KaioU

[Kintamayama]

"My Sumo was very good Sumo today. But will it continue? I wonder if another "me" will appear tomorrow", said KaioU after his 7th straight win today, causing the reporters to laugh loudly. This is his third career 7-0 start. In the previous two, he finished 13-2 with a yusho. The last time he had a 7-0 start was Haru 2001. His main goal now is to avoid injury. Before the start of the Basho, his Oyakata predicted a 12-3 record with losses to Wakanosato (who he beat today..), Kotomitsuki (Hmm....) and the Yokozuna.

His chronic hip injury is being treated with daily massages. "The pain is there, but I'm happy I am able to keep my hips low. I'm 31 and things are not like they used to be."

He does not go out at night during the basho, and is using an oxygen inhalation machine at night to improve his sleep and to fight off his general fatigue. (Probably one of those machines against sleep apnea that I should be using too already, darn it..) "I never believed I'd be winning everything at this point. My feeling and my physical condition can change quickly- tomorrow is tomorrow (meaning he's taking this day by day, I guess..)"

Although he is trying to lower expectation, the reporter feels U will be exploding on the dohyo in the remaining days.

Edited March 21, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Tumppi]

I sure hope he stays free of injuries. I had no idea it was only the third 7-0 start for him! (Blushing...)

I wonder how many he has started with 8-0? ;-) As Tosanoumi went down today.

[Kashunowaka]

I sure hope he stays free of injuries. I had no idea it was only the third 7-0 start for him!  (Blushing...)

I wonder how many he has started with 8-0?  ;-) As Tosanoumi went down today.

That was easy to check, since it must have been the ones he started with 7-0. ;-)

You can see for yourself here:

http://www.scgroup.com/sumo/Haru01/Kaio.html (lost days 13, 14)

http://www.scgroup.com/sumo/Nagoya01/Kaio.html (lost days 9, 15)

Edit: slight error in the article, since Nagoya 2001 is later than Haru 2001:

The last time he had a 7-0 start was Haru 2001.

Edited March 21, 2004 by Kashunowaka

[Tumppi]

Thanks Kashunowaka! (Applauding...) So there has been two 8-0 but only one 9-0.

[aderechelsea]

Great start for KaioU (why the English never pronounce the U in the end of his name ?) but his statements(along with his oyakata's) are not very optimistic.

Is he trying to throw dust in the eyes of his opponents or does he believe all this?

If he does it is not a good mentality to go on the second week of a basho.......

i guess now that he probably won't play with Kotomitsuki (i am not sure about that so please correct me .......) i guess his main opponents will be Asa and Muso.

[Kintamayama]

Edit: slight error in the article, since Nagoya 2001 is later than Haru 2001:

The last time he had a 7-0 start was Haru 2001.

No, slight error in the function that moves what I read from one part of my brain to the part that sends orders to write. And translate. It was Nagoya in the original.

To the lions!!

[Yubiquitoyama]

Great start for KaioU (why the English never pronounce the U in the end of his name ?) but his statements(along with his oyakata's) are not very optimistic.

Is he trying to throw dust in the eyes of his opponents or does he believe all this?

If he does it is not a good mentality to go on the second week of a basho.......

I'm not sure it is a bad attitude for Kaio actually. He and his oyakata surely know as well as we do that he tends to disintegrate under pressure. Maybe this is simply a way for him to feel that there is really no pressure, because it is probable he will crumple any day now...

[Manekineko]

(why the English never pronounce the U in the end of his name ?)

Actually, the U should not be pronounced... Japanese used to pronounce o-u combination as o-u, but in time it has became long o (in Romaji usually written with a macron, -, on top of the letter). So, although it is spelled Kaiou in kana, it is pronounced Kaio.

[aderechelsea]

(why the English never pronounce the U in the end of his name ?)

Actually, the U should not be pronounced... Japanese used to pronounce o-u combination as o-u, but in time it has became long o (in Romaji usually written with a macron, -, on top of the letter). So, although it is spelled Kaiou in kana, it is pronounced Kaio.

i have said this because i hear the Japanese announcer before the matches pronouncing the U in the end.......

i have always pronounced it "Kaio" because that's how i heard it on Eurosport since i started watching sumo ......

[Tumppi]

(why the English never pronounce the U in the end of his name ?)

Actually, the U should not be pronounced... Japanese used to pronounce o-u combination as o-u, but in time it has became long o (in Romaji usually written with a macron, -, on top of the letter). So, although it is spelled Kaiou in kana, it is pronounced Kaio.

i have said this because i hear the Japanese announcer before the matches pronouncing the U in the end.......

i have always pronounced it "Kaio" because that's how i heard it on Eurosport since i started watching sumo ......

