Kyushu 2004 rikishi talk from MDS#7

[Manekineko]

While I was enjoying myself reading MDS this weekend, I translated some parts of "Rikishi talk" that seemed the most interesting to me. Since the MDS-team gave me their blessing, I'm posting it here. It is far from complete, but some of you may enjoy it... :-) Feel free to point out any mistakes. Of course you may consider downloading the magaizine itself from Le Monde du Sumo web-page, with images and daily scores to accompany these interviews.

Rikishi Talk from Le Monde du Sumo #7

Translated from Japanese by Thierry Perran

DAY 2

Miyabiyama : [on his victory over Chiyotaikai by tsukiotoshi] That was an accident. [on his recent return to form] Well, you know, my goal if I get a chance is to become a yokozuna.

Ama : [on his first victory in makuuchi] I attacked and managed to come in close to my opponent, which allowed me to raise him. If I managed to gain weight I could fight properly body-to-body with my opponents. But for now, considering the current frail Ama, I must manage in any way I can.

DAY 3

Hayateumi : [on his brilliant victory over Buyuzan thanks to a wonderful hasotobi (leap over the adversary on tachi-ai)] Yes, I did it in a blink of an eye. [on his knee that ran against the gyoji during the leap] Ah, it does hurt. In any case, I only allow myself this technique once per basho.

Buyuzan : [on Hayateumi's incredible leap] Yes, that man could play in NBA. I've nothing to add, he scored... I'd even say he "dunked" my head.

Kyoko Ozo, Musoyama's mother (58) : " [on her son's mood in this difficult situation] We worry a lot about our son. He closed himself and doesn't speak to us anymore. (Every day she lights 8 candles in front of Buddha to bring him luck)

Asashoryu : [on his victory over Iwakiyama who beat him last tournament and where it was possible he'd try his special tsuriotoshi] Ah, it's always good to win. During the tour I made him taste my tsuriotoshi several times. So you see, if I really wanted to lift him, I would have done so.

DAY 5

Tokitenku : [on his defeat against young hope Kisenosato, who sidestepped him on the tachi-ai] That's crazy, I never imagined he'd do something like this on tachi-ai. If my opponent tomorrow, Buyuzan, also henkas me, it will be hard for me to believe in courage of the Japanese.

Tochiazuma : [on his defeat against Iwakiyama, the heaviest makuuchi wrestler] As my opponent has an imposing physique, at the tachi-ai I was scared at the thought of throwing myself against him.

Kyokushuzan : [on his defeat against 36 year old Kotonowaka] My opponent really has kept in good form. You would never say he was 36. Personally, he looked like a young man of 26 to me.

DAY 6

Tamanoi-oyakata : [on possibility of Tochiazuma's intai] There is no question about it, I remind you he is only 28 years old. And the proof is that he didn't even bother to acquire a toshiyori-kabu.

Kakizoe : [on his first victory this tournament] Ah, finally I've won. As this is the first time I had five losses in as many days, I started to wonder if I was going to go 0-15.

Kotomitsuki : [On his win by default] When I come to the changing-room, I always have the habit of preparing thoroughly while putting on my mawashi. Yesterday, when I've heard of Tochiazuma's withdrawal, I felt much better and more relaxed.

NAKABI

Hakuho : [on the chance of winning a yusho as maegashira] Oh, wait a bit, I still don't have my kachi-koshi. [again a double-digit score?] Everything at its time, I don't worry about it at the moment. [on the secret of his success] As I trained until exhaustion against the yokozuna, I don't feel any fear of my opponents anymore and I approach the bouts with a certain presence. The yokozuna is much stronger than me. [on his entourage] I know they are all secretly thinking of yusho.

Kumagatani oyakata (former master of Hakuho, now his trainer) : [on Hakuho] With this bout (win against Iwakiyama), I claim he is already a san'yaku. He shouldn't worry about his promotion to that rang anymore, but about yusho. [on the side-stepping of Hakuho] I told him that, since he is in way of becoming an ozeki or a yokozuna, this form of evasion will be forbidden to him.

DAY 11

Hakuho : [on causes for his victory over Asashoryu] As I failed to return to him at the middle I had to be patient and wait for him. I am quite delighted with my performance. [on his basho and the fact he beat the two favourites, Kaio and Asashoryu] It is incredible how many extraordinary things happened to me this basho. It all happens as in a dream. [on the fact that with 19 years and 8 months he is the second youngest wrestler to win a kinboshi, just behind Takanohana who did it with 19 years and 5 months] Oh, no, I wasn't aware of that record. I was only focused on my bout. [on his strategy against the yokozuna] I planned to attack him with a volley of tsuppari. But nothing happened as planned. [very nervous before the bout?] Oh, no, not at all.

(Hakuho's father won the first Olympic gold medal for Mongolia in 1968, and followed that by winning Mongol wrestling tournament of Nadaam 6 times, which made him a living legend. With such a genetic heritage, Hakuho showed his athletic abilities at very young age. He was an excellent "pivot" in basketball, and at 15 finished second in 100 m race of the national athletic championships with respectable time of 11.3 sec!)

Asashoryu : [on the defeat against Hakuho, whom he knew since early childhood] I was rushed in my attacks. So starting from that, I had it all wrong. If I could have faced him with more fighting spirit, I would have been pleased. I was really too calm in this bout. Nevertheless, I'm not dissatisfied this happened, this will be a good lesson for me. [On his bout against Wakanosato, who dared to defeat him for past two straight tournaments] I learned the lesson well and tomorrow it will be another song. [On Hakuho's dexterity at the end of the bout] Yes, I have to admit he caught me beautifully. Until the very end I dominated him pushing him to the edge of the dohyo, and I really didn't think he would be able to escort me out that way. Until the end I was focused on doing tsuppari with all my strength. But even destabilised, I should have focused more on him. [on the fact that he trained with Hakuho before the basho, and may well have found the future rival he looked for] Oh, you know, we are all in the same boat. I am quite aware of Hakuho's continuous progress and frankly, it does not displease me.

Kumagatani oyakata : [on extraordinary progress of his pupil Hakuho] I would never have believed he could rise to Asashoryu's level. [on his reluctance to let Hakuho train with Asashoryu] In fact, I considered him to be still too tender to match with him. Even though he continued to grow and gain weight, I didn't think him capable of toppling the yokozuna. [on the advice given to Hakuho before the bout against Asashoryu] I told him that generally wrestlers feel fear when facing a yokozuna, but that he should make himself feel glad about that bout.

Kitanoumi rijicho : [on Hakuho's progress] He's already an extraordinary wrestler...

[Elenrian]

Now, don't say your french is poor!!! :-) I didn't see big mistakes!!!

[Manekineko]

Mais quand tu vois/ecoutes comme je parle... C'est pas tres beau. :-)

[bennyloh]

Good, This rikishi talk.

I thought so too , that Miyabiyama would become a yokuzuna.

I saw poor fellow (kakizoe) being thrown out in all directions by bigger and stronger rikishis. He has all four facing up, all four facing down, landing head buried into the crowd and he has not shown a pathetic 'Sakari' sign. Good fighting spirit and good joker too.