Featured Rikishi - Homasho

[Rijicho 6]

Homasho!

[Fay 1,677]

To start with some pictures from the Natsu Basho 06:

[Azumashida 1]

... and here is one picture from Haru 2006...

[Fay 1,677]

only a few details of Homasho (Yosuke Yamamoto)

born 16.04.1981 in Yamaguchi, 1,86m, 137 kg

He belongs to Shikoroyama Beya of former Sekiwake Terao which was launched in January 2004. He started with sumo already in high school without great success. Yamamoto, as he was called in the beginning of his career, won the Sandanme Yusho in November 2004. He changed his name to Homasho before Hatsu Basho 2005. It took him one more year to make it to Juryo and he was promoted to Makuuchi in April 2006.

[Azumashida 1]

Here is some highly interesting information that Jonosuke wrote about Homasho when he was promoted to juryo:

  Jonosuke said:

"I have been trained personally by the oyakata ever since I've joined here, so I've been feeling I couldn't easily lose to anyone for long long time."

Despite following a sumo's elite course by graduating from Saitama Sakae High School and accepted by Nihon University Sumo Club, Houmasho had to quit the club in his first year due to a serious skin infection (the same disease suffered by Dejima, Tochisakae and others). Since then he has been working as a parking lot attendant and taking other part time jobs while attending the lectures.

However he was never able to give up his dream and when he found out Satoyama and other Club members whom he joined at the same time were about to join Ozumo, he decided to quit the university and join Shikoroyama Beya.

"I've adored the oyakata's (Terao) sumo since I was a kid. If the oyakata was going to start his own heya then, I'd really wanted to start with him from the very beginning."

What is Shikoroyama oyakata looking from his first sekitori, "Terao Junior" ? "I want him to go up to Makuuchi and face Asashoryu," the oyakata said without hesitation. While most sekitoirs are running away from the yokozuna these days, Shikoroyama says, "If need be, I will tie him up and drag him over to the yokozuna myself."

And here is his fantastic win over Kagaya in the kettei-sen for the sandanme yusho at the 2004 Kyushu basho, thanks to Doitsuyama's stream capture.

Edited July 31, 2006 by Azumaryu

[Ryukaze 0]

It will be interesting to see how this guy turns out, I like him thus far (which is saying alot) and he seems pretty fearless.

Edited July 31, 2006 by Ryukaze

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

He is the only makuuchi rikishi whose natural way of sumo is always atama o tsukeru-sumo which means he really likes to push his head against his foe's chest and defend and attack from that position. It is difficult to say much about the boundaries of his potential in yotsu-sumo because he doesn't have a spesific yotsu-style yet really due to that atama o tsukeru preference. Good balance, good medication, good tools.

[Asojima 2,874]

  Kaikitsune Makoto said:

He is the only makuuchi rikishi whose natural way of sumo is always atama o tsukeru-sumo which means he really likes to push his head against his foe's chest and defend and attack from that position. It is difficult to say much about the boundaries of his potential in yotsu-sumo because he doesn't have a spesific yotsu-style yet really due to that atama o tsukeru preference. Good balance, good medication, good tools.

As I watch him in that position, he almost always appears to be leaning too far forward with his head too low. It seems he should be a prime candidate for a pull-down or push-down. The lower ranking sekitori do not appear to be able to take advantage of this, but I think it will become a problem as he advances up the ladder. We shall see. I agree he has a good future.

[Kintamayama 45,527]

  Kaikitsune Makoto said:

Good balance, good medication, good tools.

Are you suggesting he uses drugs?

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

  Quote

Are you suggesting he uses drugs?

Me?? Would Peterao suggest a yaocho in Shoryu's loss??

Edited July 31, 2006 by Kaikitsune Makoto

[Kintamayama 45,527]

  Kaikitsune Makoto said:

  Quote

Are you suggesting he uses drugs?

Me?? Would Peterao suggest a yaocho in Shoryu's loss??

I would like to see you back up these allegations with proof sir, for once!! (Sign of disapproval)

[Hananotaka 8]

I love watching Houmashou's sumo. He attacks from below, over and over again. His opponents try to pull him down, but to no avail: he's trained properly. I think he's surefire sekiwake material.

But, if he could add some speed and innovation to his attack, and a bit of oomph to his tachiai, he could aim higher.

