Sumo articles by journalists who are Forum members/or not

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Sumo 101: Illegal moves

Quote

Prior to their first live experience, many people are under the impression that sumo is a plodding sport in which two overweight men slowly try to force each other backward in a straight line.

That illusion is always shattered within minutes of first sitting down to watch a training session or a tournament.

The sheer violence and ferocity of sumo is a jaw-dropper for first-time viewers...

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/11/25/sumo/sumo-101-illegal-moves

 

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Father’s push for feeding frenzies makes winner of Takakeisho

Quote

In his father’s eyes, Takakeisho had one glaring weakness as a child: He was reluctant to stuff his face with hamburgers and fries.

The father, Kazuya Sato, 57, enforced a strict rule that the young Takakeisho had to put on weight every day to secure his future as a professional sumo wrestler.

Although Takakeisho sometimes lost his appetite for that rule, he followed his father’s strict orders.

And on Nov. 25, he credited that upbringing for winning the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, his first championship.

“The goal for my father and me was to become a successful sumo wrestler,” Takakeisho said in an interview after winning the Emperor’s Cup. “I am glad that I was able to produce a few results today.”

Takakeisho’s childhood featured a lot of sumo practice--and a huge diet.

A hamburger restaurant was a popular destination for the Sato family in Hyogo Prefecture. His father would inevitably order four large plates of french fries and four large hamburger steaks.

Takakeisho said at one time he hated even looking at the dish.

To get around the daily rule of packing on weight every day, Takakeisho once hid a 1-kilogram weight in his pocket before stepping on the scale. But his father caught him cheating.

Takakeisho weighed about 30 kilograms when he was in the third grade but tipped the scales at more than 80 kilograms by the time he was in the sixth grade.

The father and son not only practiced sumo at home, but they also went to a number of sumo clubs together near their home.

When Takakeisho was attending Nigawa Gakuin Elementary School in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, he joined a sumo school headed by Hisayoshi Yamaguchi, who is now chairman of the Kansai Amami sumo federation.

Yamaguchi likened Takakeisho and his father to the main characters in the popular baseball manga and anime “Kyojin no Hoshi” (Star of the Giants).

“The two worked closely together under a Spartan educational program,” Yamaguchi said. “The relationship was like that between Hyuma and Ittetsu Hoshi.”

Ittetsu was a former professional ballplayer who wanted his son Hyuma to follow in his footsteps. The strict training helps Hyuma eventually join the Yomiuri Giants in the manga.

As Takakeisho bulked up, he began disliking what he was once good at--sprints.

But he became stronger as a sumo wrestler and went on to win national titles at Hotoku Gakuen Junior High School in Nishinomiya and Saitama Sakae High School in Saitama city.

Takakeisho said he was able to put up with the training because his father was not draconian in his approach.

Kazuya Sato was in the audience at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center to witness his son win his first sumo tournament.

“Our past history flashed before my eyes,” Kazuya said. “Although I was strict, he really stuck to it.”

Takakeisho’s real name, Takanobu, was another sign that Kazuya wanted his son to become a sumo wrestler.

The kanji character for “Taka” was taken from the name of popular yokozuna Takanohana, of whom Kazuya was a big fan.

In fact, Takakeisho would later join the sumo stable opened by Takanohana.

Years earlier, Takakeisho took part in a sumo class run by Takanohana and asked the retired grand champion how he was able to beat much bigger opponents.

Takakeisho remembers Takanohana stressing the importance of repeating the basic sumo skills, such as “shiko,” or stamping the ground after raising one leg very high.

Takanohana quit the sumo world in September after a protracted dispute with the Japan Sumo Association, so Takakeisho won his first tournament as a member of the Chiganoura stable.

Takakeisho said he at first could not understand what Takanohana meant when he stressed the importance of fundamentals.

But the 22-year-old komusubi said he now recognizes that Takanohana was advising him to always face oneself, rather than an opponent.

“I want to always remember (Takanohana) in my heart and hammer that belief into my core,” Takakeisho said.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201811260030.html

 

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Ex-sumo stablemaster Takanohana gets divorce

Quote

Koji Hanada, who was a sumo grand champion and stablemaster under the name Takanohana, has divorced former TV announcer Keiko, sources close to the matter said Monday.

Hanada married Keiko Kono in 1995 after being promoted to yokozuna, sumo's top rank of grand champion. The couple had three children.

As Takanohana, the 46-year-old Hanada won 22 tournaments in the top makuuchi division and helped sumo gain popularity alongside his elder brother Wakanohana...

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20181127/p2g/00m/0dm/015000c

 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

16 hours ago, Otokonoyama said:

Ex-sumo stablemaster Takanohana gets divorce

 

Takanohana is cutting ties with everyone it seems.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Takakeisho’s victory may herald rise of new generation

Quote

Takakeisho’s victory in the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament made him the third wrestler to lift a maiden Emperor’s Cup in 2018.

