Persistence Watch - 2016 edition

[Rocks]

12 hours ago, Morningstar said:

But, from past experiences participating in youth sports organizations I expect he is going though the motions due to family pressure. I often see this with fathers trying to relive their glory days though their son's.

 

I'm pretty sure they interviewed the parents at his first physical exam and they said they thought he was bettered suited to be a gyoji or a hairdresser. 

[Akinomaki]

A long article about him with many pics, most as a gallery of Hattorizakura "winning against himself" on day 13: http://withnews.jp/article/f0160925001qq000000000000000W03w10101qq000014068A

Maybe he simply loves sumo - Shikihide keeps calling for all those to join his heya

Edited October 2, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Harry]

18 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

A long article about him with many pics, most as a gallery of Hattorizakura "winning against himself" on day 13: http://withnews.jp/article/f0160925001qq000000000000000W03w10101qq000014068A

Maybe he simply loves sumo - Shikihide keeps calling for all those to join his heya

@Asashosakaripointed me at this thread about when he joined and it turns out that indeed he did enter because he loves sumo but he had to drink 2L (2kg) of water just to make the minimum weight for entry and it seems he may have actually lost weight since joining. He hurt his neck at some point so he is afraid to actually try to win, worrying about what will happen if he actually gets thrown down or off the dohyo with force. Not sure who is forcing him to continue. As mentioned above, his parents think he'd be more suited to being a gyoji or yobidashi and I agree.

 

Edited October 3, 2016 by Harry

[Akinomaki]

5 hours ago, Harry said:

he did enter because he loves sumo

Not sure who is forcing him to continue.

Nobody. The astounding thing is that he still loves sumo - after one year of complete failure, saying: "Stepping onto the dohyo of a main basho like this is fun." Without batting an eye he admitted about the terror he felt when he had to face Kinjo. The oyakata calls him the weakest in jonokuchi, but praises that he overcame his fear and managed to at least start the bout properly on day 13: "When I told him 'If you do a sumo like that (day 3) again, I'll have you go kyujo', he pledged 'I won't ever do such sumo again!'" "He's matured compared to last year. I want him to go for the next challenge." http://withnews.jp/article/f0160925001qq000000000000000W03w10101qq000014068A

I'm sure he'll love Eddie the Eagle, the film starts in Japan just before the next basho.

Edited October 3, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Harry]

@Akinomakithe quoting feature seems confused but to reply...

Are jonokuchi rikishi allowed to go out and watch a movie? I sure hope so.

I'm glad it is fun for him to step onto the dohyo. Still amazed that he wants to continue and wish there was some way for him to at least have a proper sumo match in jonokuchi but that might be asking too much.

[Akinomaki]

Not only Nishikido, also an article about Hattorizakura vs. Kinjo in the weekly Shincho. http://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2016/10150559/?all=1

Hattori's mother got interviewed: "I want you to know, he's not doing it on purpose."

"He told me after the bout: 'I never dreamed my body would react like that. Mom, I'm frustrated.'"

"This child is what's called an otaku who thoroughly checks the net and already in primary school had a stiff neck and shoulders from it. This time when he checked about Kinjo, he got from the net 'national juniors runner-up in arm wrestling' and a story, true or not, that another deshi lost a tooth in training with him. With that in mind he stepped onto the dohyo trembling in tremendous fear and says his body acted on its own."

"As a small child he was afraid to use the stilts he got, thinking: 'and what if the part I stand on gets detached?' But with all this extreme fear he wanted to go into sumo by all means and we supported him. He's very unathletic and always was competing for last at sprints in school, but he really loved sumo."

Usually, at things you love you get better - but in his case we can only cheer for him with "gambare"

Edited October 15, 2016 by Akinomaki

[hamcornheinz]

10 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

 

Damn, that's a pretty weird story but I think we can all identify to an extent, your body does act weird when its nervous, and I guess he just has it worse than most of us. From what I understand though, a lot of the yobidashi/gyoji are people who wanted to be rikishi but couldn't, and wanted to stick around sumo. No shame in that. 

[robnplunder]

On 10/15/2016 at 07:34, Akinomaki said:

Not only Nishikido, also an article about Hattorizakura vs. Kinjo in the weekly Shincho. http://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2016/10150559/?all=1

Hattori's mother got interviewed: "I want you to know, he's not doing it on purpose."

"He told me after the bout: 'I never dreamed my body would react like that. Mom, I'm frustrated.'"