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

  Quote

As I watch him in that position, he almost always appears to be leaning too far forward with his head too low. It seems he should be a prime candidate for a pull-down or push-down. The lower ranking sekitori do not appear to be able to take advantage of this, but I think it will become a problem as he advances up the ladder. We shall see. I agree he has a good future.

Indeed and this exactly will be one interesting detail in the future for him. He does hone that style constantly though and rarely goes down despite foes' attempts.

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

  Quote

I would like to see you back up these allegations with proof sir, for once!!thumbdown.gif

Nein! This thread is for HoumashoU and not his steroids! How dare you show a thumb down to me. Don't you know who I am?

Homasho also has quite healthy body and has an honest sumo approach.

[Hananotaka 8]

  Kaikitsune Makoto said:

  Quote

As I watch him in that position, he almost always appears to be leaning too far forward with his head too low. It seems he should be a prime candidate for a pull-down or push-down. The lower ranking sekitori do not appear to be able to take advantage of this, but I think it will become a problem as he advances up the ladder. We shall see. I agree he has a good future.

Indeed and this exactly will be one interesting detail in the future for him. He does hone that style constantly though and rarely goes down despite foes' attempts.

I'm not worried about his low head and vulnerability to pull/push downs. He's not a charger, and his lower body is in fantastic shape. His match vs. Tamakasuga in Natsu should put any doubts to rest; the pull-down attempts don't come stronger than that!

I am worried, however, about his tendency to drop into hanmi, specifically migi-hanmi (left foot forward, right foot extended back). That's a defensive posture, and it's not good to develop the habit of defensive sumo. Not only does it make it harder for him to go on the attack, but he also becomes susceptible to injuring that right leg.

Edited July 31, 2006 by Hananotaka

[Zuikakuyama 1]

  Asojima said:

  Kaikitsune Makoto said:

He is the only makuuchi rikishi whose natural way of sumo is always atama o tsukeru-sumo which means he really likes to push his head against his foe's chest and defend and attack from that position. It is difficult to say much about the boundaries of his potential in yotsu-sumo because he doesn't have a spesific yotsu-style yet really due to that atama o tsukeru preference. Good balance, good medication, good tools.

As I watch him in that position, he almost always appears to be leaning too far forward with his head too low. It seems he should be a prime candidate for a pull-down or push-down. The lower ranking sekitori do not appear to be able to take advantage of this, but I think it will become a problem as he advances up the ladder. We shall see. I agree he has a good future.

I don't quite agree with this. Yes. He keeps his head low (and that is good) but he also keeps his eyes up (even better) so he always knows what his opponent is doing, and keeps his center of gravity low. His legs always have a very wide stance, so he has excellent balance. A prime example of his balance is one of his matches against (Tamakasuga?) where his opponent had him on the back of his neck and was spinning and spinning him, but could not bring him down.

He is also know to be a very hard worker, and all the seniors in the NSK deeply appreciate his good training attitude.

I also love his deep bows after every match. The other rikishis could learn a thing or two from him in that department.

Edited August 1, 2006 by Zuikakuyama

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

Since everybody keeps quoting the Tamakasuga bout, the other side of the medal would be his loss against Toyonoshima. In that bout (day 14), Homasho tried hard to get his accustomed low stance, but couldn't get below his small-sized opponent. Due to recent unfortunate events, there's no online movie clip available, but I remember Homasho looking like a blindfolded one-trick pony. However, he's young, he'll learn, and Sekiwake seems to be a reasonable prospect.

[sekihiryu 51]

  Kintamayama said:

I would like to see you back up these allegations with proof sir, for once!! (Sign of disapproval)

what!! is my opinion not considered 'proof' anymore :-/ ;-) he he.

  Quote

Homasho is huge! And by huge I don't mean fat, I mean freaky muscular huge, whatever they have been putting in his Chunko......Damn!, must be pretty good stuff. I am dubious about the "naturalness”of his size. Its very suspicious indeed.

Perhaps though though he is blessed with great genetics, who knows.

In the documentary last year about Shikoroyama Beya, he didn't look that big, he has grown a huge amount in the past year.

When working on the Teppo pole, his technique was very sound and he was hitting the pole harder than anyone I've ever seen, he certainly seems very determined.

He didnt do any real contact keiko while I was there though.

I have hung around bodybuilders in the past, its a 'you know it when you see it' kind of thing to allude to a notion from another recent thread.

Whatever, obviously the NSK aint the IOC when it comes to enhancing, I guess sumo is kind of an anomoly of sorts in regards to sports, so many rigorously adherred to traditions and customs its hard to pidgeon hole it into a regular monitored modern sport.

