New Juryo for July, Oonishi gets a new shikona

[Kintamayama 44,652]

Kyokunankai -first time after 12 years and 74 basho-8th Sekitori out of Ooshima-beya, all the others made Makuuchi eventually. "I'll do my best to continue the streak..", said Kyokunankai. "I am relieved to finally make it. I did say to myself I probably made it, but now that it's official..", he added.

Oonishi, first time, who has a new shikona -Yoshikaze (嘉風) "I want to be like Kotonishiki!", he declared.

Chiyohakuhou, returning

Ushiomaru, returning

Edited May 25, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Doitsuyama 1,178]

Kyokunankai -first time after 12 years and 74 basho-8th Sekitori out of Ooshima-beya, all the others made Makuuchi eventually. "I'll do my best to continue the streak..", said Kyokunankai. "I am relieved to finally make it. I did say to myself I probably made it, but now that it's offuicial..", he added.

Oonishi, first time, who has a new shikona Yoshikaze (嘉風)

Chiyohakuhou, returning

Ushiomaru, returning

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Only four promotions? So this means that Sumanofuji got extra lucky to stay in Juryo with a 5-10 at J12e? Kotoryu is Intai, and demotions should then be Dewanosato (J14e 3-12), Gojoro (J10w 3-8-4) and Maikaze (J14w 6-9).

[Kintamayama 44,652]

I would say the Kyokai found it difficult to promote Shiraishi from Makushita west 6 with a 5-2 record.

[Kintamayama 44,652]

Ex-Oonishi holding up his new shikona Yoshikaze, with his Oyakata Oguruma.

[Kintamayama 44,652]

Kyokunankai, the other shin-Juryo with Ooshima Oyakata:

[Fujisan 532]

Kyokunankai, the other shin-Juryo with Ooshima Oyakata:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"Ooshima oyakata flatly denied today that his protoge Kyunankai had actually died the week previously as Kyunankai nodded nervously in answer to press questions."

[Asashosakari 18,998]

Only four promotions? So this means that Sumanofuji got extra lucky to stay in Juryo with a 5-10 at J12e? Kotoryu is Intai, and demotions should then be Dewanosato (J14e 3-12), Gojoro (J10w 3-8-4) and Maikaze (J14w 6-9).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Geez, I know the Kyokai doesn't like to promote from below Ms5, but... (Just do not get it...) I could see why they kept Harunoyama, Daimanazuru and Maikaze last time with slightly better records since there were already 5 promotions and the remaining candidates didn't have the most convincing records, but Sumanofuji vs. Shiraishi struck me as a complete no-brainer, especially with only 4 other promotions...

That should put also a bit of a dent into those people who think Baruto can make it to Juryo next basho...with this kind of precedence case, he better get 7-0 unless banzuke luck drives him up all the way to Ms5, which I doubt (on both counts).

[Jonosuke 28]

A bit more follow-up on Moti's original post:

We had four rikishis promoted to Juryo - two are returnees:

Returning to Juryo are Azumazeki Beya's 27 year old Ushiomaru who won the Makushita Yusho by winning all of his seven bouts at Makushita East 4 rank and

Chiyohakuho, 22, of Kokonoe Beya.

And there are two who will be making their Juryo debut:

Yoshikaze (formerly Onishi) from Oguruma Beya

-------------------------------------------------------

23 years old from Oita Prefecture.

Real name: Masatsugu Onishi)

Fourth quickest promotion to Juryo (by rikishis who made their dohyo debut after 1958 when six bashos a year system was established), tying Kotooshu and Ozeki

Tochiazuma requiring only 9 bashos since his dohyo-debut.

Yoshikaze earned the Amateur Yokozuna title when he was in his third year at Nihon Taiiku University. But he waited over a year before he joined Ozumo as he wanted to graduate, he lost the Makushita Tsukedashi qualification. He became the first Amateur Yokozuna to start from Mae-zumo.

"I have been looking forward to this day ever since the Senshuraku. I am defintely elated but I also feel some anxiety."

"The shikona is one of several which the Oyakata and Okamisan have suggested. I picked Yoshikaze after my grandfather, Yoshio, who passed away last year. His

Yoshi kanji forms a part of Yoshi of Yoshikaze."

"I want to generate more power for moving forward and sharpen up my tachiai skills."

