Takanohana comes to keiko

[Kintamayama]

Takanohana finally showed himself at his newly inherited heya for keiko, for the first time since taking over. He wore a suit the whole keiko, which, of course, is highly unusual, to say the least. He intends to keep that up. Together with him, his first shin-deshi, Fujinaka, started keiko as well.

He led keiko for about an hour, overseeing some Makushita rikishi. He gave them "hot" advice, as it were.

During that hour, he called out 45 times, a rate of once every 80 seconds.( how's that for stats??)

"Don't let up with your power. Go all out!!"

"Don't grab just one layer of the mawashi, otherwise your opponent wll get away. Grab the whole thing!!"

"What you hate your opponent to do to you, do unto him!!"

He was really into it. He wiped his sweat three times.

He instructed Shindou from Makushita to do 30 pushups, since he was not pleased with his performance.

He drove in in his own car from his house, 30 minutes away from the heya.

"I'm coming to the keiko-ba in a suit", he declared. Although it is common to see Oyakata wearing trainers or jerseys or slacks (the paper calls it the "rough look"...)it is indeed very unusual to see an Oyakata overseeing keiko in a suit.

"If I don't appear serious when I am teaching them , deshi will not come", he explained.

He also showed how important his deshi are to him. He remembered Fujinaka's(the shindeshi coming from Boxing etc..)name and birthplace, and asked the press to leave him in peace for now. "He's a new deshi. He needs some quiet now," he said, using the "Taka curtain" that he used when he was active.

"As it was when I was active, I will be doing things in my own style", he added.

Edited February 12, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Zenjimoto]

The pink tie is a ... ummm ... nice touch! (In a state of confusion...)

[Kashunowaka]

The pink tie is a ... ummm ...  nice touch! (In a state of confusion...)

Well, if Roger Moore can wear a pink tie, surely Takanohana can.

[Zenjimoto]

Considering some of the HIDEOUS suits I have seen Roger Moore in some of his 70's films in, I would say for him the pink tie is an IMPROVEMENT! :-D Takanohana, on the other hand... (In a state of confusion...)

[Kashunowaka]

Considering some of the HIDEOUS suits I have seen Roger Moore in some of his 70's films in, I would say for him the pink tie is an IMPROVEMENT! :-D  Takanohana, on the other hand... (In a state of confusion...)

Everyone wore hideous suits in the 70s.

[Yoavoshimaru]

Still, I'd rather so Takanohana-oyakata wearing something that will let him get in the dohyo occassionally to teach by example.

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

During that hour, he called out 45 times, a rate of once every 80 seconds.( how's that for stats??)

Good stat. Good behaviour! Less silence, more active participation.

"If I don't appear serious when I am teaching them , deshi will not come", he explained

I think Nishikido's example would be much better. Maybe Japanese rikishi think differently but it seems far-fetched to say that a coach in suit is better option than coach in mawashi and teaching newcomers sumo in that way. Of course Takanohana has lost a lot of power and is a shadow but still could keep himself fit too by doing keiko against youngsters at least every now and then giving massive input to his deshi's development. Imagine doing yotsu against the best ever yotsu technician. Learning by doing in keiko and first steps in sumo under the guidance of yotsu-god teachers in mawashi. Even Akebono put on mawashi at some point and did some keiko with Takamisakari. Suit and keikoba is one odd combination. He'd appear much more serious with active role since he is still young and genki.

Coach in gym pants would naturally evoke irritation potentials in fashion humans' eyes but might be more comfortable. Suit is just a shell.

Rhetoric question is that why did Takanohana lose so much weight so fast.

[Kashunowaka]

Rhetoric question is that why did Takanohana lose so much weight so fast.

Since it is a rhetorical question, you mean you know the answer?

[Dejimasama]

Taka has so much style in everything he does. I hope we get to see alot of him as a shinpan. Sure do miss the hell out of him in the dohyo.

[Zuikakuyama]

That is a really nicely tailer suit.

Broad shoulders, narrowly tailored waist. Classic Italian design.

Yikes, I wish I could look like that.

[Naganoyama]

Yes Takanohana certainly wears his suit well, pink tie or otherwise.

Just a little thought. Do you suppose that he wears a suit just so that no one will expect him to participate in any actual fighting even just to demonstrate something?

I have no idea why he might not want to fight, short of fear that his reduced fitness from his heyday might make him lose a bit of face. Surely even at reduced horsepower, Takanohana is more than a match for his rikishi at makushita and below?

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

Since it is a rhetorical question, you mean you know the answer?

I believe I may "know" but it is just me (Applauding...)

Just a little thought. Do you suppose that he wears a suit just so that no one will expect him to participate in any actual fighting even just to demonstrate something?

I have no idea why he might not want to fight, short of fear that his reduced fitness from his heyday might make him lose a bit of face. Surely even at reduced horsepower, Takanohana is more than a match for his rikishi at makushita and below?

Or maybe a will to keep distance with "earlier" life with this new role as an oyakata and dozing shinpan. He seems to be happy with his new life based on his cheerful mode in public events on many occasions so he may be completely alienated from dohyo action already.

I wonder why wouldn't he do helping keiko against lower rankers and not full torikumi. I mean teaching some innate moves and ways to take the belt without any goal of winning the bout. Oh well, he is retired after all. It will be interesting to see if he is more modern kind of coach who believes more in interaction with deshi than authoritative command and discipline.