Asa Meshi Mae

[madorosumaru]

I had the following post in the "Quotes" thread but Asashoryu's unchallenged march to the championship deserves a thread of its own.

"Asa Meshi Mae" refers to tasks that are so easy that they can be completed before breakfast.

* * *

Asashoryu is not only strong, fast, versatile . . ., he is also smart. No wonder he dominates.

Yesterday, Tochiazuma found out to his great chagrin. Against the only rikishi with a winning record over him, the yokozuna was faultless. At tachiai, he blasted Azuma with an elblow block that staggered the ozeki and stopped him in his tracks. In an instant he had neutralized the vaunted strength of the low-charging Azuma. Then, before his opponent could recover, he yanked at his left arm and twisted his body around. Azuma could offer little resistance as he was summarily pushed out of the dohyo.

"That was good sumo for a change. I've been losing to him a lot. I was conscious of that in this bout. It was intelligent sumo," Ryu said in the dressing room afterwards, sounding satisfied.

Azuma, on the other hand, sounded thoroughly defeated. "I expected him to go for the left front mawashi, but he attacked the right side. I felt I did all that I could do, but nothing worked. Look, he [fooled me by going] to the right side. He's two or three steps ahead of me. He's gonna get zensho yusho."

Despite his convincing victory, Ryu wasn't happy. He feels all alone in his race to the championship. "All the top guys are futzing around. I can understand that they are not in top physical shape. But I'm not feeling that well either. I don't want to sound high-and-mighty, but [you guys] know what I mean . . ."

Ryu had words of encouragement to Azuma. He also had exhorted Kaio, Hakuho and Kotooshu earlier. That's fairly unusual for a yokozuna during a basho. When asked if felt that confident, he replied sadly, "It's because [the guys who should be winning] are so lackluster." Ryu wants some legitimate rivals. Tough hombres whom he can whup to show his stuff.

It's easy to seel the painful difference in abilty. Kitanoumi Rijicho said, "It's one thing to run away against strong opposition. But that's not the current situation. There is just too much of a gap [between Ryu and the others]. It's not that I think Ryu practices a lot. It's more like those around him are not doing enough."

The guys who are supposed to be his rivals are faltering. Kaio is kyujo; Taikai is on verge of demotion; Azuma has his hands full with his effort to return to ozeki.

Before the basho, Ryu lamented the sad sight of Robo shrinking away when he designated him for keiko. "I thought people wanted to do keiko so they could become stronger. I've never seen anything like that."

Ryu came into the tournament cold--without much keiko. Still, the only ones that can even be considered to be pursuing him are new-Komusubi Hakuho and M14 Kasugao. There is no way his competitive spirit can be satisfied. His repeated plea, "I need a rival," reflects the current crisis of sumo as a sport.

(Compiled from various news reports)

[madorosumaru]

When, not if, Asashoryu wins his tenth yusho this basho, he will be the 13th rikishi in history to reach that milestone. The twelve other rikishi with 10 or more yusho were all also yokozuna. The fastest record from the first yusho to the 10th is 15 basho held by Taiho. Since Ryu's first yusho was Kyushu in '02, his victory this basho would break that record by one (14).

If the yusho is determined today, the 13th day of the basho, it would be the 17th time by 12 rikishi--from Yokozuna Azumafuji in Aki '53 to Ozeki Asashoryu in Kyushu '02. Those who did it two or more times are Kitanofuji (2 times), Wajima (2), and Chiyonofuji (4). Two rikishi accomplished the feat with their first yusho--Kotofuji and Asashoryu.

Wins by Kasugao and Hakuho prevented Ryu from determining yusho on the 12th day. Since the adoption of the 15-day tournament, only the great Futabayama has done that, but there is a catch. In those days, there were no wrestle-off for the championship; the higher ranked rikishi automatically took the title. If the same rules were in effect, Asashoryu would also have been declared the winner.

