Asameshimae

I certainly am rooting for Kaio to break some records. He is heading for a number of longevity records, though number of bashos in Makuuchi is the one he is closest to beating. I respect Takamiyama, but he was before my time (maybe not the best reason). I am worried about Chiyotaikai and so are a lot of Japanese fans. Most would like to see more Japanese at the top and Kaio is getting old and Chiyotaikai certainly seems to have lost his spark. Kotomitsuki ain't getting any younger, which would and could leave only a bunch of young foreigners in the two top sanyaku. I wonder what the reception to that would be?

Some info I read: After pro wrestling he was a coach of the X League American football team ROCBULL. He has also recently been Cuba's national sumo coach, Ishikawa prefecture's tourism ambassador, and appeared in commercials for a fresh fish company called SUGIYO, and for a time appear on TBS network's Sunday Morning show etc. as a sumo commentatator. He very recently commentated for the 8th day of the hatsu basho this year. He had not been seen much at all before that.

Japanese wikipedia (if I may deign to consult Wikipedia) lists his birthplace as Russia (of course) and his name as Анатолий Валерьевич Михаханов （アナトリイ・ヴァレリエヴィチ・ミハハノフ）, if you don't read Katakana it reads something like Anatolie Mihahanov. None of this of course says anything about his ethnic origins. You would think he was mixed, but......

Hate to nitpick a picture that was posted 6 years ago, by a nice guy, but Minatofuji was always one of my favorites, and Minatofuji is not Mitoizumi. And just in case I thought I was wrong, his name is written behind him for whatever reason. Am really enjoying these pics though!!

Until then, drink lots and lots and lots of water!!

Thanks!

One of my tournament visits from years ago, I was hanging out or "standing" as near as I could to the dohyo trying to see the makuuchi wrestlers up close w/o getting a warning from those roaming obasans in uniform. Anyway, the family next to me (mother, father, mid-20s son), after too much sake, got into a blazing row (well the ma and pa anyway). After several minutes of this, the mother left in a huff, the son shrugged and followed her, the father got up slowly and gathered their things and then looked at me and gestured "douzo" to the masu seat and the uneaten bento and a few other goodies. I sat and enjoyed myself with my closest view ever and food to boot. Loved that squatter experience. Don't remember a thing about the bouts I saw, or even exactly when it was, but it's a fond memory.

"Finally something important happens in Mie!" At least you have my all time favorite prefectural capital name: Tsu! (never been there though (ahem)). Can't imagine having to pronounce Tsu-shi every day, but I suppose you get used to it. I am glad Miyabiyama won the tournament. That guy has always had a special place in my heart.

Kofuji, I just read your signature. Heh, I haven't read the Hitchhiker series in ages, but I recall even Marvin admitted he could live with that message!

I figured after they unceremoniously kicked out the Russians, that anybody else who had been doing it would count themselves lucky and smarten up, or at least beeb more careful. Anyone still using pot or other drugs in such an insular world is basically begging to be kicked out. Who knows, maybe Wakakirin secretly wanted out?

After all my visits, I just assumed you got at least a bento and at least one keen souvenir with a masuseki. A natural outgrowth of my lack of networking skills I guess. I wish I could afford the whole shebang, of course. Having said that, it has always seemed to me that all that food and sake would distract one from the spectacle one is actually there to see...

I have been to some 20 tournament days in Ryogoku, but I finally decided to do a day of Osaka sumo. I was unlucky enough that I couldn't get senshuraku tickets, but Asashoryu lost, andthe yusho was decided on the day I was there! And I got to throw my first cushion (Ryogoku doesn't have cushions for the cheap seats). Loved the Osaka basho and Osaka itself. So much so that I think I will try to go to the Nagoya basho as well. Anyway.....Otsukasa's retirement was a sad day for me because now all the remaining sekitori are younger than me....this got me wondering about the oldest current active RIKISHI in sumo. I assume/hope there are a few older guys toughing it out in lower divisions and giving sekitoris their rubdowns? I looked around in places I know where to look, but couldn't find such information. Anyone know or know where I can find out?

Thanks! I knew this site but did not know it had such extensive info even for the lower guys. Yes, some site. Surprised is doesn't give everyone's blood type as well; heh. There are still about 7 guys or so younger than me. Good to know.

Which always makes me wonder why Obama's mixed parentage never had the press questioning whether he was truly "black" (not that it makes any difference to me, still love the guy). Sentoryu certainly doesn't look as obviously African descent as Obama does. I don't remember seeing or hearing of a black rikishi. I am sure some have tried, but never had any real success or made headlines.

Yeah, I hadn't checked, but it seemed like this was a very good sign for Oshu. Of course, he is probably realizing it too, and he doesn't handle pressure well.

I'll bet his heya is really regretting insisting on the name change. The world of sumo is so superstitious about such things - it's so superstitious that even I have become superstitious about such things, seemed like it was tempting fate. And if enough people believe it, the superstition has power. The previously unflappable Ama (sorry, Haruma) is highly flappable. Again I curse his heya.

What I keep missing is why. If it has been discussed somewhere I am sorry, but why was it deemed necessary that his shikona had to change? I am very curious.

I really wonder about whether there was any or much drug/marijuana use outside of the Russian circle. Drugs are so demonized in Japan and sumo is such a conservative world that I find it hard to believe that any real number of wrestlers were also doing it. I am sure some or all of the yaocho/throwing matches is true, so I wish he would just stay away from the drug issue. The throwing matches issue is a much bigger one in my opinion.

I totally agree with this sentiment. It's hard not to like Oshu, with that quiet air he has about him that seems so Yokozuna-ish. But he needs more consistency and a lot less tentativeness and lack of confidence in himself. He is shaping up to be Kaio's successor in this area. I was there to see his performance against Hakuho, and he did put up a good effort, but I still think he choked at the end out of lack of drive more than anything else. I left in disgust without even watching the bow ceremony. At least I beat the rush to the train.

Thanks, direct and low maintenance. Perfect!

Hi, I've looked around, but I can't find a site for archived sumo matches. I know the French sumo site is supposed to have such video, but I couldn't find it. I missed a particular wrestler's perfomance a few days ago (no Honbasho info right?) and haven't managed to find any video of it anywhere, which is what got me on this particular topic. Thanks, sorry if this question was answered elsewhere. I did look first.

I can't say I enjoyed today's sumo. Isn't it supposed to be who wants it more? Not who doesn't want it the least? Sure Aminishiki had a basho lead over him, but so did the two yokozuna. Now he is just going to limp into the yusho? Kotooshu had to choke sooner or later, but he almost had me believing. But then the two yokozuna give lackluster performances and don't even capitalize on Oshu's choke. Gimmeabreak. Yeah, I wanted Oshu to get the yusho, but like this? That's the last basho like this I want to see. At least seeing all three of the "hopefuls" left go down one, two, three was a spectacle, if nothing else. Hopefully they'll step up tomorrow (though Asa's out of it now). (I have been a sumo fan for over 10 years, but it never occured to me to seek out a forum for it until a few days ago) Yoroshiku.