"I'd like to model myself after Ozeki Chiyotaikai who is also from Oita Prefecture. I will be working hard to acquire the Tsukioshi power he possesses."

Oguruma Oyakata

----------------------

"I want him to train much harder from now on so he can display his own sumo style fully in a most crucial bout. I 'd like him to aim higher by learning earnestly from stronger rikishis. If he can keep focusing on quick sumo, the road will open for him

naturally."

++++++++++++++++++++++

Kyokunankai from Oshima Beya

--------------------------------------

27 years old from Kagoshima Prefecture.

Real name: Hirokazu Ken

Kyokunankai won six bouts at Makushita West 2 after losing his first bout. It took him 74 bashos over 12 years to get the promotion to Juryo.

"I kept telling myself it's about the time. I am relieved I made it finally but so far it doesn't really get to me yet."

"At this year's Haru Basho even though I had a chance to get promoted, I did not take advantage of it. It became a good lesson for me this time around."

"About a year ago I almost convinced myself that I'd never make a sekitori but I kept plugging away, never giving up and eventually I was finally rewarded."

"I will be doing my best to follow my seniors (from Oshima Beya)."

When Kyokunankai was still going to elementary school, he participated in a sumo tournament during a festival held in his home town on the island of Tokunoshima in Southern Japan. He won the Yusho and got a bag of rice and that started his interest in sumo.

He could not gain weight easily and he put himself in a special diet regimen to eat as much as he could and drink half a liter of Sake every day even though he hated it. He weighed only 90 kg when he joined Ozumo and he was able to gain weight gradually to current 128 kg.

For his shisho Oshima oyakata (former Ozeki Asahikuni), Kyokunankai becomes the 8th sekitori he developed, the first since Kyokutenho at the 1996 Haru Basho. The last seven sekitoris including Yokozuna Asahifuji (current Ajigawa oyakata) all got promoted to Makuuchi.

"It's been pretty long time. But he is still relatively young and very flexible. If he can

establish his own form to hang on to his opponents, he should make Makuuchi in three or four bashos."

Edited May 26, 2005 by Jonosuke

[hoshidango 0]

Good on Kyokunankai. He's got the Dr. Sumo behind him..

[sekihiryu 51]

"I'd like to model myself after Ozeki Chiyotaikai who is also from Oita Prefecture. I will be working hard to acquire the Tsukioshi power he possesses."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

(Whistling...) now that is interesting, personally I would model myself after Chiyonofuji, Takanohana or Asashoryu and work hard to aquire the awesome mawashi/yotsu skill they possess(ed).

Dont sell yourself short.

[Kintamayama 44,652]

More from Oonishi: "The fact that I had to start at Maezumo was not a problem. I don't think it was too difficult." About his shikona, half is the letter from his father's name (Yoshi) , and the "kaze" part is from his Oyakata's active years shikona (Kotokaze).

"No more pulling for me. From now on, fierce and quick oshi/tsuki is wnat I intend to do.

I'd like to compliment my shikona with my strength!", he said. He actually said he would like to be like Kotonishiki, as well as Chiyotaikai.

Edited May 26, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 44,652]

Kyokunankai with his last shopping list for now:

Yoshikaze, the Kotomitsuki klone:

[Kintamayama 44,652]

Yoshikaze with Kevin Spacey's dad:

[Kashunowaka 300]

Cool shikona. I like it.

[Johnofuji 232]

(Sigh...)

Congratulations Yoshikaze

I trust he will do well.I had the fantastic opportunity to have a few bouts with him several years ago when his University did an exhibition in Sydney.He was already Amateur Yokozuna and had a commanding presence especially when he dominated his larger opponents.

My feeling was that he had more of a Wakanohana style to his sumo but I have not been able to see any of his bouts since then and no doubt he has been indulging in fine chanko.He had no problem in deadlifting his heavily sideburned stablemates.He also had a good sense of humour and didn't seem shy.I always find it amusing how some rikishi can be so humble and introverted considering what they do for a living.

I certainly was not worthy to be his opponent but its fun to think that I was uwatedashinaged by a potential sanyaku. I am glad I always carry a mawashi in the boot (trunk).Don't leave home without it!

Shimbo gaman

Lets hope we see him giving a certain Mongolian a power wedgie in the not do distant future.

Johnofuji