Featured rikishi - Yamamotoyama

[Rijicho 6]

Yamamotoyama!

[Kintamayama 45,530]

The guy just got here. What's there to write about? College champion, but had to start from the bottom, really stereotypically fat sumo.

I think we should wait just a bit before we give these kids a "featured rikishi" show.

I am hrumphed.

[Bealzbob 0]

YAY ! :-)

Heya Onoe

Name Yamamoto Ryuichi

Date of Birth 8th May 1984

Place of Birth Saitama

Height 189cm

Weight 238kg

Career record (05/07) 13-1-0

Highest Rank Jonidan 61

He's a MONSTER ! And only beaten once so far in his embryonic ozumo career, and that was by a hatakikomi.

[Bealzbob 0]

The guy just got here. What's there to write about? College champion, but had to start from the bottom, really stereotypically fat sumo.

I think we should wait just a bit before we give these kids a "featured rikishi" show.

I am hrumphed.

Oops, sorry :-) I thought the idea was to get in there quick and keep a record of their progress.

Edited May 29, 2007 by Bealzbob

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

I found some stuff from forum archives about Yamamotoyama. He was Yamamoto before joining ozumo.

Oct 3rd 2004:

At All Japan College Sumo Championship held at Sakai Ohama Koen ground in Osaka on October 3, Ryuichi Yamamoto from Nihon University Sumo Club defeated West Japan College Sumo Championship winner Hakiai of Kinki University and won his first Yusho in the Open category.

"I was able to move well even though I was rather nervous. I will be working hard to win the All Japan Sumo Championship as well," said 1.90 meter tall, 195 kg Yamamoto.

In November 2004 there was another big contest and then Yamamoto was missing:

Yamamoto was an alternate for the Nichi-Dai team and did not compete in the individual competition. He is a second year but we can't really go on age or hierarchy given the make up of the 5 member team that competed. It had two second year and three third year students, and the reserves were Yamamoto and two 4th year students. In addition there was another 4th year who competed in the individual competition only without being a reserve for the team.

Perhaps they just went with those who are in form, or perhaps they thought Yamamoto was too heavy and not agile enough for the teams' competition, where he would meet strong and heavy but more mobile competitors? However, you think they would have let him loose in the individual competition.

Maybe he already has tsukedashi qualification from the Osaka tournament and they decided to give everyone else a shot at it?

The 40th All Japan University/College Sumo Tournament Towada Open

at Towada, Aomori on August 16, 2005

----------------------------------------------

Group:

Nichidai (Nihon University) 5 - 0 Nittaidai (Nihon Taiiku University)

(Nichidai's 21st Yusho, their last Yusho two years ago)

Individual:

Ryuichi Yamamoto (Nichidai) over Katsuo Yoshida (Nichidai) by tsuridashi.

Nov 2005 by Jonosuke:

Ryuichi Yamamoto is not another Oorora. He is pretty heavy but he has good sumo fundamentals. As a student of Saitama Sakae, he won the heavy weight class at the World Junior in 2002 and placed second in the All Japan High School the same year. His teammate then and now at Nichidai, Takayuki Ichihara won the Open at the World Junior in the same year.

Nov 9th 2005: Jonosuke ponders about All Japan favourites. Familiar names..

Still the six from Nichi-dai - Shimoda, Mori, Ichihara, Yamamoto, Yoshida and Sakaizawa, are definitely the ones to watch. Other darkhorses are Morishita and Tanaka from Tokyo Nogyo University (both third year), Okuya, Masuda and Hori from Kinki University, Matsuya(Matsutani) from Komazawa, Ogata from Nihon Taiiku University and Terashita and Arakizeki of Toyo Univeristy.

I don't think a high-schooler will make much of dent this year as I don't see any Sawai this year (I wonder if any will be there at all).

Jonosuke continues in December before the tournament:

Four others from the Nihon University club should also be as competitive as Shimoda and Mori though they have not been as consistent. Third year Takayuki Ichihara and huge Ryuichi Yamamoto have been showing a flair of brilliance occasionally. As well fourth year Kenichi Sakaizawa and Katsuo Yoshida should be targetting this tournament if they are thinking of joining Ozumo. Counting his high school years at Saitama Sakae, this year is Ichihara's seventh year at the All Japan while this is the four year straight appearance for Sakaizawa.

Evidently Yamamoto didn't succeed well in 2005 All Japan though as he was not in anymore at round 3.

In Nov 2006 All Japan College:

Quite a few frmo Nichi-dai went to the final rounds:

Yamamoto, Mori, Kimura, Ichihara, Fukao, Minami and Oshiro - that's 7 out of the final 16.

