Jakusotsu 5,989 Posted October 20, 2006 /me is totally smitten with the left guy's garment Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,190 Posted October 20, 2006 /me is totally smitten with the left guy's garment This seems to be Tenichi from Kitanoumi-beya after his Pikachu costume got too hot: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted October 21, 2006 10/21/06 Snapshot Of The Day Shibuya in front of "Hanamasa For Meat." "The Store for the Pro" . . . Well, I suppose he would be considered a pro . . . [eater, that is]. (Laugh) Tamanoi Beya Note: "Hanamasa For Meat" is a chain of stores--a sort of a combination of Costco and Trader Joe in the US. They cater to small restaurants as well as regular consumers. Hence, their slogan, "The Store for the Pro." --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted October 25, 2006 10/18/06 Visit to Elementary School in Shizuoka Hello! This is Tooyama. On th 20th and 21st, three of us, Teruazuma-san, Daiseiko and I, went to an elementary school in Susono City, Shizuoka. There was a carnival held at the school, where they had a bazaar and such. Among the activities was a sumo festival. We also attended last year, but due to popular demand by the children who wanted to do sumo, we were back! We treated the children to chanko, letting them have their fill of the sumo stew. Overheard from the kids: "I had five bowls of chanko!" or "Do sumo-san eat yummy stuff like this everyday?" etc., etc. I'm sure glad the chanko turned out to be a delicious success. We took souvenir photos with each class before we concluded the festival. Shizuoka Prefecture is a hotbed of soccer, and we saw people playing the game all over the town. Susono City has grassy fields throughout, so it is an ideal place for soccer. With the cooperation of the school PTA, a fine dohyo was built. It is about the same size as the dohyo at the Kokugikan, and we understand it will be a permanent fixture at the school from now on. I believe that if there is a dohyo at school, kids will imitate the sumo moves they see on TV and gradually develop more interest in sumo. I would be so pleased if even one future rikishi will emerge from among these children. After all, it was because there was a dohyo at my elementary school that I started sumo. And, look, I am now a rikishi. It is the same with the Tamanoi Festival that was held the other day. If activities such as these would help stimulate interest in sumo, I would be so glad. Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 3, 2006 11/02/06 Keiko in Fukuoka Has Begun Hello! This is Tooyama. I apologize for the delay in updating the blog. We arrived in Kyushu on the 29th of last month. Banzuke was announced the next day. I will list the banzuke for Tamanoi rikishi for the year-end Kyushu Basho. Tochiazuma-zeki - East Ozeki Makushita Shibuya - E11 Yoshiazuma - W21 Tooyama - W42 Toshinyama - W44 Teruazuma - E58 Sandanme Tokiryu - W6 Isoazuma - W53 Daiseiko - E64 Ikeda - W65 Takaazuma - E91 Karatsuumi - E94 Jonidan Nishitani - E9 Hoshiazuma - W34 Amanowaka - E45 Oazuma - E67 Kadowake - W94 Iwashina - W95 Fujiazuma - E100 Jonokuchi Ikinoshima - W36 We will be gambarizing so please cheer for us! Keiko at our Kyushu lodgings are open to the public. They are held from 6:30 in the morning to around 10:30. If you are close by, come on over to take a look. Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fukurou 534 Posted November 4, 2006 With 1 Makuuchi rikishi (Tochiazuma-zeki), no one in Juryo, 5 in Makushita, 6 in Sandanme, 7 in Jonidan and 1 in Jonokuchi, Tamanoi's membership seems a bit bottom-heavy to me. But are they actually fairly typical in this regard? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sasanishiki 57 Posted November 5, 2006 With 1 Makuuchi rikishi (Tochiazuma-zeki), no one in Juryo, 5 in Makushita, 6 in Sandanme, 7 in Jonidan and 1 in Jonokuchi, Tamanoi's membership seems a bit bottom-heavy to me. But are they actually fairly typical in this regard? Well, given the pyramid nature of the sport and that only about 10% of the rikishi in the sport are in Juryo or Makuuchi at any given time, I think this is probably the case (I'm investigating this at the moment). A similar example, but perhaps even more bottom heavy is Otake-beya. They have Roho at komusubi, and then 4 Sandanme, 4 jonidan, and 2 Jonokuchi. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,484 Posted November 5, 2006 (edited) Well, even for relatively large stables it's not that unusual to have only one (or no) sekitori, given the number of heyas in existence today, but Tamanoi definitely is a bit on the bottom-heavy side, I'd say. [tr][table][tr] Heya # [th=1] Edited November 5, 2006 by Asashosakari Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jonosuke 28 Posted November 6, 2006 Thanks, Asashosakari for the table. Rather illuminating to see the bottom dwellers. Aside from the obvious derelicts Nishonoseki and Isegahama, Kagamiyama and Araiso look to be in an awfully bad state with their best guy in Sandanme (both Mongolians) and if I am not mistaken only Arawashi has any Makushita experience. A few of these guys look as if they will never get out of Jonidan alive. I used to like Tagaryu but I wonder what happened to him...I hope he can revitalize the heya and keep on the legacy he inherited. As for Araiso, he looks pretty content being