Asashouryuu preparations Aki 2008

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Asashouryuu is leaving for Mongolia today, amid criticism from some circles about a kyujo yokozuna leaving the country. At first, he was slated to appear at the Mongolian Olympic Team's uniform presentation party but canceled it , probably to negate any chance of making a mistake like last time. He has decided he will not appear in public for the duration of his stay. At the Takasago senshuraku party, he was telling everyone his injured left elbow still hurt, but to the press he said his left elbow, which was diagnosed with a six week rest, is feeling considerably better. The Mongolian jungyo starts at the end of next month and he is really looking forward to it. "I am really looking forward to it", he said, which seems to somehow indicate he is truly looking forward to it.

He intends to return to Japan by August 4th when the summer jungyo commences, and intends to participate as well.

Asa shows his elbow at the Takasago party:

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Asashouryuu will be participating in the Mongolian Olympic team's send-off party (Uniform Presentation) after all, it seems. Takasago Oyakata was asked by Asa what to do, to which he replied: "Cheering for your national Olympic team is a good thing. As long as it's not something grandiose, it's OK by me", he said. The party was scheduled for today, but was postponed to august 2nd. We shall see.

[Jonosuke 28]

Asashoryu made it back in time for the natsu jungyo starting on August 5 at Tomakomai in Hokkaido after finishing the Mongolian Olympic Uniform Presentation ceremony as well as tending to his left elbow injury.

"We designed the unform using the color of our flag," Asashoryu said at Shin Chitose Airport in Sapporo to join the jungyo team in Hokkaido. He did not specifically make any comment on his injury however.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Asashouryuu really took his chances returning to Japan, as he made it at the last minute. He flew via Seoul to Narita arriving at 14:00, and made his way to Haneda airport, where he joined the rest of the group flying to Hokkaido. "A jungyo is a group effort, so I felt I should do everything with the group..", he explained. He did not answer any questions related to his injury. He will not be doing any bouts, just the dohyo-iri. He did agree to speak about the Mongolian Olympic team's uniform, after participating in the ceremony back home. "I designed it with the Mongolian flag colors in mind..", he joked again.

Asa arriving:

This morning, he actively participated in the "yamageiko" (outdoors keiko)-lending his chest for 30 minutes to compatriot and probable SNM (shin new maku) Tamawashi. "I really missed this.. It felt good", he said. It's been two years since he last participated in the Natsu jungyo, and we all remember why. Close by, there was a soccer goal post. "Man, that brings back fond memories..", he jested at his own expense.

Asa training:

Edited August 5, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Some more details- it was a 40 minute workout and he lent his chest to Kasugaou as well. Many soccer jokes were heard. "You wanna play some soccer? I'll just be the referee.." he said. The workout was on a soccer field, and the press thought Asa would be reluctant to step out on it. But he surprised them all. "Great memories, man.. It was a super-shot - It was a nice goal!!", he said, using the words "super-shot" and "nice goal" in English, alluding to the famous header and subsequent goal that caused his 4 month suspension. Asked about the heavily taped elbow: "It's not in any condition that allows me to do sumo".

Asa, goalpost and you tell me..:

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Another picture from Asa's keiko with Tamawashi. "This is your promotion party!!", Asa spake unto him:

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Asashouryuu did not show up for morning keiko today and was summoned to the Jungyo headquarters and cautioned. He arrived at the hall at noon and did nothing, instead of arriving at the designated time like the others for public asageiko. He still is only doing the dohyo-iri in the afternoon without doing any bouts. "I'm not feeling well, and will be going to the hospital now", he said, leaving quickly. "He said he has a cold and a headache, but I told him he should have notified us. I told him to try and show up as much as he can, illness notwithstanding", said Ooshima Jungyo Butcho Cautioner.

[ilovesumo 12]

More and more it feels like Asa is close to intai....

That would be awful...

get well Yokozuna...please! (Please!?...)

[Jonosuke 28]

I believe the Kyokai officials are taking more cautionary approach as well as more concerted efforts to appease Asashoryu as having the Mongolian Jungyo only four weeks. They will need both yokozuna attending to make the current summer jungyo success as most people will be watching the Olympics and their attention will be more focused on Team Japan's success in Beijing than the goings-on in regional jungyo events.

