Tony 16 Posted October 6, 2002 Who is your favourite rikishi ( all time ) ? For me, it's Chiyonofuji! Then, Kitanoumi, Takanosato, Kirishima and Wakanohana I. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted October 6, 2002 Toki, of course. His style is really amazing ! Rikishi with his weight generally crash into their opponent, body to body, to push the opponent and to win by oshitaoshi or oshidashi, and Toki has only one obsession : to grab the throat of the opponent, to slap faces, to work the opponent's head and not the opponent's body ! Toki is in another world meanwhile his opponents are in the real hard world of Toki ! Absolutely fantastic ! I'm 200 percent fan of him ! Each day of basho, I'm looking forward to watching the bout involving Toki : who will be trapped today ? Because, strategically, it's a disgrace for the opponents to lose against him because they all know he strictly attacks their head ! The problem is to know if the first tsuppari attack is a violent slap down, a right slap, a left slap, or if he'll grab the throat !!! It's absolutely fantastic what Toki achieved only with the same limited techniques. That deserves an huge respect and all my admiration ! Come on, Toki ! Don't change nothing ! And in french, we say : "C'est un tour de force" what he realizes each time, which is difficult to be traduced in english, like "it's a force trick" which has no sense. In a completely different style, Takanonami is admirable too. The way he stretchs his long arms to surround the opponent and to grab the back of the mawashi ... Takanonami's classic overarm grip is a great entertaiment, each time, and this is the same thing I wrote for Toki : the opponents are warned, no real surprises with them (Perhaps a bit more with Nami than with Toki) which makes Toki or Nami's wins more difficult to obtain than for some other wrestlers'wins , full of surprises. Kotonowaka's slow moves and long bouts action is a so so great entertainment too. His big size enables him to put all his weight on his opponent, to tire the opponent out, a bit like a predator with his poor prey before giving the death-blow. Well, another one is Miyabiyama : he's not graceful, he's ugly, he's rough : I love him !!! Plus Asashoryu but the rough Asashoryu version, not Asashoryu, the technician. Plus all the heavy rikishi who practice the Oshizumo style : Musoyama, Wakanoyama, Buyuzan, Wakakosho, and Musashimaru, Akebono, Konishiki, Sentoryu of course ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manekineko 200 Posted October 7, 2002 All time favourite? It's hard to tell... The one rikishi I was truly sad to see retire, the one rikishi I was honestly happy to see win a yusho: Kotonishiki Plus, my boss looks like him... :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaikitsune Makoto 209 Posted October 7, 2002 Toki, of course. His style is really amazing >snip< Great fan-appreciation speech for Toki by Mr Vinyl! I'd like to add something. One of the appealing features in Toki's sumo is his quite common but yet characteristical breathing rhytm - the elastic and collagen fibers in his skin layers embracing his cheeks stretch in harmony as Toki exhales strongly with cheeks full of air when battering his foes with slaps, throat thrusts etc. Sometimes he roars when exhaling air vibrates his vocal cords. All this is often predictable and it's evident that at the very moment his breathing rhytm ceases to work in favour of him, he is bound to lose. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted October 8, 2002 Who is your favourite rikishi ( all time ) ? All-time?!?!? Now that's a question of questions. I'll make a list with pure instinct: Kotozakura, Kotokaze, Kotogaume, Kotonishiki, Kotonowaka (Blush...) , Mainoumi, Asahifuji, Arsene Wenger... and some I'm bound to forget. Is there a common element between them except that it helps to belong to Sadogatake? Probably not. I can't find any one reason why just these have caught my imagination. I've answered the unanswerable. :-P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hananotaka 8 Posted October 9, 2002 Hmmmmm....let me see....favorite rikishi....favorite rikishi... I guess, if pressed, I'd have to say...um, Wakanosato! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted October 9, 2002 But then, you guys knew all this, right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted October 9, 2002 Brilliant deep analysis about Toki, Kaikitsune-zeki. I only watched him too superficially ! One thing is interesting : despite the fact of the car incident, Toki is rarely injured with his own particular fighting system and he seems to navigate from Maegashira 1 to Maegashira 10 and able to make it for a decade at least ... to beat the non-stop record of Higonoumi of 53 straight basho as Maegashira ! Wakanoyama is a typical Maegashira man too, to be too good to go down to Juryo, and not to good enough to go to Sanyaku (though he managed to make it one time as Komusubi in the past) and this wrestler could break that record too ! Though 53 basho is a huge score ... 8 and a half year with no kyujo, no up and downs from Makuuchi to Juryo to Makuuchi ... But records exist to be beaten ! Come on, Toki, come on Wakanoyama, you have a lot of golden years as Maegashira to come ! Check out the impressive 53 in a row on Higonoumi's page on Chiyozakura's web site here ! Enjoy ! :-9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted October 9, 2002 Brilliant deep analysis about Toki, Kaikitsune-zeki. I only watched him too superficially !One thing is interesting : despite the fact of the car incident, Toki is rarely injured with his own particular fighting system and he seems to navigate from Maegashira 1 to Maegashira 10 and able to make it for a decade at least ... to beat the non-stop record of Higonoumi of 53 straight basho as Maegashira ! Wakanoyama is a typical Maegashira man too, to be too good to go down to Juryo, and not to good enough to go to Sanyaku (though he managed to make it one time as Komusubi in the past) and this wrestler could break that record too ! Though 53 basho is a huge score ... 