I not that bothered by it to be totally honest, its something to discuss for me.

It exists therefore I discuss.

Homasho appeals with his since of decorum and humility on the dohyo combined with his improving ring prowess, I would like to see him go far.

He is, or has the potential to be he kind of poster boy the Japanese people crave for, ala Chiyonofuji, Takanohana. None of of the other Japanese makuuchi rikishi standout like him.

Edited August 1, 2006 by sekihiryu

[Azumashida 1]

  sekihiryu said:

Homasho appeals with his since of decorum and humility on the dohyo combined with his improving ring prowess, I would like to see him go far.

He is, or has the potential to be he kind of poster boy the Japanese people crave for, ala Chiyonofuji, Takanohana. None of of the other Japanese makuuchi rikishi standout like him.

I would like this to be true, but I think it's way too early to have a clear idea about his potential. What's for sure is he's bringing some dignity back on the dohyo in these troubled times, which is very welcome!

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

  Quote

but I remember Homasho looking like a blindfolded one-trick pony.

Same impression crossed my mind more than once too. It is not that he is one-trick-pony as such but he sure concentrates a lot on that hanmi and lock horns style and sometimes seems to only go for that. On the other hand when he has to do other style of sumo, he is not bad at all.

Good example of another good footing-bout was in day 5 bout against Hakurozan in Natsu basho before he injured his thigh and fell to 6-9 make-koshi. Very solid footing in Hakurozan's typical violent yanks.

Terao is one sharp oyakata too always eye-balling his deshi and packing up a set of angry fumes that deshi sense and do their best. Homasho is his main star and surely Terao will put time, effort and absoluteness into dragging everything out of Homasho that is available. Also, Homasho was looking for Terao from the start and has great respect for the old ironman with 70-year old wrist joints so it appears to be a balanced relationship. Besides it is difficult to imagine Terao slouch to asageiko and sit there in hangover shoulders hunched and cigarette in hand lazily "coaching" the guys with diminishing IQ.

[sekihiryu 51]

  Kaikitsune Makoto said:

Besides it is difficult to imagine Terao slouch to asageiko and sit there in hangover shoulders hunched and cigarette in hand lazily "coaching" the guys with diminishing IQ.

you are not wrong there, Shikoroyama is intense and brutal!

[Bishonohana 0]

I think Homasho will make us proud!! He sure possesses all the great qualities of a good rikishi, as mentioned! I would like to see him make at least Ozeki, but time will tell. He still has lots to learn...

[Tikozan 4]

(Welcome...) ...and now he had a great Kyushu Basho and he will jump into the top Maegashira Rankings.

Let's see, what he can do there.

[Mark Buckton 1]

FWLIW - the Shikoroyama boys are now in a shiny new heya according to one of their number - down by Kitanoumi / Oguruma / Odake in Koto-ku.

The place in a post up above is no more.

I know I have written this before so apols if repeat.

MB

[Iwagakki 0]

I think Homasho has some serious potential. When Kaio is gone, Homasho will be my favorite. Right now, it's a tie. There is just something about him. He has awesome balance. He has legs like teppo poles. His shoulders are huge, though they don't look it compared to his thighs.

he has a funny looking face. Not unpleasant, exactly. Kind of unusual. he could be an actor. did I say that already? He could play the scary mongolian bad guy in a jean claude van damme movie. Like the one who thrashed van damme's sisters brother in law in an illegal undergound karaoke contest, leaving him a shell of a man.....hmmmm......

No maybe not.

Anyway. I think he's got it. Just a feeling. I get a better feeling from his sumo, even if he makes mistakes now, than I did about Hakuho at this stage. you know? quite better. he never goes down in that odd "donkey kick" thing that Hakuho does all the time. That is suspicious, I think. maybe hakuho has a core balance problem? hmmmm....

never mind hakuho. Homasho is the man. I hope he keeps improving. he only started Ozumo in 2004, and now he will be at high Maegashira, already. he hasn't had enough time to develop his strengths to their maximums, and work his weaknesses down to minimums yet. At this stage, he has, what? a 67% win percentage? that's not so bad. he beat Bart. who has gotten a lot more esteem than Homasho.

did you know Asashoryu has an 87% win rate? next closest is kotooshu, then Homasho. I think. I didn't do everyone. but I think that's pretty close. but still, there's a 20 point difference from Asashoryu to those guys. ....mmmmm

that's all