New Egyptian recruit- Oosunaarashi

[Asashosakari]

Don't get me wrong. That wasn't meant to be a criticism of you in any way. It was more a criticism of the NSK. He was no more a rikishi in this basho than I was.

Well, that's not correct either. Successfully undergoing the shindeshi kensa by definition makes a rikishi a member of the Kyokai. That's all the presence of a career profile reflects.

[Orion]

Don't get me wrong. That wasn't meant to be a criticism of you in any way. It was more a criticism of the NSK. He was no more a rikishi in this basho than I was.

Well, that's not correct either. Successfully undergoing the shindeshi kensa by definition makes a rikishi a member of the Kyokai. That's all the presence of a career profile reflects.

My own definition would be having his name written on the banzuke, which comes one basho after going through maezumo and being introduced to the public in the shinju shusse ceremony.

Orion

[Sashohitowa]

Successfully undergoing the shindeshi kensa by definition makes a rikishi a member of the Kyokai. That's all the presence of a career profile reflects.

Thanks, Asashosakari and Doitsuyama. This is answering my question. My understanding so far was that only th epresence on the banzuke is an indication for active career. (For example, the bashos as banzuke-gai of a rikishi are neither considered in the number of bashos in one's career, nor for the win-loss record. At least in Sumo Reference).

[araibira]

[Asashosakari]

Pic from a report in a local Yomiuri edition:

[Kintamayama]

9-13 today at keiko against mostly Makushita opponents. It is now official-his shikona is Oosunaarashi Kintarou. Another shikona that was suggested was Kinjitou (pyramid) but was abandoned as the shisho thought it was not "shikona-ish" enough. An "Al-Jazeera" TV crew was there filming as well. "I will be a sekitori in two years," he promised.

[araibira]

Oosunaarashi appears 2:25 in

http://youtu.be/ubcaMZONoVU

[Kintamayama]

Many articles in English today:

Here

There

And everywhere

[Asojima]

Many articles in English today:

Here

There

And everywhere

There were also a lot of articles in the Japanese on-line sports pages covering his first match. Unusual. He may become a media star.

[Otokonoyama]

[Manekineko]

I didn't know that "Totemo exciting deshita" (it was totally exciting) qualifies as replying in Japanese. ;-)

[Asashosakari]

In case we ever decide to figure out who the Kyokai officially counts as foreigners: According to a blurb in Nikkan Sports, Osunaarashi is the 173rd gaikoku-shusshin rikishi in Ozumo history.

[Otokonoyama]

[ronnie]

Was there a shimpan missing?

[Yubinhaad]

Was there a shimpan missing?

It seems mae-zumo matches are only worthy of two shinpan present, seated either side of the dohyo. As you can see, the head shinpan seat is vacant, and the two clipboard-wielding men in suits must be wakaimonogashira, who organize the mae-zumo matches among many other tasks.

Another key difference is the yobidashi - the names of the first two participants are called out in the usual way, but thereafter the yobidashi remain dohyoside, bobbing up and down in what I've long thought may also be a sumo tribute to the Whack-A-Mole fairground game.

[ronnie]

Was there a shimpan missing?

It seems mae-zumo matches are only worthy of two shinpan present, seated either side of the dohyo. As you can see, the head shinpan seat is vacant, and the two clipboard-wielding men in suits must be wakaimonogashira, who organize the mae-zumo matches among many other tasks.

Another key difference is the yobidashi - the names of the first two participants are called out in the usual way, but thereafter the yobidashi remain dohyoside, bobbing up and down in what I've long thought may also be a sumo tribute to the Whack-A-Mole fairground game.

Thanks for the info. Still learning something new every day!

[Otokonoyama]

[Torabayama]

NHK Radio report

[Kintamayama]

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/181777/reftab/36/t/First-Arab-sumo-wrestler-chases-glory-in-Japan/Default.aspx

[Washuyama]

http://www.arabtimes...an/Default.aspx

Surprisingly well written, which for the Arab Times is unusual.

[Orion]

http://www.arabtimes...an/Default.aspx

Surprisingly well written, which for the Arab Times is unusual.

It is a report from one of the regular press agencies; all the Arab Times had to do was print it.

[Asashosakari]

http://www.arabtimes...an/Default.aspx

Surprisingly well written, which for the Arab Times is unusual.

It is a report from one of the regular press agencies; all the Arab Times had to do was print it.

FWIW, the article is credited to one Shigemi Sato elsewhere. And I agree, very well written - not sure if AFP is always this good, but it's several cuts above the sumo stuff one typically finds written by Reuters reporters, for comparison. (Just my personal impression, no offense to any potentially lurking Reuters folks.)

[Kintamayama]

Oosunaarashi with Otakia Oikata and Gert Steven:

Edited April 17, 2012 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari]

Wow, I never realized that "Otake" and "Oyakata" can be spelled with the same six letters.

[Kintamayama]

Another clip, hosted by Damon Kogure, who speaks in English!!!!!!!:

Edited April 18, 2012 by Kintamayama