Tochiazuma preparations - Haru 2007

[Kintamayama 45,010]

Tochiazuma has been quietly training for the last month in Tokyo. Now he is in Osaka with everyone else, and started serious keiko yesterday. He had 30 matches against Makushita and underlings. "If I was 10% fit during Hatsu, I'd say I'm now 70-80% fit. To avoid going that way (intai), I'm continuing my keiko regimen", he said somewhat candidly.

Edited February 28, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

Tochiazuma has also been to Sakaizawa-beya's camp to do keiko with Iwakiyama, Hochiyama, Goeidou and Toyohibiki. He was shown receiving Hochiyama's tsuppari with great poise and stability.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Tochiazuma has also been to Sakaizawa-beya's camp to do keiko with Iwakiyama, Hochiyama, Goeidou and Toyohibiki. He was shown receiving Hochiyama's tsuppari with great poise and stability.

Tochiazuma has always shown great ability to receive punishment. I'd be nice to see him dish it out a lot more.

[Kintamayama 45,010]

"If I start off the basho 1-4, I have to think about retiring", said Tochiazuma, plain and simple. "I can continue fighting till the end, but if the losses pile up, I won't be able to continue", he explained. He was looking very calm and cheerful,as if he reached a decision. He has returned twice from a Sekiwake demotion, but with his knee and his age, a third time is looking increasingly difficult. "He can't be demoted for a third time. This basho is critical-the opening days will be important. If he loses consecutively, it will be serious..", added Tamanoi Oyakata, his father. "But the final decision is his, " he added. Haru Basho was never good for him after his Ozeki promotion. Two tsunatori failures, 2 kyujos. "All I can do is do my best. I'll be going all out like I always do", concluded Tochiazuma .

Edited March 10, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,010]

Papers arer saying once he used numbers, there is no turning back.

Mondo Cane:

[slt 9]

"If I start off the basho 1-4, I have to think about retiring" - Doesn't sound good at all... Coming into a basho with that kind of fatalism, and being so clearly close to retiring, regardless of the actual record he gets this basho... I don't know where he will draw the energy or motivation to really put up a fight.

Seems like he's given his resignation notice in, and preparing his fans.

[Danjinoumi 9]

Has to make you wonder if the (not so) new (anymore) kosho rules contributed to the demise of another popular and good for sumo Japanese sumotori :-) . In contrast to Kaio, IMHO Tochiazuma could have regained a lot of his form if he could have taken a basho off to recuperate.

Edited March 10, 2007 by Danjinoumi

[sekitori 492]

Has to make you wonder if the (not so) new (anymore) kosho rules contributed to the demise of another popular and good for sumo Japanese sumotori :-) . In contrast to Kaio, IMHO Tochiazuma could have regained a lot of his form if he could have taken a basho off to recuperate.

It appeared that although Tochiazuma had very little mobility during the Hatsu basho and couldn't compete well, he apparently didn't reinjure his knee. I doubt if being kyujo would have helped much. If he took the Hatsu basho off, he would still be a kadoban ozeki with a surgically repaired knee which probably will never heal as well as he would hope. I admire Tochiazuma as much as any rikishi I can think of. He has faced injuries that probably would have caused most rikishis to retire long ago and he has done amazingly well to keep his ozeki rank as long as he has. And if this indeed is his last basho, I think he will leave sumo exactly as he would want to--competing and giving it his best to the very end.

It's possible that just as Kaio has been written off so many times, Tochiazuma will somehow find a way to get his kachi-koshi and survive once again. You can never count warriors out. And to me, the word "warrior" decribes Tochiazuma perfectly.

[kaiguma 0]

Tochiazuma will somehow find a way to get his kachi-koshi and survive once again. You can never count warriors out. And to me, the word "warrior" decribes Tochiazuma perfectly.

It seems that you have great respect for Tochiazuma, but I think you underestimate him just a bit based on the bold portion above. I see this as black and white. If he can't hack it any longer it will be quite obvious by day 5. If he's winning, you won't even be able to notice he's kadoban. He'll rack up 10 wins just like any other basho with a healthy Tochi.

Besides being a true warrior, I believe he has a Warrior heart and soul, and is therefore extremely genuine. I believe everything he says. Some are focusing on his recent intai postulations. That's just him being honest with himsekf and his fans. None of these quotes imply that he feels like he'll go 1-4. I think he's just setting it in stone for himself, so that if it is going bad, he's ready to retire with dignity. However, he has recently said that if the knee was 10% at Hatsu, it's 70% before Haru. If he made 5-10 on a 10% knee, he won't have trouble making KK on a 70% knee. If he's worked it up to 80% or 90% by Nakabi he's good for double digits. His knee has been less than 100% for quite some time and he still took a yusho last year.

Edited March 11, 2007 by kaiguma

[philafuji 1]

Sekitori,

The tribute you posted is one of the best I have ever seen.

[Doitsuyama 1,178]

Has to make you wonder if the (not so) new (anymore) kosho rules contributed to the demise of another popular and good for sumo Japanese sumotori (I am not worthy...) . In contrast to Kaio, IMHO Tochiazuma could have regained a lot of his form if he could have taken a basho off to recuperate.

May I remind you that the (not so) old (anymore) kosho rules would NOT have helped Tochiazuma a single bit?

Edited March 11, 2007 by Doitsuyama

[Danjinoumi 9]

May I remind you that the (not so) old (anymore) kosho rules would NOT have helped Tochiazuma a single bit?

Enlighten me, please ...

[Jakusotsu 5,911]

Enlighten me, please ...

I guess Doitsuyama wanted to say that Tochiazuma's recent knee surgery wouldn't have granted him kosho anyway because it didn't happen during a honbasho bout.

Edited March 11, 2007 by Jakusotsu

[Doitsuyama 1,178]

Enlighten me, please ...

I guess Doitsuyama wanted to say that Tochiazuma's recent knee surgery wouldn't have granted him kosho anyway because it didn't happen during a honbasho bout.

No need to guess here - Tochiazuma's knee injury simply wasn't applicable to kosho under the old rules, so it's futile to complain here.

[Danjinoumi 9]

No need to guess here - Tochiazuma's knee injury simply wasn't applicable to kosho under the old rules, so it's futile to complain here.

I stand enlightened ...