Sumo hasn’t seen a breakthrough on that scale in nearly two decades.

Not since Musoyama, Takatoriki and Kaio triumphed in January, March and May of 2000, respectively, have three championships been taken by first-time winners in the same year...

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/11/28/sumo/takakeishos-victory-may-herald-rise-new-generation

 

 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

1 hour ago, Otokonoyama said:

Takakeisho’s victory may herald rise of new generation

 

 

Only one of those three won his ‘first’ yusho that year. The other two won their ‘only’ yusho. 

In 1992 there were three hatsu yusho winners, two of whom – Takanahada and Akebono – went on to win more, and in that same year too. Only Mitoizumi didn’t manage another. Same deal in 1975 and 1968.

1972 had the most hatsu yusho in a year with four, but only one winner – Wajima – repeated the feat.

There hasn’t been a year yet with three or more hatsu yusho winners who all won a second championship. I wonder if 2018 will set a new record.

Edited November 28, 2018 by Eikokurai

[ryafuji 814]

2 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

Only one of those three won his ‘first’ yusho that year. The other two won their ‘only’ yusho. 

Jeez, how pedantic. Anyway, it's still their first. First and only.

[orandashoho 720]

On ‎27‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 08:42, Otokonoyama said:

Ex-sumo stablemaster Takanohana gets divorce

"Although the Takanohana stable was absorbed by Chiganoura, one of his former disciples Takakeisho won his first career championship at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday." 
The use of "Although"  here infers that Takanohana's former disciples might not be able to perform well after the move to Chiganoura.
That is an interesting notion. Would the rkishi be very upset at the move and would their performance be expected to suffer? Or wouldn't they just as likely not suffer at all, even be relieved that the shemanigans are over and they can concentrate on sumo, with a better performance as result?

[Eikokurai 3,437]

9 hours ago, ryafuji said:

Jeez, how pedantic. Anyway, it's still their first. First and only.

I guess you didn’t bother to read on past that sentence.

I wasn’t being pedantic, I was making the observation that we’ve not yet seen a year in which more than two new dominant champions emerged together.

In 2000 two of the three hatsu yusho winners reached more or less their career peak, while only Kaio went on to achieve greater things (Ozeki for years, four more championships, seven more JY at Ozeki). Musoyama made Ozeki but wasn’t particularly strong (two JY after his yusho) and Takatoriki, who won from M14, topped out at Sekiwake and that was before his yusho, which was a blip in an otherwise fairly ordinary career. 1992 had two future Yokozuna start their runs towards the top.

Will 2018 be a year of career exceptions like 2000 or a year like 1992 when multiple future Yokozuna broke through together? Tochinoshin obviously has already made Ozeki, but can the others? Can either get a second title or make Yokozuna? Will we remember this year as the year of great change when multiple new talents all emerged at once or will it be another 1972 when a number of rikishi took advantage of weakened Y/O ranks to clinch their only moment of glory?

Edited November 29, 2018 by Eikokurai

[Eikokurai 3,437]

10 hours ago, orandashoho said:

"Although the Takanohana stable was absorbed by Chiganoura, one of his former disciples Takakeisho won his first career championship at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday." 
The use of "Although"  here infers that Takanohana's former disciples might not be able to perform well after the move to Chiganoura.
That is an interesting notion. Would the rkishi be very upset at the move and would their performance be expected to suffer? Or wouldn't they just as likely not suffer at all, even be relieved that the shemanigans are over and they can concentrate on sumo, with a better performance as result?

Humans as a species aren’t fans of change and sumo life is more routine than most. It’s not unreasonable for an outsider to suppose a rikishi could find a heya move disruptive.

That said, so much is uniform in sumo that a focused rikishi may not even notice. One heya looks much like another and the basic regimen is more or less the same. 

Edited November 29, 2018 by Eikokurai

[ryafuji 814]

22 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

I guess you didn’t bother to read on past that sentence.

I wasn’t being pedantic, I was making the observation that we’ve not yet seen a year in which more than two new dominant champions emerged together.

 

I read the whole post. That sentence still gave the impression, to me anyway, that you were correcting a supposed "error" in John Gunning's article.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

1 hour ago, ryafuji said:

I read the whole post. That sentence still gave the impression, to me anyway, that you were correcting a supposed "error" in John Gunning's article.

But the sentence didn’t stand alone. Context is everything.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

The Roscommon man who became a sumo wrestler in Japan

John Gunning has retired from sumo-wrestling and become an English-language commentator

 

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/the-roscommon-man-who-became-a-sumo-wrestler-in-japan-1.3717609

[Amamaniac 2,079]

1 hour ago, Otokonoyama said:

John Gunning has retired from sumo-wrestling and become an English-language commentator

Not exactly "breaking news", but the increased recognition is long overdue and most welcome!