Eurosport in what language?

[Asashosakari]

i have said this because i hear the Japanese announcer before the matches pronouncing the U in the end.......

The yobidashi and gyoji do seem to have a bit of a "u" sound in it sometimes, but I think that's partially acoustic distortion due to their high-pitched voices. The hall announcer (using a normal voice) is pronouncing is as a long o, in my impression.

Edited March 21, 2004 by Asashosakari

[Amanogawa]

(why the English never pronounce the U in the end of his name ?)

Actually, the U should not be pronounced... Japanese used to pronounce o-u combination as o-u, but in time it has became long o (in Romaji usually written with a macron, -, on top of the letter). So, although it is spelled Kaiou in kana, it is pronounced Kaio.

Right. We're taught to pronouce "ou ( in kana )" as "oo" which I think sounds almost like "oh" in English. We write "Otousan( dad )" but pronouce "otoosan". Sometimes when I need to write Shikona in romaji, I just don't know how I should differenciate the "o" - like Oginishiki from Onokuni? Or Terao from Kasugao...? So I'd always so much appreciate Doitsuyama's romanizing method.

Edited March 21, 2004 by Amanogawa

[aderechelsea]

Eurosport in what language?

Back then we only had English speaking Eurosport here but now we have a Greek commentator (who is annoying me with his ignorance.....).

it was pronounced "kaio" always.......

[Yoavoshimaru]

The oo / ou / oh is a troublesome area in that it's highly subject to local accent distortion. That's true for languages other than Japanese as well, so best advice is not to worry too much about it (Applauding...)

[aderechelsea]

no worries ........ just curious..... (Applauding...)

[Takanobaka]

(why the English never pronounce the U in the end of his name ?)

Actually, the U should not be pronounced... Japanese used to pronounce o-u combination as o-u, but in time it has became long o (in Romaji usually written with a macron, -, on top of the letter). So, although it is spelled Kaiou in kana, it is pronounced Kaio.

Right. We're taught to pronouce "ou ( in kana )" as "oo" which I think sounds almost like "oh" in English. We write "Otousan( dad )" but pronouce "otoosan". Sometimes when I need to write Shikona in romaji, I just don't know how I should differenciate the "o" - like Oginishiki from Onokuni? Or Terao from Kasugao...? So I'd always so much appreciate Doitsuyama's romanizing method.

I'd just like to point out, as well, that the official transliterations have changed over time for the 'o'. For example, my girlfriend's father's name is Ando, while my girlfriend is Andoh, while her younger cousin is Andou.

[Amanogawa]

my girlfriend's father's name is Ando, while my girlfriend is Andoh, while her younger cousin is Andou.

:-P

I really know how it feels.. and my family name is Endo or Endou or Endoh - or of course EndoU. :-P (Dribbling...)

[Naganoyama]

When I was taught Japanese, we used a system of Romanization known as 'modified Hepburn'. (There are other systems in use also) I suspect the oo, ou, oh, o with macron all arise in different systems. It is surprising to see them mixed up though. Also surprising to see the Kyokai apparently using none of them - Kaio should have some indication of a long o but does not.

[Takanobaka]

Another one I've noticed is that certain names the Kyokai is even inconsistent with between the websites and the actual programs. For examples there, I have programs where Asashoryu is listed as "Asasyoryu" and, more recently, where Bushuyama is "Busyuyama"....

[Asashosakari]

Another one I've noticed is that certain names the Kyokai is even inconsistent with between the websites and the actual programs. For examples there, I have programs where Asashoryu is listed as "Asasyoryu" and, more recently, where Bushuyama is "Busyuyama"....

As a guess, that may be because the website is for international consumption and thus uses the more commonly used Hepburn style (or a bastardization of Hepburn, if Naganoyama's post is an indication), while the programs at the arena are for domestic consumption and use (I suppose) Kunrei, it being the "official" standard and all...

[QttP]

Also on the subject of pronunciation: in Russian, for example, rikishi's names and technique names are pronounced differently than in English. Basically, every "sh" becomes "s" (Osidasi, Yoritaosi, Musasimaru, Asasyouryu). That fits Takanobaka's example. Some other consonants are affected too (Tiyotaikai, Yokodzuna, Tochiadzuma). Also, Dejima becomes Dedzima, but that's in part because the Russian language has no "J" sound.

Overall, it's very interesting, although completely pointless.

[Tumppi]

Tough bout for Kaio tomorrow as he has lost at least 3 times in a row against Kotomitsuki. If Kaio wins he should get a little more confidence.