8 and a half year with no kyujo, no up and downs from Makuuchi to Juryo to Makuuchi ... But records exist to be beaten ! Come on, Toki, come on Wakanoyama, you have a lot of golden years as Maegashira to come ! Check out the impressive 53 in a row on Higonoumi's page on Chiyozakura's web site here ! Enjoy ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted October 10, 2002 Wakanoyama is already aged of 30 years ? oh dear ... For Toki, why not ? But 53 in a row ... with no rewards, would you believe it ? It's more than exceptionnal ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenjimoto 40 Posted October 10, 2002 OK, well... for me the "alltime" factor almost doesn't apply, cause I have only really followed Ozumo since Aki Basho 2001, so whatever favorites I might have are still around :) My early favorite was Kitazakura, at that time probably cause his salt-throw made him one of the rikishi that I could actually recognize in the early going of watching my first ever basho (as some of you will remember, when you watch your first basho, it seems like most of these guys look the same) :D Back then Kitazakura also had some good success, and as was mentioned in another thread, he wears his emotions on his sleeve. Meanwhile he has dropped back to Juryo, and even stopped his salt throw for now, but I sure hope he will mount a comeback soon. The next guy I started to notice was... Asashoryu! What can you say about him that hasn't already been said... he is simply EXCITING. He has skill, he is a little guy (and in my early sumo days he was still pretty much the "underdog" as the little guy), but he has "bite" and is just all-around feisty - and that makes for a great show! He is my number 2 rikishi. Number One for me is Takamisakari. So quirky, so awkward, squinting robocop demeanor, but such a lethal grip, and a really skilled wrestler who also seems a humble guy. When he is in good form, it seems he "miraculously" gets his favorite grip and somehow manages to move his opponent out. I have many times watched his bouts over, cause it didn't seem possible that he could have beaten his apparently superior opponent, but he somehow did. His early blunders when picking up kensho were endearing. And I admire his difficult comeback from injury. I hope he stays around for a long time. He is FUN to watch. It was before my time, but I saw a few replayed bouts with Akebono, Konishiki and Mainomi, and I think that the time when they were all around must have been very exciting too - such giants, and then a little guy who can beat them. I think I would have pulled for those three in their day. Cheers Zenjimoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaikitsune Makoto 209 Posted October 10, 2002 It was before my time, but I saw a few replayed bouts with Akebono First time in my life I felt like a veteran sumofan after reading this sentence from a guy who is in charge of Super Banzuke and seems to have watched sumo for a reasonably long time Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted October 10, 2002 Sad news ... Kitazakura stopped his huge salt throw in Juryo ... ? How could this be ? Kitazakura stopping his famous salt throw is like Musashimaru losing 150 kilos, Toki shaving his sideburns, Kyokushuzan using only Oshizumo to win, Asashoryu too soft with his opponents, or Miyabiyama a graceful wrestler ? It's impossible ! He cannot do that ! Well, seriously, I always asked myself if the attendance was almost the same in Juryo than in Makuuchi ? When your pay your ticket, can you watch all the competitions or only the one or the other ? Because, if people deserts Kyokugikan or other places for the lower divisions and if it's only "full house" when the makuuchi wrestlers begin to fight, that could explain why the other wrestlers can lose a bit of motivation ... For Sentoryu, for example, his fighting spirit has to be the same in Makushita than in Makuuchi, and he'll beat everybody, if only he's 200 percent motivated like he was in Makuuchi ! But the low attendances are surely very difficult to support for Kitazakura and some others, when they knew "full house" attendances in the past ... And lower divisions bouts are certainly more interesting than a lot of makuuchi too technical and too boring bouts ... (to me, of course) Personnally, I'd rather watch Makushita coverages involving Hoshitango, Towanoyama, Gokenzan, Susanoumi than some Makuuchi boring bouts involving Aminishiki, Tochiazuma, Takanohana ... That's only my point of view and I don't like the skills but you have the right to prefer the skilfull wrestlers to the Oshizumo mountains ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted October 10, 2002 When your pay your ticket, can you watch all the competitions or only the one or the other ? The ticket is valid for the whole day. The audience gets more numerous all the day reaching the day's maximum at about the break between makuuchi and juryo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hananotaka 8 Posted October 11, 2002 When your pay your ticket, can you watch all the competitions or only the one or the other ? The ticket is valid for the whole day. The audience gets more numerous all the day reaching the day's maximum at about the break between makuuchi and juryo. Yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenjimoto 40 Posted October 11, 2002 Um, forgive me, as you may have talked to her and found out she was sitting there on good luck in person, but did you consider the possibility that she was actually sitting there cause she had a TICKET for there? :D Perhaps she was a guest of someone? Seems like I would not sit where I don't belong when it's the first time I come to a basho, and know nothing about it :) But then, that's just me ;) Cheers Zenjimoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,185 Posted October 11, 2002 Um, forgive me, as you may have talked to her and found out she was sitting there on good luck in person, but did you consider the possibility that she was actually sitting there cause she had a TICKET for there? :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted October 11, 2002 The way he stretchs his long arms to surround the opponent and to grab the back of the mawashi ... Takanonami's classic overarm grip is a great entertaiment, each time, and this is the same thing I wrote for Toki : the opponents are warned, no real surprises with them I wrote non-senses one more time ! And as a fan of him, it's unforgivable ! Takanonami is noticed much more again for his terrific overarm lock where he locks the arms of his opponents thanks to the power of his very long own arms and he forms two strong loops with both of them ... A bit like pliers of a crab, when you're trapped, you can difficulty free yourself from this ! (Devilish thought) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Megumishiki Posted October 12, 2002 My favorite is the guy on my avatar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted October 13, 2002 I remember my first ever basho at the Kokugikan.There were some other sumo fans, Japanese and gaijin, including one young, extremely attractive black woman. Good God, she was cute. I, without a doubt, am not an extremely attractive anything. Yet, I managed to see all of the Juuryou action on my second- ever romp to the K-Kan from the sunakaburi place(tamari-seki). I was given many a dirty look by the not-so-nice ladies who patrol the area with a mighty hand but after I explained to them in street-Japanese that i actually can tell Mainoumi from Susanoumi on any given day, I was allowed to stay.. I sat there, until a VERY extremely atractive Japanese lady came and claimed her seat, which was in the last row of the sunakaburi zabutons (they are zabutons, not seats, to be precise..). It is fun playing the "Sunakaburi seat musical chairs". you sit there from the beginning (BTW, the beginning is at 09:00) and hope your place doesn't get claimed. When it does , you move backwards a space. then, to a masu-seki box. And so on, till you're left in your "real" seat , which is always up in the nose bleed bleachers, from where everyone on the dohyo looks the same except Touki. It is in no way aggravating anyone,as long as you don't act rudely or make a mess. Many locals do it, and some of the ML members are very apt at this, and have turned it into an art form. Still, going to the K-kan is the single best experience any Sumo lover (or anyone, for that matter..) can have. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted October 15, 2002 Thanks for all these infos, Kintamayama-zeki, from your own experience, and I advise to everybody who didn't already make it to go to your web site and to watch the good pictures from your trip to Japan, including the one with Chiyotaikai, Kaiho, Terao (respect to you) and the great Argentinian Hoshitango himself ! He made it a great 6-1 performance last time and I'm looking forward to watching him back to Juryo as soon as possible ! What a pity he had to get injured in the past, when he had just reached the rank of Juryo-2 ! The 0-0-15 and other results which followed droped him unjustly to Makushita and he worked so much to reach the Makuuchi that it's really really unjust ... BTW, his shikona's Hoshitango because of Argentinian's so famous "Tango" dance ? That could make good shikona, for example, for Lou Bega's fans who could be named Hoshimambo, for example ! I have strange ideas sometimes ... Well, about what you wrote, I ask myself "opera glasses" must be very necessary to watch the bouts ! The beginning is at 9 AM, it's great ! What a day ! the sunakaburi zabutons (they are zabutons, not seats, to be precise..). Interesting ! One day, I will realise my dream to go there, and I have to ask this : that means that every seats has its own zabuton, so you can attempt to throw your zabuton to the dohyo one time (or never) and my wish would be to throw it after a Toki's win, even though I'd be the only one to make it ! Would I risk something to make it if I'm a single case ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted October 15, 2002 Interesting ! One day, I will realise my dream to go there, and I have to ask this : that means that every seats has its own zabuton, so you can attempt to throw your zabuton to the dohyo one time (or never) and my wish would be to throw it after a Toki's win, even though I'd be the only one to make it ! Would I risk something to make it if I'm a single case ? (Happy...) ;-) (Baaa...) The zabutons are in the sunakaburi seats and in the masu seats. In the cheap seats where we plebs usually are, just red,normal, cushioned seats, but with no zabuton.. Sorry. but if we go together and Touki finally beats one of the Yokozunae, (fat chance..), I'll let you throw ME.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tokimori 0 Posted October 15, 2002 Interesting ! One day, I will realise my dream to go there, and I have to ask this : that means that every seats has its own zabuton, so you can attempt to throw your zabuton to the dohyo one time (or never) and my wish would be to throw it after a Toki's win, even though I'd be the only one to make it ! Would I risk something to make it if I'm a single case ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Usagi 36 Posted October 22, 2002 For some time I was Fan of Kyokushuzan because of his unusual style, but his lack of fighting spirit turned me away from him. Nowadays I love to see Asashoryu fight. I do not prefer a special style and I alway liked especially the fat and the thin guys, bringing variety to sumo. But my alltime favorite Rikishi is Shikishima. Don't ask me why, I just loved the guy. :-P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