(Sports Hochi and Jiji Tsushin)

[Ryukaze]

I think that says alot about "Shoryu" right there. While he can't complain about being sumo's best (and most importantly most motivated) he isn't satisfied with it being a cakewalk either, he thrives on the competition. His time in rising however does seem somewhat impeccable as many of the "old" greats are just that, aging (in sumo years that is) and are not their fiery younger selves of before. Aside from the very young Hakuho, at the moment it doesnt seem his cry for a rival will be answered anytime too soon, but you never know will rise out of the woodwork (Toki????) lol! Excellent post -

[Naganoyama]

When, not if, Asashoryu wins his tenth yusho this basho, he will be the 13th rikishi in history to reach that milestone. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Grand Sumo has 13 yokozuna with 10 or more yusho. (The list goes up to Asahifuji, the 63rd yokozuna) To that list you need to add Akebono, Takanohana, Musashimaru and Raiden.(Anyone else?) I therefore make Asashoryu the 18th at least.

The twelve other rikishi with 10 or more yusho were all also yokozuna.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Except of course Raiden.

[Asashosakari]

When, not if, Asashoryu wins his tenth yusho this basho, he will be the 13th rikishi in history to reach that milestone.

[Yubiquitoyama]

If the yusho is determined today, the 13th day of the basho, it would be the 17th time by 12 rikishi--from Yokozuna Azumafuji in Aki '53 to Ozeki Asashoryu in Kyushu '02.  Those who did it two or more times are Kitanofuji (2 times), Wajima (2), and Chiyonofuji (4).  Two rikishi accomplished the feat with their first yusho--Kotofuji and Asashoryu.Wins by Kasugao and Hakuho prevented Ryu from determining yusho on the 12th day.  Since the adoption of the 15-day tournament, only the great Futabayama has done that, but there is a catch.  In those days, there were no wrestle-off for the championship; the higher ranked rikishi automatically took the title. If the same rules were in effect, Asashoryu would also have been declared the winner.(Sports Hochi and Jiji Tsushin)

For some yubish reason I'm not entirely sure of, I felt I had to compile this list... I don't really get the tables going as I want to but you get the idea I think...

Nr	Basho	Rank	Winner	Record	#	Jun	Rk	Juny-1	Rk	Juny-2	Rk	Juny-3	Rk	Juny-4
0	1939.05	Ye	Futabayama	15-0	6	12-3	M14e	Matsunosato
1	1953.09	Yw	Azumafuji	14-1	6	12-3	M17e	Naruyama
2	1958.09	Ye	Wakanohana-1	14-1	4	12-3	M04e	Tokitsuyama	M18w	Wakachichibu
3	1967.09	YeH	Taiho	15-0	26	12-3	Yw	Sadanoyama
4	1969.09	Ow	Kitanofuji	13-2	2	11-4	Se	Kirinji	M06w	Ryuko
5	1971.11	Ye	Kitanofuji	13-2	8	11-4	Kw	Mienoumi	M01e	Wajima	M02w	Kurohimeyama	M06w	Fujizakura
6	1973.09	YeH	Wajima	15-0	3	11-4	OwH	Kiyokuni	M11w	Onishiki
7	1973.11	Ye	Wajima	12-2-1y	4	11-4	Yw	Kitanoumi	M05w	Kurohimeyama
8	1984.05	Yw	Kitanoumi	15-0	24	11-4	Ye	Takanosato	YeH	Chiyonofuji
9	1984.07	OeH	Wakashimazu	15-0	2	11-4	Ye	Kitanoumi
10	1985.01	Ye	Chiyonofuji	15-0	11	11-4	OwH	Hokutenyu	M09w	Dewanohana	M10e	Mitoizumi
11	1985.05	Ye	Chiyonofuji	14-1	12	12-3	Kw	Konishiki
12	1989.09	Yw	Chiyonofuji	15-0	29	11-4	Ye	Hokutoumi
13	1990.01	Ye	Chiyonofuji	14-1	30	11-4	Yw	Hokutoumi	Ke	Kirishima
14	1991.07	M13e	Kotofuji	14-1	1	12-3	Ow	Konishiki
15	1996.09	Ye	Takanohana-2	15-0	15	11-4	Ow	Wakanohana	O2e	Musashimaru	Sw	Takatoriki
16	2000.07	Ye	Akebono	13-2	10	12-3	Sw	Tochiazuma
17	2002.11	O2e	Asashoryu	14-1	1	11-4	Kw	Takanowaka
18	2005.01	Ye	Asashoryu	15-0	10	11-4	S2w	Tochiazuma