Oshima oyakata, Director of Jungyo, has been one of the most critical and vocal opponents in the past but this time he only indicated that he would need to have a pre-warning if Asashoryu cannot make it to the event on that day. Obviously reporters are fuming all around as they have been yelled at by Asashoryu, reportedly said to them, "Drop Dead, You Bastards", more or less in Japanese and Mongolian.

Despite his insistence that he has a cold, he was seen active in the previous night in town, rather looking to be enjoying himself. Asashoryu may have been upset after he came back from Mongolia hearing a rather wide spread rumor circulating in media that he has actually already divorced his wife.

He may not care much about reporters but antagonizing them needlessly won't help him as most reporters are just eagerly waiting for some gaffs from him to make their day.

[hidenohana 0]

More and more it feels like Asa is close to intai....

That would be awful...

get well Yokozuna...please! (Please!?...)

What??!! With just one kyujo basho??!! No!!! (I am not worthy...)

[Harry 67]

I know TVJapan was preempting some NHK sumo highlight programmes of Nagoya basho with pre-Olympics coverage. That was very annoying to me though it gave me further impetus to stay up and watch the live coverage which they left in place, thankfully.

Back on topic, Asa does seem to be in an odd place right now. His arm injury can't really be that bad -- I suspect that Taikai's arm is worse. His head and heart do not seem to be that into sumo at the moment.

[Mark Buckton 1]

More and more it feels like Asa is close to intai....

That would be awful...

get well Yokozuna...please! (Please!?...)

What??!! With just one kyujo basho??!! No!!! (I am not worthy...)

time to SEARCH, SEARCH, SEARCh my friend.

This latest, (of a VERY long line of woes and 'issues') 'I'm sick so I'll pull out of a basho' (the pooer showing until that point unrelated of course) followed by an elbow that is suddenly operating to such a level to enable some keiko to make sure he isn't deemed 'too' sick to be of use in the trip he really wants to make.

Perhaps oversleeping thanks to a few cool ones late at night and the (again) sudden reemergence of his always close at hand 'cold and sniffles' when slapped on the botty........

As was said above by Harry,

His head and heart do not seem to be that into sumo at the moment

- this is a man who knows the best is behind him and is looking out for numero uno now. Too often though, in doing so, it seems to be at the expense of the Japanese fans expectations and what is required of a yokozuna.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

After being cautioned by the Jungyo-bu and threatening a few reporters. Asa was approached by a group of Mongolian women-fans and was more than happy to oblige them with pictures and smiles:

[Kintamayama 45,530]

A bit more juicy stuff:

As Asa left Ooshima Oyakata's office after being cautioned, he was heard loudly uttering a Russian swear word (pizda, which means the equivalent of f*ck, but I think literally means the female thingy..). Then, he proceeded to shout at the press : "Hey, who do you thing you are, you bastard?? Go away!!" Many people testified seeing him the night before in the Sapporo Susukino shopping district with his tsukebito quite late at night.

Some reporters are all hinting that Ooshima is too "soft" with Asa, and that a stronger attitude should be taken with him. Shiranui Oyakata was much more angry, speaking of the fact that the day before he had his picture doing outside keiko in every newspaper and was being praised for doing keiko while injured. "Everyone was praising him, so he didn't come.. He just does whatever he wants, that guy!", said Shiranui.

Edited August 7, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,530]

The jungyo has moved from Sapporo to Akita today. The travel group was divided into three groups. Asashouryuu arrived looking genki. He had an intravenous drip at the hospital yesterday and was looking and feeling much better. "I'm OK!", he declared upon leaving. Today is a day off, and tomorrow the Akita jungyo will be held, then Sendai on the 9th -Tohoku all week.

[Fujisan 533]

What??!! With just one kyujo basho??!! No!!! (I am not worthy...)

Dont listen Arka.......

Asashoryu will be back at Aki and he will win the Yusho.

You heard it here first....

[hidenohana 0]

What??!! With just one kyujo basho??!! No!!! ;-)

Dont listen Arka.......

Asashoryu will be back at Aki and he will win the Yusho.

You heard it here first....

(sob!) (I am not worthy...) I hope so Fujisan.... maybe the members of sumoforum ,like the did with Kaio,should come up with messages of support and encouragement.

If that doesn't work, maybe people should volunteer to throw themselves in front of his 4*4.That'd soften his mighty heart! B-)

Dammit! I need this Yokozuna rivalry to last a couple more years-at least...

