Hakuho Utterance + Football (split from Hatsu 2015 comments)

[ALAKTORN 346]

This is the video:

It’s at 10:12. Dēmon asks how come a shin’nyūmaku (Ichinojō) can come up so fast, and mentions the level of sumō being weaker, and Hakuhō agrees. I don’t understand it 100% but I don’t think I misunderstood it.

Edit: with my previous post I meant that Hakuhō said the general level decreased, not his own.

Edited March 4, 2015 by ALAKTORN

[Andreas21 188]

Thank you for the details. Unfortunately, I cannot translate the interview at all. The context is the fast rise of Ichinojo, so the comment refers to the last year, and the level of Sumo from upper Makushita up to Sanyaku. The comparison period is not mentioned, right? Kotooshu and Baruto and others came up similarly fast, also Myogiryo and Endo. So that implies, Ichinojo is not as worthy, not as good as these. Hmm, okay ...

I didn't misunderstood you - I just put my conclusions very brief, too brief maybe. So the were:

1. Hakuho missed some of the Yushos last two years. If the sumo level is weaker than in say 2010, he should have won them all. He didn't, so perhaps he helped the Yokozuna causes of his friends.

2. Hakuho has roughly the same scores since 2007: 13-14 per basho on average. If the sumo level is getting weaker, consequently he must be weaker, (gachinko asumed here).

3. Assuming Hakuho gachinko, and the sumo level lower, and not getting weaker, he may be just sloppy not to win more.

In any case, a dumb thing to admit in an interview. Maybe he was just polite to the demon. Or, didn't have the nerve to disagree. Gives you bad luck to disagree with the demon? Just fell in demon's trap?

[Gurowake 4,107]

I think the likelihood he just wanted to agree with the host has to be considered. If he disagrees, he'd probably be forced to give some sort of reasoning, but if he agrees, he doesn't have to say anything more. That and general politeness and such. I wouldn't put the words in Hakuho's mouth at all.

[ALAKTORN 346]

I think the likelihood he just wanted to agree with the host has to be considered. If he disagrees, he'd probably be forced to give some sort of reasoning, but if he agrees, he doesn't have to say anything more. That and general politeness and such. I wouldn't put the words in Hakuho's mouth at all.

You’re underestimating Hakuhō. He’s not so unconfident in his Japanese that he wouldn’t want to answer questions, and he’s good friends with Dēmon Kakka and their interviews are often like friendly chatter. That’s what I think at least from having watched a bunch of them.

[Akinomaki 40,783]

Old (ex-) and new YDC top made different statements about the Hakuho criticism problem.
Tsuruta, the ex-: "Complaining about the judges is the lowest thing for a sportsman. He needs to change his mind and deeply regret and reflect on what he did." "Regardless how strong he is, that cancels it all. It's not too late, he should apologize to the judges department."
Moriya, the present YDC head is more careful: "From the side of the NSK, the riji-cho (Kitanoumi) has cautioned the oyakata (Hakuho's)." (and that's it)
http://www.sankei.com/sports/news/150323/spo1503230057-n1.html
"It felt like some word of apology in his yusho interview. There are of course fans who don't think so, but I think it's enough of this (subject) now."
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/03/23/kiji/K20150323010039420.html
Hakuho has kept his silence about it, not a single new word of apology in his interview today.
None explicit in yesterday's.
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20150323/sum15032313470007-n1.html
The subject is finished for him.

8 pages of the morning after interview:
http://www.sankei.com/sports/news/150323/spo1503230048-n1.html

Edited March 23, 2015 by Akinomaki

[bettega 431]

For gods's sake! The best rikishi of all time (by the numbers) and all that buzz. In portuguese we have a word for it that I haven't the capacity tro translate: RECALQUE

[luispereira 383]

For gods's sake! The best rikishi of all time (by the numbers) and all that buzz. In portuguese we have a word for it that I haven't the capacity tro translate: RECALQUE

yep, we could call it a mix of envy of success and frustation of not having that. i think it's normal at that level to get some of is actions exaggerated and become a big subject... but one thing's sure...we are witnessing sumo history with this guy!

[Kasutera 258]

Am I the only one who finds some parallels between Hakuho's dominance as Yokozuna and Anderson Silva's dominance in the UFC during his original run as middleweight champion? Two athletes who dominate the competition, and originally it's entertaining just to watch them completely clown otherwise formidable opponents, but then it shifts and the audience just gets bored/antsy to see if someone can get even CLOSE.

[bettega 431]

Am I the only one who finds some parallels between Hakuho's dominance as Yokozuna and Anderson Silva's dominance in the UFC during his original run as middleweight champion? Two athletes who dominate the competition, and originally it's entertaining just to watch them completely clown otherwise formidable opponents, but then it shifts and the audience just gets bored/antsy to see if someone can get even CLOSE.

This last two years of Anderson Silva were hell on earth - lost two times, a broken lag and dopping. Before that? Yeah. Now it's more like Jon Jones.

Edited April 7, 2015 by bettega

[Akinomaki 40,783]

Now at the end of the year the events of this year are re-examined. Hakuho's "Even a child can tell" first appeared as runner-up of one of the Nikkan ozumo grand awards

The Nikkan sumo awards this year also have one for the "phrase" of the year, similar to the national one for the whole Japanese society.

The award goes to (ex-)Kyokutenho for "tokoro ga gitchonchon" - 194 votes

2nd is Hakuho's "Even a child can tell" about the shimpan decision he didn't like, with 101 votes - the comment which led to massive Hahoho bashing early this year.

Nikkan then reported that Hakuho didn't know the rule that as soon as it's no longer just the sole of the foot that touches the ground, that as soon as the foot turns it's already a loss. The whole problem was caused by the explanation of Asahiyama head shimpan: He used as reason for the tori-naoshi: "We look at it like both fell down at the same time", which was not the case and thus Hakuho was right that a child could tell they didn't: he was the one going forward. Asahiyama should have explained that Kisenosato falling down and Hakuho's foot turning to the wrong side happened at the same time. Hahuho said he would have needed that explanation, he thought that he as the attacker like always should have been declared the winner in such a case.

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1579906.html

Jiji has another explanation why Hakuho behaved that "childish": he was annoyed that he was denied the ichidai-toshiyori status, thus the "the color of the skin doesn't matter" remark.

Edited December 17, 2015 by Akinomaki