[madorosumaru]

When, not if, Asashoryu wins his tenth yusho this basho, he will be the 13th rikishi in history to reach that milestone.. . . (on and on)

(Sports Hochi and Jiji Tsushin)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Grand Sumo has 13 yokozuna with 10 or more yusho. (The list goes up to Asahifuji, the 63rd yokozuna) To that list you need to add Akebono, Takanohana, Musashimaru and Raiden.(Anyone else?) I therefore make Asashoryu the 18th at least.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Strictly speaking, Asashoryu is indeed the 13th, since the "yusho" as such only dates back to 1909. But that also ignores the fact that several yokozuna won close to 10 yusho back when there were a lot fewer basho per year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As stated in the original post, the information is from "Sports Hochi."

　１３日目に勝てば、節目となる１０度目Ｖの大台に乗る。１０度以上優勝した力士（いずれも横綱）は過去１２人。初優勝から１０度目の大台に乗せるまでの最速記録は大鵬（現親方）の所要１５場所。だが、朝青龍が今場所で優勝すれば、０２年九州場所の初優勝から所要１４場所となり、大鵬の記録を塗り替えることになる。

The point of the post is that Asashoryu is in a very exclusive group of rikishi . . .with or without the legendary Raiden. (Showing respect...)

[madorosumaru]

Rikishi With 10 or More Yusho

32 Taiho

31 Chiyonofuji

24 Kitanoumi

22 Takanohana

14 Wajima

12 Futabayama

12 Musashimaru

11 Akebono

10 Tsunenohana

10 Tochinishiki

10 Wakanohana I

10 Kitanofuji

10 Asashoryu

(Source: sanspo.com)

[Kashunowaka]

For some yubish reason I'm not entirely sure of, I felt I had to compile this list... I don't really get the tables going as I want to but you get the idea I think...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I like the last row. (Shaking head...)

[madorosumaru]

The bout against Wakanosato was emblematic of the entire tournament. The sekiwake took the initiative from the start and had the yokozuna back-pedaling. But, that

[Ryukaze]

Whoops im bringing this thread back because I didnt see it, in response to his match against Tochiazuma he looked really good quick of the mark and managed to stay low on him, as for the arm pull business that crap got him in trouble the last time they faced of, instead of using it to turn "azuma" or pull hard enough to yank him down he pulled him right into himself and put himself at the edge. This time looked like he learned his lesson, he was quicker, and attacked the belt till he got it lol.

As for his out with wakanosato thought that was the best competition he got too bad waka couldnt have been quicker to lock him up when he had him lol, that skuinage attempt was the only thing that saved his butt, Good show tho and good day! -

Edited January 24, 2005 by Ryukaze

[madorosumaru]

As a result of his excellent performance on the dohyo, Asashoryu was presented a certificate by MIAT Mongolian Airlines for unlimited travel between Tokyo and Ulaanbaatar for one year. This is the second time that Ryu has received this reward.

A beaming Ryu told the gathered press, "If this would lead to even one more tourist from Japan to Mongolia, it would be great. I wonder if could [continue] to receive [free passes] until I retire."

An usually very unreliable source overheard someone from the Kyokai mumble, "Geez, why do they have to make our lives more difficult. As it is, we can't get the guy to stick around town for all the important events ..." The source did emphasize that the utterance was most likely the Kyokai man's private thoughts and not an official position. ;-)

[karlsmom]

Azuma, on the other hand, sounded thoroughly defeated. "I expected him to go for the left front mawashi, but he attacked the right side. I felt I did all that I could do, but nothing worked. Look, he [fooled me by going] to the right side. He's two or three steps ahead of me. He's gonna get zensho yusho."

Tochiazuma was right about this. ;-)

[madorosumaru]

Translated from Yukan Fuji:

It

[Mark Buckton]

numerous foreigners were observed in the audience.

Always are - honbasho too - especially the second floor. Think the 9000 people number is a little 'generous' though.

[madorosumaru]

the opposite completely (Dribbling...)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Go complain to the Yukan Fuji writer. Talk about not seeing the forest for the tree. :-S