[Fukurou 534]

5 hours ago, Otokonoyama said:

The Roscommon man who became a sumo wrestler in Japan

John Gunning has retired from sumo-wrestling and become an English-language commentator

 

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/the-roscommon-man-who-became-a-sumo-wrestler-in-japan-1.3717609

Very interesting article. I think writer JJ O' Donoghue did a good job explaining the sumo stuff (or perhaps John made sure he got it right!)

Would have loved to have been with the Green Army during and after the match with Germany in the 2002 WC (hey, great grandpa was from Co. Down)

So what's next on your bucket list, John? 

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Please Clap for Sumo Wrestling

Why Japan's national sport needs to become your new obsession.

https://grandstandcentral.com/2018/sections/culture/why-sumo-wrestling-is-worth-your-time/

[Jakusotsu 5,981]

35 minutes ago, Otokonoyama said:

https://grandstandcentral.com/2018/sections/culture/why-sumo-wrestling-is-worth-your-time/

"...live stream on NHK World Japan. Their coverage usually includes both a Japanese version of the program, as well as one with a charmingly excited British commentator."

[Eikokurai 3,437]

1 hour ago, Otokonoyama said:

Please Clap for Sumo Wrestling

Why Japan's national sport needs to become your new obsession.

https://grandstandcentral.com/2018/sections/culture/why-sumo-wrestling-is-worth-your-time/

“Take it from someone who was forced to drag their saki-soaked, hungover ass out of bed at 7 a.m. and sprint across Osaka while doing everything in their power to keep down their 7Eleven coffee and onigiri—don’t show up at 8 a.m.”

No way! It was getting there at the start of the day that kickstarted my love for sumo. Unless things have changed in the last 11 years, at that time of the morning the access to both the ringside seating and behind the scenes is brilliant. For cheap-seat ticket holders like me, it was great being able to get down front and move around relatively freely among the rikishi. Once the sekitori arrive it becomes more restricted backstage and, of course, you get kicked upstairs. I say go all day if you can, walk around, take pictures from every angle and of everything. Really soak it up.

[orandashoho 720]

I second the last speaker. The're not "amateurs" who start the day -- not even Hattorizakura. It not uninteresting to see them, specially when remembering that their short time on the dohyo is their only chance to advance themselves. Don't think for a minute that they're not motivated and won't fight with all they've got.

[Amamaniac 2,079]

1 hour ago, John Gunning said:

22 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

Not exactly "breaking news", but the increased recognition is long overdue and most welcome!

Well I did mention some fractures.

Let me rephrase my previous post:

The increased recognition is long overdue and most welcome!  The "breaking" news, not so much...

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Change in stable can revive wrestlers’ careers

Quote

Takakeisho, winner of this year’s Kyushu tournament, was pictured alongside his stablemaster on Nov. 26 holding up a large red sea bream and drinking sake from an outsized trophy at a celebratory event.

While there was nothing noteworthy in the scene itself — such parties are standard fare for tournament champions — the fact that the stablemaster was Chiganoura rather than Takanohana would have surprised anyone who hadn’t been paying attention to the sport for the past couple of months.

The latter man’s sudden retirement from the sumo world in September meant the stable that bore his name had to close and its wrestlers transfer to Chiganoura Beya...

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/12/05/sumo/change-stable-can-revive-wrestlers-careers

 

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Can anyone confirm whether or not the current Chiganoura Oyakata used to be a coach at Takanohana Stable, and if so, was he coaching at the same time that Takakeisho was there?

Edited December 5, 2018 by Amamaniac

[Nantonoyama 252]

13 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Can anyone confirm whether or not the current Chiganoura Oyakata used to be a coach at Takanohana Stable, and if so, was he coaching at the same time that Takakeisho was there?

Chiganoura was oyakata in Takanohana-beya until April 2016 (under the Tokiwayama kabu), and Takakeisho did his mae-zumo in Aki 2014, so yes.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

“Change in stable can revive wrestlers’ careers”

‘Revive’ seems a bit to be overstating it a bit. Takakeisho’s career has never been on life support. He’s been on a steady upward trajectory since going pro just four years ago. He’s not Jokoryu.

[Amamaniac 2,079]

1 hour ago, Eikokurai said:

“Change in stable can revive wrestlers’ careers”

‘Revive’ seems a bit to be overstating it a bit.

I had the same reaction.  Perhaps "boost" would have been slightly more appropriate.

But John Gunning will be sure to remind us all that the titles to his pieces are written by his editor, and not him.  I say it is high time that John be allowed to write his own headlines!  

Perhaps a Sumo Forum petition is in order.