suddenness of Baruto's ascent to ozeki, you sound remarkably sure that nothing like that can possibly happen with somebody else. Considering the exact same stuff was written after Ama's promotion only a year ago as well (I'm not saying necessarily by you) - perhaps we all could simply take a step back and admit that predicting the timing of major promotions is almost always a complete crapshoot?

Agreed, Kisenosato could turn his mental issues and inconsistency into an ozeki run like Ama did. Ama used to take a lot of stupid losses, still has a mental block about some rikishi he faces. Kise has it worse and needs to get over it... if he is to move forward.

[Flohru]

Before any kind of Yokozuna run he should win his first Makuuchi Yusho.

Aren't getting the yusho and starting a yokozuna run basically the same thing. I mean you can't do one without the other really.

No. We're thinking three basho in the future. Before you can aspire to be a yokozuna you already have to be a strong ozeki. Its dangerous to talk in this way about a man who hs only just made it to ozeki.

Yes of course Baruto has to win his first Makuuchi Yusho, but what lenc IMHO meant, was simply that now that he is Ozeki if he just wins his first Makuuchi Yusho he will be on a Yokozuna run automatically.

And I don't think that you already have to be a strong Ozeki in order to become a Yokozuna. That's the Musashimaru-way but after all only one way of getting to the top. Look at our last two Yokozuna if you want to see the other: both started yusho-ing only after their Ozeki promotion and were actually promoted to Yokozuna rather fast, spending only 3 and 5 basho at Ozeki.

[HenryK]

I for my part do not consider Kisenosato a top prospect for Ozeki. From my amateurish observation he seems good at everything, but more often than not gets overwhelmed by the greater strength of Baruto and Kotooshu and by the greater speed of Harumafuji (and the greater both of Hakuho) -- and I do not see how this would change. Goeido seems somewhat similar, technically sound and quick (both with his feet and mind) and solid, but no truly outstanding Ozeki-type qualities.

By contrast to these folks Baruto always had absurd raw power. Without wanting to brag, to me it appeared just a matter of learning to cope with the speed and versatility at the top ranks and staying healthy to make it to Ozeki. Harumafuji's Ozeki potential appeared less clear to me, but he worked with great intensity and willpower on developing his own kind of speed sumo.

Among active Makuuchi rikishi if would place the highest odds on Tochinoshin to make it to Ozeki, followed by Kakuryu. But it seems most likley to me that the next Ozeki hasn't arrived in Makuuchi yet.

Edited April 2, 2010 by HenryK

[Kintamayama]

The Cheerful One:

[Asashosakari]

June 12 will be a big day at Onoe-beya as the stable will do something unprecedented and combine two reasons for festivity into one big shindig - not only will it be Baruto's ozeki promotion party, but also the official opening of the new Onoe-beya premises. The stable has of course been independent for close to 4 years already, but as various Nishinoshima photo series have attested to over the years, it's been a somewhat transitory existence. Now, no more keiko garage - a proper four-story heya has been under construction and will be finished by June. Already, concerned parties dare to dream big: A Baruto yusho at Natsu basho could triple up the reasons for celebration and turn the event into a tsunatori encouragement party, as well.

[Fay]

Former Sugita asked me for some Baruto pics, so I thought I could as well publish some in this Baruto thread:

[wanderer]

I for my part do not consider Kisenosato a top prospect for Ozeki. From my amateurish observation he seems good at everything, but more often than not gets overwhelmed by the greater strength of Baruto and Kotooshu and by the greater speed of Harumafuji (and the greater both of Hakuho) -- and I do not see how this would change. Goeido seems somewhat similar, technically sound and quick (both with his feet and mind) and solid, but no truly outstanding Ozeki-type qualities.

By contrast to these folks Baruto always had absurd raw power. Without wanting to brag, to me it appeared just a matter of learning to cope with the speed and versatility at the top ranks and staying healthy to make it to Ozeki. Harumafuji's Ozeki potential appeared less clear to me, but he worked with great intensity and willpower on developing his own kind of speed sumo.

Among active Makuuchi rikishi if would place the highest odds on Tochinoshin to make it to Ozeki, followed by Kakuryu. But it seems most likley to me that the next Ozeki hasn't arrived in Makuuchi yet.

For me Kisenosato still is a promising candidate for a good ozeki. He is still so young and been beating both Yokozuna almost on a regular basis (well, don't tear me apart for this little exaggeration). One thing is he was not intimidated by the Yokozuna.

It is true that I am getting tired of waiting for his breakthrough basho. For some reason, I keep thinking that something drastic has to happen in Kisenosato's life in order to turn him on. May be death of someone important (I don't mean that someone has to die), or unexpected romantic relationship, or something. Everything is there for him. It just seems he hasn't seen things through yet. Something is missing in him. Maybe some injury could serve him as n awakening call, or something. I don't know exactly.

In comparison, both Asashoryu, and Hakuho were already dreaming as if they were Yokozuna when they were Sekiwake. They had this agenda, confidence, and fire in them. They had no doubt that they will be Yokozuna. It was just a matter of formality for them.

[kawika]

It's a bit of a surprise... One expected Kise or Goeido, or perhaps one of a bunch of "potential" young stars to beat Baruto to the Ozeki Post. And from recent bashos, even going back more than a year, that well's pretty much dried up. Ain't gonna be another Ozeki promotion for a long time, based on the lack of continued successes.

You know, for somebody who was caught by the suddenness of Baruto's ascent to ozeki, you sound remarkably sure that nothing like that can possibly happen with somebody else. Considering the exact same stuff was written after Ama's promotion only a year ago as well (I'm not saying necessarily by you) - perhaps we all could simply take a step back and admit that predicting the timing of major promotions is almost always a complete crapshoot?

i agree, it only takes 3 basho at sekiwake to do it, and you can get healthy are put together a good run, with Asashoryu gone, there another win per tourney in your pocket, so it is do-able, and like Baruto, can happen somewhat suddenly. and just think if hakuho got hurt for a stretch, it would be wide open, someone like Kotoshogiku has the skill and young on his side, and i really like Goeido can put a good run together....

[kawika]

Yes, definitely, Kisenosato is a promising candidate for ozeki. he has the skill and size, he just needs to get over his mental hump.

[Washuyama]

with Asashoryu gone, there another win per tourney

With Chiyotaikai also gone, I think that kinda evens things out.