Kokkai has lost a couple of fans....

[Jejima]

Helen (Kabochajima) and I had just arrived in Osaka on Day 13, and rushed from the airport to the Osaka gymnasium. On the way, Helen saw her first ever rikishi (she is very new to the sport!), who was Kokkai (she asked me whether it was Roho) with a couple of tsukebitos. He was listening to his I-pod, and was behind us in the street.

We were waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and he was some way behind us. Helen asked me to take a photo of Kokkai.

I got out my camera, and readied myself to take the photo as he approached. But just before I puched the button, Kokkai said (in English) 'No time', and purposefully turned his head away at the crossing. (He still had to wait a moment before crossing).

I hadn't asked him to pose or anything, I was just planning to take a photo as a fan. Much like the photos taken at the gymnasium entrance (which was practically where we were) when the sekitori arrive.

Then on day 15, there was a big bunch of Georgian fans (at least 20) sat just behind us in the stands. They were waving their Georgian flags, and cheering like crazy for Kokkai before the bout. I hadn't seen them on the two previous days, and so there is the possibility that this was the one day when they had come.

Then, the already KK Kokkai got a henka win over the 7-7 Dejima. Although the Georgians cheered his win, it was a very embarrassed, muted kind of cheering.

I am guessing that although the henka gave him a short term gain for the banzuke in May, he did not probably improve upon his fan base in Georgia (long term gain!).

Meanwhile, on day 14, Helen and I were very lucky to sit ring-side for all bouts from mid-Jonidan until the last three bouts of Makunouchi (what a thrill!). We cheered for many rikishi. The two I'd like to mention, are Hakurozan and Toki who both acknowledged our cheers with eye contact and little nods of their heads, both at dohyo-iri and at the start of their respective shikiri-ken.

[Jejima]

'No time' for the fans.....

Kokkai is the rikishi on the left. The Osaka gymnasium is just across the road on the left-hand side of the picture.

Edit: Picture removed in order for Georgian fans photo below...

Edited April 5, 2005 by Jejima

[Jejima]

It's got to have been some misunderstanding, I think.

everything i've heard about kokkai would lead me to believe the same. never heard a bad word about the man. incredibily popular.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, I want to agree with you both, but I can't.

I never asked him to pose.

He intentionally turned his face away from the camera at the traffic lights whilst waiting to cross. He told us (in English) just before turning his face away with what looked like a smirk, 'No time'.

I will add the photo of the Georgian fans that I took just before his henka bout with Dejima on day 15 in a day or two (I've already reached my max for photos on the forum).

[Tagada]

When you are famous, you know you have to to be photographied without authorization in certain circonstances : a politician knows he will be photographied during his speeches, an actor when he gives a press conference, a rikishi when he is very close to the gymnasium entrance or on the dohyo. But I suppose that nobody like to be photographied in the street without autorization and that Kokkai would probably have accepted if you had asked him if he accepted to be photographied.

[ilovesumo]

@ Jejima

Hey, maybe he had a pimple or something ;-) , maybe time-pressure,

or just a bad day ,worried about kk!? Maybe he didn't want you to take a bad picture without a smile on his face. Maybe he had Marilyn Manson on his I-pod?:-S

Just stressed?

I would belief in his words, "no time" is ok. To take a picture means to me to start a little conversation just to be friendly-;-) :-)

Edited April 5, 2005 by ilovesumo

[Jejima]

When you are famous, you know you have to to be photographied without authorization in certain circonstances : a politician knows he will be photographied during his speeches, an actor when he gives a press conference, a rikishi when he is very close to the gymnasium entrance or on the dohyo. But I suppose that nobody like to be photographied in the street without autorization and that Kokkai would probably have accepted if you had asked him if he accepted to be photographied.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Although I agree with your sentiments in general, I disagree with your points in regards to Ozumo on the days of a hon-basho. At this time (as far as I am aware), the etiquette is NOT to ask a rikishi for a photo, as they are busy focussing on their up-coming bout. The etiquette is not to talk to them at all (although a 'Ganbare xxxx-zeki' is okay), and let them keep their concentration. If it had not been such an occasion, I would have certainly have asked for a picture, and would have asked him to pose with us too :-) However, the time (on a hon-basho day) and the place (just outside the stadium) were correct for such a photo - as anyone who leaves the stadium for the Makushita bouts to take snaps of the Makunouchi rikishi arriving knows. Most rikishi just ignore the photographers.

Kokkai not only took the time to talk to us (instead of ignoring us, as I was expecting), but he purposefully turned his head away at the crossing (whilst waiting for green) with what looked suspiciously like a smirk, in order that no photo could be taken...

