Sumo articles by journalists who are Forum members/or not

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

8 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Tomozuna beya story

Came across a shot of their Nagoya digs.

Mongolian-born Tomozuna Oyakata, or master of the Tomozuna stable (left), attends his wrestlers' training session at Ganjoji Yakushido temple in Nagoya, Japan.

The temple is used by sumo wrestlers belonging to the Tomozuna stable as a temporary base for the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Sumo: Hakuho eying Japanese citizenship

Quote

Now on the verge of setting yet another record, Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho has dreamed of obtaining Japanese citizenship and remaining in the sumo world after he retires, an informed source has said.

On Thursday, Hakuho equaled the record for career matches won, tying Kaio's record of 1,047. When he sets the new mark, it will be just another barrier broken for the son of a Mongolian wrestling legend.

Upon retirement, wrestlers often seek to stay in the sport as a sumo elder, with foreign stars often taking up Japanese citizenship in order to qualify. Yet, despite having won more grand sumo tournaments than any other wrestler, Hakuho is said to have been conflicted about changing citizenship because of his father's status as a Mongolian hero.

Still, Hakuho, whose real name is Munkhbat Davajargal, has repeatedly said, "Not only is Japan the country that nurtured me, but I simply love sumo."

Seven years ago, when the sumo world was in peril over a gambling scandal, the yokozuna established the Hakuho Cup, a children's sumo tournament for foreign and domestic wrestlers.

But regardless of his achievements in the ring and beyond, and his historic status, Japan Sumo Association rules still requires every sumo elder to be a Japanese citizen.

While there had been rumors about Hakuho's hinting about a special rule that would allow him to become a sumo elder while maintaining Mongolian citizenship, a sumo association official said that is no longer an issue.

"The days when he desired that are past," the official said. "The yokozuna is now thinking about this in the proper fashion."

Prior to this Nagoya tournament, Hakuho expressed his hopes for his future legacy.

"The sumo wrestler is today's samurai," he said. "I want the children to know that during the Heisei era, a wrestler named Hakuho left his mark all over the record books."

The grand champion is now 47 away from 1,000 wins in sumo's elite makuuchi division. If he wins in Nagoya, he'll be just one away from 40 grand tournament championships, a figure beyond the reach of any wrestler before him.

And until that day comes when he does turn his thoughts to training new wrestlers to walk his path, Hakuho will continue on the raised ring and in the spotlight.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2017/07/5f00a9101c6b-focus-sumo-hakuho-eying-japanese-citizenship.html

[Kintamayama 45,328]

Hakuhou, after the basho talk

[Benevolance 2,501]

I injured my foot in Nagoya (last year) but made up for that by getting my payback here in Nagoya. I set the big record in front of fans from around the world.

Quite obviously a nod to the sumo forum there. After all, without our tacit armchair support, any sumo success would be impossible. 

[Bumpkin 438]

16 minutes ago, Benevolance said:

Quite obviously a nod to the sumo forum there. After all, without our tacit armchair support, any sumo success would be impossible. 

It would be great if Hakuho given a,"Shout out to Sumo Forum!"

[orandashoho 720]

On the other hand, many people from around the world are physically present in the arena, and he may also have been thinking of Manfred Deutschlander.

[RabidJohn 1,809]

6 hours ago, orandashoho said:

On the other hand, many people from around the world are physically present in the arena, and he may also have been thinking of Manfred Deutschlander.

And on yet another hand, many more are watching NHK World's coverage and YouTube, so maybe it was a bit of a nod to the much-appreciated efforts of Moti, Jason, Robert, et al.

[Asashosakari 19,484]

Via Gaijingai on the SML, a pretty interesting article about 23-year-old Kotokuzan, another half-Filipino guy who's toiling in makushita (no, he's not from Sadogatake-beya): http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/269233/sinigang-gets-sumo-wrestler-going/

[Asashosakari 19,484]

And while we're at it - Sumo ABC #56 about (yay...) Ura's Nagoya exploits: http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003828758

[Gurowake 4,088]

3 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

Via Gaijingai on the SML, a pretty interesting article about 23-year-old Kotokuzan, another half-Filipino guy who's toiling in makushita (no, he's not from Sadogatake-beya): http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/269233/sinigang-gets-sumo-wrestler-going/

It's apparently Ko(u)-toku-zan 荒篤山.  Yet another place where using some sort of markers for long vowels would aid in understanding.  I have to wonder if they would let someone use a name with the same last 2 kanji but with a first kanji just pronounced "ko", like the one in "Komusubi".

[Doitsuyama 1,190]

7 hours ago, Gurowake said:

It's apparently Ko(u)-toku-zan 荒篤山.  Yet another place where using some sort of markers for long vowels would aid in understanding.  I have to wonder if they would let someone use a name with the same last 2 kanji but with a first kanji just pronounced "ko", like the one in "Komusubi".