"This child is what's called an otaku who thoroughly checks the net and already in primary school had a stiff neck and shoulders from it. This time when he checked about Kinjo, he got from the net 'national juniors runner-up in arm wrestling' and a story, true or not, that another deshi lost a tooth in training with him. With that in mind he stepped onto the dohyo trembling in tremendous fear and says his body acted on its own."

"As a small child he was afraid to use the stilts he got, thinking: 'and what if the part I stand on gets detached?' But with all this extreme fear he wanted to go into sumo by all means and we supported him. He's very unathletic and always was competing for last at sprints in school, but he really loved sumo."

Usually, at things you love you get better - but in his case we can only cheer for him with "gambare"

It's a sad story all around which I can relate to somewhat.  My son was not athletic but he wanted to join his high school  basketball team.   He joined but was the last kid in the team.   In the two seasons he played,  his coach played him for a minute or two in one blown up game.   It was a frustrating experience for me to follow his career but he was happy that he joined and stuck with it.  It's time for Hattorizakura to take up another hobby/sport.   I hate to see him get hurt.  What he did despite his timid nature is admirable.   It's time to leave sumo to those who are better suited for, mentally & physically.

[Akinomaki]

Hattorizakura has changed (the oyakata had him change) the first name of his shikona from Shouta 祥多 to Futoshi 太志 (fat-intention) - so that he may grow mentally and physically.

And he decided to go together with senior deshi to Kokonoe-beya for degeiko: Kinjo's heya - he vowed to never again take a dive like against Kinjo at the Aki basho.

Shikihide: "He won't suddenly be strong next basho - after several years, maybe. I'd like him to mature in the long-term perspective."

http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20161101-OHT1T50115.html

first a try-out with a tough but passive opponent in a park near the heya's lodgings

Edited November 3, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki]

Hattorizakura made it to celebrity status and gets more reports than most of the sekitori.

He lost already 3 this basho and today against a special opponent: Sawanofuji at his highest rank.

The one against whom he got his only win so far and who the next basho got his own first win from Hattorizakura.

Sawanofuji is now 4-20, 3 of the wins against Hattori - Hochi reports 3-21 - that's before the basho with maezumo included and 1 absence ignored. 1 other win is from Hattori's heya-mate Kawaguchi, who has a career of 0-10. Hattori is 1-43-1, but still hasn't given up hope for win no. 2. http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20161117-OHT1T50075.html

Hattori's first bout this basho

He or rather his performance with Kinjo also has made it into a (small) YouTube hit: with special BGM

Dragonball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ2y6M0b2CQ

Waseda march: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YisD0o4QXRE

a whole channel was named after this:

2016年9月場所3日目 服部桜ー錦城

Edited November 17, 2016 by Akinomaki

[orandashoho]

Hattorizakura -- Wow! Contact! That's a big improvement from immediately lying down or falling in front of the opponent.

[robnplunder]

I command Hattorizakura's love of sumo, courage, and stupidity.   

[orandashoho]

6 hours ago, robnplunder said:

I command Hattorizakura's love of sumo, courage, and stupidity.  

Command? Or commend?

Edited November 18, 2016 by orandashoho

[robnplunder]

23 minutes ago, orandashoho said:

Command? Or commend?

LOL.  Either one would make sense, no?   I meant "commend."

[orandashoho]

1 minute ago, robnplunder said:

LOL.  Either one would make sense, no?   I meant "commend."

We can command all we like, it doesn't look as if they are listening...

[Akinomaki]

Could be in the video thread, but I rather like to have Hattori here:

loss 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt_A4bnfamI

loss 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sEBwYM52Hk

loss 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMnpcJPL8dQ

Sawanofuji and Momochizakura are also covered by the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5tkU788jIPBWH8Lk3Y8mUg/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0

Meanwhile Kawaguchi has managed to get the first win of his career - the article is also about Hattori's makekoshi with a pic (was/will be in the daily pics). http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20161119-OHT1T50097.html

Edited November 20, 2016 by Akinomaki

[orandashoho]

5 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

Could be in the video thread, but I rather like to have Hattori here:
loss 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt_A4bnfamI
loss 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sEBwYM52Hk
loss 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMnpcJPL8dQ

I must say, there is really some attempt at technique here. No forward driving and no power, but he seems to be overcoming his fear.Good for him!