[ilovesumo 12]

(sob!) (I am not worthy...) I hope so Fujisan.... maybe the members of sumoforum ,like the did with Kaio,should come up with messages of support and encouragement.

If that doesn't work, maybe people should volunteer to throw themselves in front of his 4*4.That'd soften his mighty heart! B-)

Dammit! I need this Yokozuna rivalry to last a couple more years-at least...

You don't get it.

"Prepare for the worst and accept that nothing might go wrong"

Dale Carnegi

Pseudo pessimism. ;-)

[Fujisan 533]

You don't get it.

"Prepare for the worst and accept that nothing might go wrong"

Dale Carnegi

Pseudo pessimism. (Sigh...)

"Just when you think things cant possibly get any worse,they usually do." Victor Meldrew 'One foot in the grave'

"Asashoryu will fall flat on his face in his first five matches and retire in disgrace." The power of Neg(ativity) Fujisan

Edited August 10, 2008 by Fujisan

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Asashouryuu is back in the torikumi and for the first time in two and a half months, faced Hakuhou. But before that-after being cautioned a few days ago for apparently slacking off, yesterday he did some butsugari with Juryo Tosayutaka and was giving him some "loving". Then, instead of sticking to shiko, he decided to take on Komusubi Kisenosato, and promptly lost three straight bouts to him. and even lost two to Takekaze, going 6-5 overall. He did use his injured left elbow, but did not show Yokozuna sumo.Today, he was pretty much forced to participate in the torikumi. "If he can do keiko with the upper rankers, he can do the torikumi. After all, it's for the people..", said one of the organizers. "I can only use my right hand, and if you ask me, it's a bit discourteous towards the fans to mount the dohyo in my condition, but if that's what they want..", answered Asa and did what "they" wanted. Hakuhou didn't sound ecstatic about the prospect of a bout against an unhealthy Asashouryuu. "Can't they change the torikumi??", he wondered and wished. In the end, Hakuhou won by yorikiri. "What can I say.. it was a strange feeling. I just went and did my own sumo. As for the "story", that was back then and this is now. Different circumstances..", he explained, but looked pleased.

Asa with Tosayutaka:

Edited August 9, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,530]

At the beginning of keiko yesterday, Asashouryuu called Rohou (the Ossetian) and Tochinoshin (the Georgian) for some peace talks. As you know, there is a mini-war raging between the countries at the moment. Asa was worried this might move on to the dohyo, so he decided to have a talk with them. The rikishi themselves are good friends, but .. "Half of the 1400 dead are Russians. Citizens should be protected", said Rohou. "Innocent people have died..", said Tochinoshin. Both were defending their countries. Asashouryuu felt, as the top guy, he should see to it that things don't deteriorate. "This dispute has arisen on the day of the opening of the Olympic games, the symbol of world peace, . I just wish it would stop!", he said.

Tochinoshin: "Yeah, and then I ate the cow's eye.."

Rohou: "Big deal.. I ate its testicles!"

Asa: "Ugggh.."

Edited August 10, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Yesterday's yorikiri:

[Asashosakari 19,667]

"Half of the 1400 dead are Russians. Citizens should be protected", said Rohou.

And the other half were space aliens, presumably...ah, nevermind.

Still, with the sad Olympics connection, that statement reminded me of the joke about the athletics contest between the USSR and the US, which was won by the Americans and written up in Pravda as "a glorious runner-up finish by the Soviet team, while the Americans only came in next to last."

[Mark Buckton 1]

Kokkai far more connected and experienced here than Tochinoshin. Interesting nothing mentioned there.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Asashouryuu has aggravated his left elbow injury. In Aomori today, he did moshiai with Masatsukasa and after losing three straight and getting kime'd, he quit. He kicked the dohyo in disgust and left for the neigborhood hospital. He did return later with his elbow heavily taped, and did the dohyo-iri and the torikumi against Kotooushuu. "He seems to be in pain, but if he goes kyujo, it might force him go kyujo during the Mongolian jungyo as well, so even if the Yokozuna wants to take a rest, he can't..", said an official. He will continue to do the dohyo-iri and the torikumi, but , in his own words, "I can't do keiko!!".

Asa on the way to the hospital, icing the elbow:

Edited August 11, 2008 by Kintamayama