Yes, they would allow that, they don't care about romanization and why should they? Such cases with same romanization but different kana readings are numerous actually, here some examples:

Tokiryu / Tokiryu

Satoyama / Satoyama

Byakko / Byakko

 

[Akinomaki 40,661]

9 hours ago, Gurowake said:

12 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

a pretty interesting article about 23-year-old Kotokuzan, another half-Filipino guy who's toiling in makushita (no, he's not from Sadogatake-beya): http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/269233/sinigang-gets-sumo-wrestler-going/

It's apparently Ko(u)-toku-zan 荒篤山.  Yet another place where using some sort of markers for long vowels would aid in understanding.  I have to wonder if they would let someone use a name with the same last 2 kanji but with a first kanji just pronounced "ko", like the one in "Komusubi".

1 hour ago, Doitsuyama said:

Yes, they would allow that, they don't care about romanization and why should they? Such cases with same romanization but different kana readings are numerous actually

The pronunciation of Ko-tokuzan 小篤山 would be (not really noticeably ) different from a Sadogatake Koto-kuzan, but they would of course not allow the 2 at the same time with the same kana reading,.

Kotobuki 壽 though is even closer to a Sadogatake shikona, but was Matsugane.

Edited August 2, 2017 by Akinomaki

[Gurowake 4,088]

15 hours ago, Doitsuyama said:

Yes, they would allow that, they don't care about romanization and why should they? Such cases with same romanization but different kana readings are numerous actually, here some examples:

Tokiryu / Tokiryu

Satoyama / Satoyama

Byakko / Byakko

 

I wasn't referring to Romanization at all, but the kana pronunciation.  Akinomaki did find someone who whose shikona started with こと and was not from Sadogatake, which was what I was interested in.  Given that they don't allow rikishi with the same kana pronunciation regardless of differences in kanji, it would not be too weird to think that there was a general moratorium in starting shikona with the same two kana as those from stables that have traditional prefixes with those kana.  Given Akinomakis example, either it's not an issue, or not enough of an issue to matter.

[Asashosakari 19,484]

35 minutes ago, Gurowake said:

I wasn't referring to Romanization at all, but the kana pronunciation.  Akinomaki did find someone who whose shikona started with こと and was not from Sadogatake, which was what I was interested in.  Given that they don't allow rikishi with the same kana pronunciation regardless of differences in kanji, it would not be too weird to think that there was a general moratorium in starting shikona with the same two kana as those from stables that have traditional prefixes with those kana.  Given Akinomakis example, either it's not an issue, or not enough of an issue to matter.

I wouldn't be surprised if they generally try to avoid it, though real names like Kotobuki (or currently not-Takasago Asakura and not-Chiganoura Masuyama) are probably not something anyone really cares about.

Not-Hakkaku Hokutoryu is an interesting case right now, although Hakkaku rikishi rarely use the long-vowel reading for the to. The closest current cases might be not-Tomozuna/Asakayama Kairyu and Kaishin. Or maybe the various not-Takanohana Taka* rikishi, but some of them have a claim of their own (a few Azumazeki guys via Takamiyama especially).

Edited August 2, 2017 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 45,328]

Aki and Hakuhou

[Kintamayama 45,328]

Jungyos

[Asashosakari 19,484]

John on the upcoming basho and the rise of rikishi with half-foreign parentage. Well worth a read as always.

Looks like nobody has told him that sports journalists are not meant to acknowledge old failed predictions, though. 

[Bumpkin 438]

2 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

John on the upcoming basho and the rise of rikishi with half-foreign parentage. Well worth a read as always.

Looks like nobody has told him that sports journalists are not meant to acknowledge old failed predictions, though. 

Is there a list of all the half-Japanese half-foreign active rikishi?

[Kintamayama 45,328]

Interesting how this Japan Times article is nearly exactly the same as my last three posts in the preparations thread.. Of course, it was an independent translation, but I am happy to see how close it is to mine.

[Kintamayama 45,328]

Sumo ABC Number 60

[Asashosakari 19,484]

Backfilling some ABC links because these sometimes seem to disappear from the Japan-News listings early:

#59 on Yoshikaze
#58 on a memorial for sumo journalists
#57 on Kisenosato 

[Kintamayama 45,328]

John on Aki Basho

[Washuyama 641]

Great articles, John.  I'm glad to go back to reading articles on sumo where I'm not whispering to myself "What a freakin' idiot!" as I'm reading...

[Kintamayama 45,328]

Sumo "Beyond 2020" event

 

Edited October 4, 2017 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,328]

Sumo ABC 61- on Goueidou and bad habits