The Last of the Mohicans

[madorosumaru]

Ozeki Hakuho held a press conference the other day in Tokyo and addressed a variety of topics.

When asked why the Japanese rikishi underachieve, he said it was probably due to their lack of mental toughness. He then added, "Whether it is Japan or Mongolia, all the young kids do these days is play with video games. Our generation may very well be the last of the tough Mongolian rikishi."

As for his future, "I would like to use the money I make to build various things in Mongolia," he said. "I also would like to become an oyakata and develop both Japanese and foreign rikishi."

Finally, when asked the inevitable question of whether he was ready for marriage, the flustered young man said, "I'll think about that after I achieve the other goal."

Edited June 13, 2006 by madorosumaru

[ilovesumo]

Videogames...

can't be that bad. Many rikishi love them too. I can't speak for mongolian kids, but for the generation of Hakuho. SEGA and NINTENDO got big in the early 90's- we grew up with it. I had a Mega Drive, loved Sonic, Landstalker and stuff but I don't feel too silly cause I played. (don't correct me here (A yokozuna...) )

I guess most of the current youngsters in Sumo played too. So what? They do Sumo...and Sumo never dies. (Nodding yes...)

[_the_mind_]

Videogames...

can't be that bad. Many rikishi love them too. I can't speak for mongolian kids, but for the generation of Hakuho. SEGA and NINTENDO got big in the early 90's- we grew up with it. I had a Mega Drive, loved Sonic, Landstalker and stuff but I don't feel too silly cause I played. (don't correct me here (A yokozuna...) )

I guess most of the current youngsters in Sumo played too. So what? They do Sumo...and Sumo never dies. (Nodding yes...)

not just that, through Tooyama's insite and pictures at his heya, it looks like they still play PS2, even at the heya.

[Kintamayama]

Videogames...

can't be that bad. Many rikishi love them too. I can't speak for mongolian kids, but for the generation of Hakuho. SEGA and NINTENDO got big in the early 90's- we grew up with it. I had a Mega Drive, loved Sonic, Landstalker and stuff but I don't feel too silly cause I played. (don't correct me here (A yokozuna...) )

I guess most of the current youngsters in Sumo played too. So what? They do Sumo...and Sumo never dies. (Nodding yes...)

All the young Sadogatake rikishi wanted was to go to a video arcade. No time in the end, but they wanted to..

[Kintamayama]

Pic from the press conference:

[Coo-cook]

Is sperm count anyhow related to physical toughness ?

Long time ago, I read an article about sperm count comparisons of men in last 40 years in different geographical regions and countries. I think the Scandinavians had best results and Fins were the top. I can't remember about the rest.

As for Mongolian men, we are one of the worst. No wonder, ....growing social misery and alcoholism is killing Mongolian men. And, our defence minister was complaining about shortage of men fit for military service. It's a shame.

OK. Hakuho was talking about mental toughness. Still, it's unbelievable that a man (Hakuho) coming from a country of whining, crying and complaining men (Mongolia) critisizing one of a mentally toughest country on Earth (Japan) for being mentally weak. It's a shame.

[madorosumaru]

OK. Hakuho was talking about mental toughness. Still, it's unbelievable that a man (Hakuho) coming from a country of whining, crying and complaining men (Mongolia) critisizing one of a mentally toughest country on Earth (Japan) for being mentally weak. It's a shame.

Don't be harsh on Hakuho. He was being as diplomatic as possible when asked a difficult question. He replied with the "standard refrain" that the Japanese media offer when writing about what they consider the futility and mediocrity of the Japanese rikishi. On and on, the Japanese press question the "mental toughness" of the affluent Japanese youth--the lack of hunger for success which they term "Hungry Seishin" (Hungry Mindset).

Hakuho even softens his "criticism" by saying, in effect, "We Mongolians are in the same boat. Our young kids are also addicted to such things as video games and leading sedentary lives. We'll be just like you in no time."

Coo-cook may be correct in his assessment of the "whining" Mongolian men. However, the Japanese have the impression, perhaps erroneously, that the Mongolian rikishi grew up in the wilds of the steppes and the mountains--riding horses, herding sheep, and otherwise involved in physical activities. As a result, the aspiring rikishi are all well-muscled and possess extraordinarily strong lower bodies which are highly valued in sumo. The last part is true no matter how they got that way.

[Coo-cook]

OK. Hakuho was talking about mental toughness. Still, it's unbelievable that a man (Hakuho) coming from a country of whining, crying and complaining men (Mongolia) critisizing one of a mentally toughest country on Earth (Japan) for being mentally weak. It's a shame.

Coo-cook may be correct in his assessment of the "whining" Mongolian men.

Ha-ha. You got me here..

(I am not worthy...)

[Erkhembulgan]

Coo-cook may be correct in his assessment of the "whining" Mongolian men. However, the Japanese have the impression, perhaps erroneously, that the Mongolian rikishi grew up in the wilds of the steppes and the mountains--riding horses, herding sheep, and otherwise involved in physical activities. As a result, the aspiring rikishi are all well-muscled and possess extraordinarily strong lower bodies which are highly valued in sumo. The last part is true no matter how they got that way.

Indeed, most successful mongolian boh wrestlers grew up in the countryside. Long time ago.... (Nodding yes...) i used to spend my school holidays in Western province of Mongolia. I remember that countryside kids of my age were much stronger than me and they gave me few chances to beat them, although I was a member of our school judo team (Nodding yes...) . I think that Hakuho himself is already from the "weak generation" of Mongolians

[madorosumaru]

Indeed, most successful mongolian boh wrestlers grew up in the countryside. Long time ago.... (Nodding yes...) i used to spend my school holidays in Western province of Mongolia. I remember that countryside kids of my age were much stronger than me and they gave me few chances to beat them, although I was a member of our school judo team :-P . I think that Hakuho himself is already from the "weak generation" of Mongolians

You are right about Hakuho. That's why he knows of what he speaks. ;-) From what I've read, among the Japanese, Hakuho has a reputation for being a "botchan"--a "privileged kid." Even his most ardent, dyed-in-the-wool, defender-to-the-end, mother-of-all-fans, Gacktoh-san, uses a smilie image with a pacifier in the mouth to depict this "Champion of the New [Weak] Generation." ;-)

In contrast, the Arashio Beya HP has a story on how Sokokurai, a rugged product from the countryside of Inner Mongolia, used a small paring knife to deftly skin and butcher a sheep to the awe and amazement of his fellow rikishi. Though the HP did not go into the gory details, it is understood that from that day forward, no one from the ichimon ever gave the young hero of the steppes any semblence of a hard time or uttered even a single word that could be construed as being non-obliging lest the poor chap would end up sans a kintama or two under his mawashi. (Whistling...)