[Asashosakari]

Standings through nakabi:

Shikona	Heya	Debut	MK	Current Rank	Highest Rank	Record	Win%	Last Basho	This Basho
Asatatsuke	Takasago	Haru 2015	9	Jonokuchi 7 West	Jonokuchi 2	21-47	0.309	3-4	2-2
Hanai	Isenoumi	Haru 2015	9	Jonokuchi 12 West	Jonokuchi 1	20-49	0.290	3-4	2-2
Oatari	Shikihide	Haru 2015	9	Jonokuchi 14 East	Jonidan 99	21-46	0.313	1-6	2-2
Hattorizakura	Shikihide	Aki 2015	7	Jonokuchi 25 East	Jonokuchi 18	1-44-1	0.022	0-7	0-4
Satoiazuma	Tamanoi	Kyushu 2014	5	Banzuke-gai	Jonidan 100	11-24-7	0.314	---	---
Chida	Onomatsu	Haru 2016	3	Jonokuchi 8 West	Jonokuchi 8	11-14	0.440	3-4	3-1
Wada	Azumazeki	Haru 2016	3	Jonokuchi 9 East	Jonokuchi 4	9-16	0.360	2-5	1-3
Kotokobayashi	Sadogatake	Haru 2016	3	Jonokuchi 9 West	Jonokuchi 9	9-16	0.360	3-4	3-1
Ose	Kasugayama	Haru 2016	3	Jonokuchi 10 West	Jonokuchi 6	8-13-4	0.381	2-5	0-0-4
Shunpo	Minezaki	Haru 2016	3	Jonokuchi 12 East	Jonokuchi 7	9-16	0.360	2-5	1-3
Sawanofuji	Isegahama	Haru 2016	3	Jonokuchi 13 West	Jonokuchi 13	4-21	0.160	2-5	1-3
Teraowaka	Shikoroyama	Haru 2016	3	Jonokuchi 15 East	Jonokuchi 6	8-17	0.320	1-6	1-3
Miura	Asakayama	Haru 2016	3	Jonokuchi 16 East	Jonokuchi 14	5-15-5	0.250	1-1-5	1-3

Looks like a few kachikoshi just might be in the offing here...

[robnplunder]

8 hours ago, orandashoho said:

I must say, there is really some attempt at technique here. No forward driving and no power, but he seems to be overcoming his fear.Good for him!

It was just sad, sad, sad to watch.   I didn't see anything here.  The kid just does not have reason to be in sumo.   Add the intentional dives in previous bashos, he should be banned from Ozumo.   I liked him at first (was thinking he'd improve) but now I think he is denigrating the sport.   

[Asashosakari]

First graduation of the basho thanks to Kotokobayashi who ended his MK career start today. Asatatsuke also now has an opportunity to escape just shy of double-digit MKs after improving to 3-2, and Shunpo kept his chances alive by moving up to 2-3. Sawanofuji (losing to Shunpo) and Wada will remain with us, however, having gone MK at 1-4 today.

Edited November 21, 2016 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari]

No KK on Day 10 as Chida had the misfortune of running into unbeaten collegiate rookie Ihara. At 3-2 he'll be getting two more opportunities, and so will Oatari now after beating Hanai for his third win. Teraowaka also stayed in the KK race by improving to 2-3, but Miura is makekoshi now.

Edited November 22, 2016 by Asashosakari

[Akinomaki]

Hattorizakura now gets articles with pics for every bout http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20161123-OHT1T50081.html

- and all have YouTube videos filmed off the Softbank app screen by a fan.

He had his first appearance in jonidan today, because there was no 0-5 opponent for him in jonokuchi. For his first scheduled jonidan bout at the Hatsu basho he didn't appear -  after the Aki incident, we could assume it was a stress induced sudden "illness", although Shoki, his opponent then, has only 1 kachi-koshi yet and this year only 1 real win so far.

Jd96w   Daishiryu (1-5)         yorikiri        Jk25e   Hattorizakura (0-6)

loss 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rf3Fl5WyEw

loss 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDqDj_1m9xY 

I have to stop calling him just Hattori - that shikona is still in use by another Hattori.

[Asashosakari]

Day 11 brought us our second kachikoshi of the basho when Asatatsuke (rallying from 1-2) clinched his 4th win to avoid going dai-persisty, appropriately enough against Moriurara. Teraowaka stayed alive by improving to 3-3 today, but his opponent Shunpo remains persistence-bound for at least one more basho.

[Asashosakari]

No luck for Chida and Oatari who failed to achieve kachikoshi on Day 12, but they'll both be getting one more opportunity. Hanai on the other hand is makekoshi after today and has been inducted into the 10 MK dai-persister club.

[Asashosakari]

And kachikoshi number three for the basho today, courtesy of Teraowaka with a victory against 39-year-old Momochizakura, who was doomed to his 15th straight MK in the process.

Kotokobayashi and Hattorizakura also concluded their Kyushu campaigns, but with losses, finishing 5-2 and 0-7 respectively.