Interview with Izutsu Oyakata

[Fay 1,677]

Last but not least ...

See here an interview with ... Izutsu Oyakata

[obinishiki 0]

Great Interview

Thanx a lot!!

[Flohru 176]

At the first basho after I was promoted to Makuuchi, I was injured and did Makekoshi. My record was 5-5, then I got injured, my final record was 5-7, with 3 absences.

Is there a mistake in the Doitsubase or is this just another case in which Oral History didn't work out 100% and Sakahoko in fact got injured while standing at 4-4, finishing this basho 4-9 with 2 absences...

Great interview indeed! (I was stupid...)

[Naganoyama 5,911]

Thank you very much! He is a very interesting guy, with a great deal to say for himself.

[ilovesumo 12]

Great thing. (I am not worthy...)

[Kintamayama 45,111]

What is very striking in the SWP (Sumo Web Paper) interviews are the total non-cliche-ness of the answers. I mean, an Oyakata talking of his light depression and panic attacks (besides the interesting sumo stuff) is indeed interesting. Excellent, entertaining interview.

(I am not worthy...)

[Randomitsuki 2,826]

At the first basho after I was promoted to Makuuchi, I was injured and did Makekoshi. My record was 5-5, then I got injured, my final record was 5-7, with 3 absences.

Is there a mistake in the Doitsubase or is this just another case in which Oral History didn't work out 100% and Sakahoko in fact got injured while standing at 4-4, finishing this basho 4-9 with 2 absences...

I would be surprised if the Doitsubase were wrong on such a large scale. Instead, I believe it's a classical example that autobiographical memory, even of key events in one's life, can be quite flawed. There's a whole research literature on that. Maybe Izutsu-oyakata even knows such literature, as he said that he's interested in psychology.

Oh, and the interview was indeed very good. Much deeper than the usual run-of-the-mill interviews that people in sports usually give. Thanks a lot! (I am not worthy...)

[Nanami 0]

Wow! That was a really good and informative interview. I thought his idea of some sort of high school equivalency for rikishi was a good one - worth being explored. Thanks for sharing the interview! (I am not worthy...)

[Chiyomaru 0]

(Yusho winner...) A great interview with my favorite oyakata! I am glad he is a kind oyakata and father (Clapping wildly...)

Thank you so much, Fay (I am not worthy...)

[Manekineko 200]

Now I'll wonder if I've seen his daughter on-stage in Takarazuka. (Yusho winner...) Find out which troupe she's in... (I am not worthy...)

Wonderful, insightful, earnest interview. It's a treasure, Fay! Thank you so much.

[Fay 1,677]

Thank you all, glad that you liked it :-D .

[Kotoviki 16]

Martina, sorry no time to thank you properly when I actually read the interview!

It was really great and nice that he opened up so frankly to you for the interview. Thank you so much for sharing with us!!

As always you've done an outstanding job!

[Mikiro 0]

What a marvelous interview, certainly not what one might expect. I would wish we could have many more like this.

[Shomishuu 0]

Thank you Fay. I finally got a chance to read the interview, and was very impressed with the Oyakata's humanity and openness. I was also glad to see his comment about rank not being everything. Most sumo books I was 'raised on' said explicitly that rank WAS everything. I can only guess that his comment reflects the many changes in sumo society in the last 10-20 years; although I would like to believe that the books I read many years ago overstated the importance of rank. Thanks again.

[Gougou na Nami 0]

Awesome, thank you so much! Highly informative, and great answers. Very high res photos too :).

-Gogo ;-)

[Orion 431]

Last but not least ...

See here an interview with Izutsu Oyakata

Great interview, Fay! What he says about his own juniors is very impressive. It's interesting that there is no hint of his persecution of the Ozeki Kirishima just before and just after his retirement. Izutsu's apprentices (can't bring myself to call them 'disciples'!) were under orders, for instance, to throw out the ozeki's fan mail; and more importantly, Izutsu actively put obstacles in Kirishima's way when he was trying to buy a myoseki to become an oyakata and set up his own heya.

No mention, either, of the eldest of the three brothers, who used his father's Juryo shikona, Kakureizan, and who runs the restaurant Chanko Terao (as Terao's name was the most famous).

Ah, memories, memories!

[Fay 1,677]

It's interesting that there is no hint of his persecution of the Ozeki Kirishima just before and just after his retirement. Izutsu's apprentices (can't bring myself to call them 'disciples'!) were under orders, for instance, to throw out the ozeki's fan mail; and more importantly, Izutsu actively put obstacles in Kirishima's way when he was trying to buy a myoseki to become an oyakata and set up his own heya.

Something I didn't know very much about and maybe not really an issue he wants to talk about ;-) , I'm not sure if it would be healthy for me to ask him about this next time I meet him ... (Blowing up furiously...) (Beaten...) but perhaps I should give it a try (Whistling...)

[Orion 431]

Something I didn't know very much about and maybe not really an issue he wants to talk about ;-) , I'm not sure if it would be healthy for me to ask him about this next time I meet him ... (Blowing up furiously...) (Beaten...) but perhaps I should give it a try (Whistling...)

No Fay, don't ask him anything about the dark side! When he bears a grudge, he's got a mind like a steel trap!!

(Let's see if I got the 'quote' thing right this time)

Orion

[Sakana 46]

That's great ! Thank you Fay ! (Blowing up furiously...)

Edited August 20, 2008 by Sakana