And in team final he lost:

he final round between Nihon University and Tokyo Nogyo University:

Mori (Nihon) over Tanaka (Tokyo Nogyo) by hikiotoshi

Fukao (NIhon) over Nakata (Tokyo Nogyo) by kotenage

Yamamoto(N) losing to Onodera (T) by okuridashi

Kisaki (N) losing to Mori (T) by yoritaoshi

Ichihara (N) over Morishita (T) by hatakikomi

Nihon University 3 - 2 Tokyo Nogyo University

And then the All Japan 2006 in December:

Excellent prospect analysis By Jonosuke before the tournament. He placed Yamamotoyama as number 4:

My biased but somewhat scientific ranking:

1.Takayuki Ichihara (Nihon University 4th Year)

Level 4 Dan

Yusho: Uwajima Open, East Japan Open Weight Class, Hirosaki Open

Japan Games Adult A Individual title which qualified him as Makushita Tsukedashi 15 ranking.

Lost in the final, finishing 2nd at the All Japan College/University Championship to his teammate Tomoki Mori.

Experience: Eighth consecutive appearance since 3rd Year Middle School. Best finish: 2nd

Favorite techniques: Oshi, Pulling.

Height: 182 cm Weight: 165 kg.

High School: Saitama Sakae High (Goeido

Edited May 29, 2007 by Kaikitsune Makoto

[Kintamayama 45,530]

The guy just got here. What's there to write about? College champion, but had to start from the bottom, really stereotypically fat sumo.

I think we should wait just a bit before we give these kids a "featured rikishi" show.

I am hrumphed.

Oops, sorry (Sigh...) I thought the idea was to get in there quick and keep a record of their progress.

Don't apologize-it's just me being cranky and curmudgeonesque.

[Kotonosato 1]

Yamamotoyama gave the strangest yusho interview on NHK:

The interviewer asked him what kind of sumo he'd like to do from now on. He said "the kind where I won't get injured".

The interviewer asked him if he wanted to climb the banzuke to makuuchi quickly. He said he wanted to move up at his own pace.

Not receiving any of the usual answers, the interviewer asked again "What kind of sumo do you want to do?" He said "the kind where I won't lose".

I guess these are typical responses of a fat teenager, but can anyone expect him to excel in sumo with this way of thinking? He's got a lot of work to do.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Yamamotoyama gave the strangest yusho interview on NHK:

The interviewer asked him what kind of sumo he'd like to do from now on. He said "the kind where I won't get injured".

The interviewer asked him if he wanted to climb the banzuke to makuuchi quickly. He said he wanted to move up at his own pace.

Not receiving any of the usual answers, the interviewer asked again "What kind of sumo do you want to do?" He said "the kind where I won't lose".

I guess these are typical responses of a fat teenager, but can anyone expect him to excel in sumo with this way of thinking? He's got a lot of work to do.

Well, most of the "I will do forward-moving sumo" and I'd like to become Sekitori in two years" guys have been forgotten, so maybe this different type of teenager could succeed..

[Asashosakari 19,665]

Of course, being already 23 years old the "two years to sekitori" route is the one to take if he wants to have any kind of decent career. Not that I'm necessarily assuming he wants to, of course. Maybe he's just there for the food. :-)

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Of course, being already 23 years old the "two years to sekitori" route is the one to take if he wants to have any kind of decent career. Not that I'm necessarily assuming he wants to, of course. Maybe he's just there for the food. :-)

I'm sure he wants to, but maybe he's reluctant to say so, because he's:

A. Clever

B. Superstitious

C. Dumb

D. Kaihou

[Sasanishiki 57]

I really don't think he is going to go too far, purely because he is too big and cumbersome. he will eat up (not literally) the younger and smaller athletes in the lower ranks, but then will get pushed around by faster, stronger, more agile "veterans" in makushita (if he makes it that far). the guy will need to lose some weight doing keiko or his knees will wear out far too quickly.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

I really don't think he is going to go too far, purely because he is too big and cumbersome. he will eat up (not literally) the younger and smaller athletes in the lower ranks, but then will get pushed around by faster, stronger, more agile "veterans" in makushita (if he makes it that far). the guy will need to lose some weight doing keiko or his knees will wear out far too quickly.

Based on what I read between the lines, I have to disagree. It seems he is no ordinary clumsy behemoth, but pretty agile and athletic for his weight.

The usual "we shall see" clause is in use.