As I said in the title of this post, he has lost two fans (Helen and me), but it is certainly not my intention for him to lose any more due to my impression only (honest ;-) )

[Jejima]

Here are the fans from Georgia (sadly most had sat down by the time I took this picture) just prior to Kokkai's (8-6) bout against Dejima (7-7) on day 15. Kokkai won that day with an impressive henka, which no doubt made their trip memorable ;-)

[Burainoan]

I'd prefer Kokkai not do it, but i have very little sympathy for Dejima being a victim of henka. you reap what you sow.

as for the picture, i tend to agree with ShiroiKuma that it was likely a matter of him thinking you wanted a posed shot with him. and the smirk - if that's what it was - may have been his reaction to a perceived breach of etiquette for the time and place. or even that it was just a bad day. maybe if you try again later, you will get a different response.

i've heard stories about rude rikishi and oyakata - and even have had a few experiences myself - but have heard nothing bad in that respect about Kokkai.

(and jftr, none of those personal bad experiences have been with Asashoryu. there was a slight undercurrent of something that bothered me a little - just a little feeling i can't explain - but he was polite and friendly to me each of the three or four times i met him, both pre- and post-yokozuna promotion.)

[Kasugaran]

I am sure Kokkai just had his mind elsewhere... I am sure he wouldn't do that to you a second time!

[Jakusotsu]

Naah, I think Kokkai's initial reaction on seeing Jezz fiddling with the camera was "Blimey! There's that pompous Bench Sumo Rijicho who put me in his team all through 2004 but turned his back on me afterwards. Now I'll teach him about losing faith!" *smirk* ;-)

(He obviously didn't notice Kabochajima, who sported him this year...)

[Kaihayaiha]

I'd prefer Kokkai not do it, but i have very little sympathy for Dejima being a victim of henka.  you reap what you sow.

When was Dejima's last henka since senshuraku of the 1999 Nagoya Basho against Akebono?

[Burainoan]

I'd prefer Kokkai not do it, but i have very little sympathy for Dejima being a victim of henka.

[Kaihayaiha]

I'll admit, that was an important one. I've always been a Dejima fan but I rarely had access to video when he was an ozeki so I didn't know he used henka much then.

[Mark Buckton]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4419849.stm

let's see how Kokkai will treat this one. As he makes 3 time this amount per month - shouldn't be a problem.

[aderechelsea]

i would really like to know how can someone spend 4000 dollars in electricity if he doesn't have a small industry in his garage ?

[Kasugaran]

i would really like to know how can someone spend 4000 dollars in electricity if he doesn't have a small industry in his garage ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Really big house?

[aderechelsea]

and a small industry inside it then?

the amount of money is rediculous for a house even if he didn't pay for electricity for a year..

and i am talking Greek prices which must be much higher than Georgian (at least i believe so)

[asa_love]

oo

kokkai??

never liked him.

i believe u~

does anyone know if asashoryu/ asasekiryu act the same as him??

btw.. how do u get to meet asasekiryU? awwww... SO lucky~

[Burainoan]

oo

kokkai??

never liked him.

i believe u~

does anyone know if asashoryu/ asasekiryu act the same as him?? 

btw.. how do u get to meet asasekiryU? awwww... SO lucky~

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Probably depends on where you meet them. going in or out of the arena is not usually a good time, especially for Shoryu. (Sekiryu might be okay, though, especially on Senshuraku.) if you go to the heya to see asageiko, you will have a pretty good chance; an even better one if you bring a small gift. Shoryu is often pretty talkative after practice (unless he has a commitment). but Sekiryu tends to kind of hang back, assuming that everyone wants to talk to the yokozuna, so if you want to talk to him, you will probably have to quietly ask one of the lower-rankers after training is finished. again, it will probably help if you have a small gift. unless they're really busy, they will usually come over for at least a moment.

(if you're near Tokyo, the address is 3-5-4 Honjo, Sumida-ku, on a sidestreet a little southwest of the intersection of Mitsume-dori and Kasuga-dori. go early - at least around 7:30 or so. their number is (03) 5608-3223. you don't have to call first, but it's recommended, especially if there's a particular rikishi you want to meet. put on your best keigo!)

another, much more expensive way is to shell out the Y12,000 (i think it was....) for the Senshuraku Party. pretty much anybody can go, but most heya want you to ask first. at the party, it's their job to schmooze, so you can pretty much meet anyone you want. that was one of the times i met Shoryu and Sekiryu. wish i'd tried to talk to Sekiryu a bit more. despite his 12-3 (this was last year's Haru) he wasn't that swamped, and i just walked right up to him. also said hi to the Mongolian ambassador who happened to be nearby.

[Mark Buckton]

oo

kokkai??

never liked him.

i believe u~

does anyone know if asashoryu/ asasekiryu act the same as him??