[Fay 1,677]

Not really the kind of rikishi I prefer, except my little Kainowaka of course :-), but from what I saw of him, I was quite impressed that he was pretty fast and agile for his weight, so I have some hope for this guy.

Edited June 5, 2007 by Fay

[Bealzbob 0]

Well he certainly is no Orora. Hopefully they will face each other next month :)

[Zentoryu 154]

Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again: it's impossible to judge these guys before they've made it to high Makushita. Any guy with at least mid-Makushita level talent is going to blow through Jonokuchi and Jonidan with little to no problems, ala Yamamotoyama. So we can't judge him by what he's done up until now.

What he does when he reaches high Makushita and faces talent levels closer to his own will be a good sign of what the future may hold for him. Will he be another run-of-the-mill Juryo/Makushita yo-yo? Will he be something more, like a Makuuchi regular? Is there greatness in store for him? As far as I'm concerned, it's way too early to tell.

As Moti likes to say: "We shall see..."

[Jonosuke 28]

A top level Nichi-dai rikishi like Yamamotoyama should at least gain a Juryo ranking as most of them already have Makushita level sumo techniques and strength.

The question is if they can keep on making progress to travel up to Makuuchi level. Quite a few of them suffer one type or injury or another along the way and fall down back to Makushita and never to resurface again.

Even now you see them still shogging through Makushita shaft like Yanagawa or even worse Takahama.

[kaiguma 0]

I really don't think he is going to go too far, purely because he is too big and cumbersome. he will eat up (not literally) the younger and smaller athletes in the lower ranks, but then will get pushed around by faster, stronger, more agile "veterans" in makushita ...

:-)

007.01 Mz 3-0

2007.03 Jk32e 6-1

2007.05 Jd61e 7-0 Y Yusho

2007.07 Sd59w 6-1

2007.09 Sd6w 6-1

2007.11 Ms32e 1-6

Discussed elsewhere ("Heat the Wall" thread Kyushu 2007), but I thought Sasanishiki's comment should be bumped as a spot-on analysis.

[Bealzbob 0]

I can not believe the difference between SD6 & MS32 is 6-1 versus 1-6. There must be more to it. I expect him to bounce back (not literally :-)) in Hatsu.

[higginbotham 0]

Someone compared Yamamotoyama to Susanoumi, but I cannot remember who. Either way, YMY defeated some promising rikishi and albeit the dreadful 1-6 he has the "style" to reach Juryo at worst.

[Zentoryu 154]

I can not believe the difference between SD6 & MS32 is 6-1 versus 1-6. There must be more to it. I expect him to bounce back (not literally (Yusho winner...)) in Hatsu.

Well he's almost 30 ranks lower for Hatsu, very close to where he was for Aki. So if he doesn't "bounce back" and at least get a KK, then you can say that maybe there is something wrong with him.

[Kakkerlek 0]

Yamamotoyama did bounce back! 7-0 and the makushita championship!

I don't think that will boost him up to juryo, but he'll make a big leap up the banzuke from his current place at #58.

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

Yamamotoyama did bounce back! 7-0 and the makushita championship!

I don't think that will boost him up to juryo, but he'll make a big leap up the banzuke from his current place at #58.

Indeed he did and obviously not a fluke either beating Aran, Daitensho, Ikioi, Kasugakuni in the process. In Haru we will see his true level and how he can handle stronger foes who can also move well. He certainly isn't Orora but it is hard to say before more eye witness accounts. He sure is fat, I sure hope he is strong too.

[messi19 0]

Here is the makushita yusho-deciding bout between Yamamotoyama and Aran. The video was added by heya mate Sakaizawa on his youtube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yX-7IQpjtI

Aran didn't stand any chance in this bout.

[higginbotham 0]

Here is the makushita yusho-deciding bout between Yamamotoyama and Aran. The video was added by heya mate Sakaizawa on his youtube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yX-7IQpjtI

Aran didn't stand any chance in this bout.

Thank you for the link.

Edited February 9, 2008 by higginbotham

[aderechelsea 125]

this link is great (i already subscribed to Sakaizawa's videos) and it was a good chance to check on Yamamotoyama's condition.

some comments:

- YMY is coughing like Kaio during the shikiri.

- He looks indeed too fat for his strength. His shiko is not impressive either.

- He has surprisingly good tachi-ai posture. He holds his hips really low without showing any strain for the knees. Good flexibility under that mass ... this is encouraging.

- He showed patience after all the harite and just did his own sumo (i love this cliche).

in general .... i like what i've seen. There may be more about him than i thought .