small and does appear to lack any motivation to battle it out in any significant way. Maybe he is not financially well off. I was going to say something about Takanohana but I will leave it for another time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 6, 2006 11/04/06 A Chanko Event Hello! This is Tooyama. Ever since we arrived in Fukuoka, we have been engaging in some intensive keiko, but today, two of us--Karatsuumi, who hails from Saga Prefecture, and I--visited the offices of Saga Shimbun and participated in a chanko event! There were nearly 300 people at the venue and all were treated to a chanko meal. I am currently updating the blog from the newspaper office. The guests are watching me do the update, so I am a bit nervous as I type on the keyboard. Today, we will feast on the delicacies from Karatsuumi's home prefecture, and we will resume gambarizing in keiko tomorrow! That's about all for today . . . Tamanoi Beya Note: A reader who had attended the event wrote in and said Tooyama appeared to have a wonderful time carrying a bunch of women in his arms (one at a time, of course, for souvenir picture-taking). His impression was that Tash was gambarizing even more in this endeavor than he normally does on the dohyo. To this, Tooyama could only plead meekly, "Gimme a break. I was working my butt off, the whole time, preparing the chanko." In another message, a young(?) lady waxed euphoric (I dunno...) about her moment in our hero's well-muscled arms. :-) --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sasanishiki 57 Posted November 7, 2006 Did anyone notice the following symmetryfrom the table above?: Sakaigawa 16 1 2 5 5 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 5,989 Posted November 7, 2006 Did anyone notice the following symmetryfrom the table above?:Sakaigawa 16 1 2 5 5 2 1 Looks like Your avatar when plotted vertically. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sasanishiki 57 Posted November 8, 2006 Sakaigawa 16 1 2 5 5 2 1 Looks like Your avatar when plotted vertically. This actually made me lol :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 10, 2006 11/09/06 "The Compleat Angler" - Isoazuma Hello! This is Tooyama. We've been having great weather since we arrived in Kyushu, and, in the late afternoon, the setting sun is very beautiful. After the evening clean-up chores are done, several rikishi will get on their bikes with rods in hand to go fishing. Just today, Isoazuma was joyfully telling everyone he caught a 12 cm bluegill. Yoshiazuma-san also went fishing but the one he caught was itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny . . . There is supposed to be some black bass in this pond, and Isoazuma is gunning for one. He would spend a lot of effort on the bait--be it a lure or a worm. Sometimes, it would be a special bait concoction like below. Also sprach Isoazuma . . . "You have to feel as one with the fish." "This one today tastes yummy!!! I should be able to catch some with this!!!" he said as he sampled the bait. Hmm. Does this guy have the same taste buds as a fish??? I hope he doesn't get sick with Kyushu Basho coming up. Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 11, 2006 11/11/06 Everything Is Ready Hello! This is Tooyama. Well, the year-ending Kyushu Basho will finally get underway tomorrow. As for the picture above, I don't think you will know what's going on at first glance. It shows the making of the "sagari" used by Tochiazuma-zeki. The "sagari" is made from remnants of the same material as the mawashi. We initially get them in the form of individual strings, separate from each other. Then, we stick them on a board and stiffen them with something like starch. In the old days, the "sagari" was attached to the mawashi itself, but it presented a danger when rikishi would get their fingers tangled in the dangling strings. Apparently, for that reason, they now come separately. "Perfect!" sez Isoazuma. (BTW, it appears that licking bait does not adversely affect one's health!) Here are the torikumi of Tamanoi rikishi for Shonichi and Day 2. Shonichi Ikinoshima vs Higashi Fujiazuma vs Mori Iwashina vs Kaishinho Nishitani vs Kiyoseryu Daiseiko vs Tanno Teruazuma vs Shironishiki Tochiazuma vs Ama Day 2 Kadowake vs Masaru Oazuma vs Ansei Amanowaka vs Hamamiiwa Karatsuumi vs Masunoumi Takaazuma vs Hoshizakura Ikeda vs Nakatsunishiki Isoazuma vs Chiyonohana Tokiryu vs Teno Toshinyama vs Maenowaka Tooyama vs Fudoyama Yoshiazuma vs Maikaze Shibuya vs Miyamoto Tochiazuma vs Kisenosato Please continue to cheer for us this basho! Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nipponnate 0 Posted November 12, 2006 Well Im glad to hear licking bait is erfectly fine (I am not worthy...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 14, 2006 11/14/06 What's It Like at the Heya During the Basho Hello! This is Tooyama. Today is already the third day of Kyushu Basho. Around the time we arrived at Kyushu, there was a string of warm days, but just as the basho was about to begin, it got really chilly in the morning and at night. The photo above shows how the rikishi who remain at the heya watch TV during the basho to study sumo techniques. Some of you may have noticed by looking at the picture that I had switched places with Shibuya as Tochiazuma-zeki's tsukebito. I have been his tsukebito continuously since '02 Haru, so it's been a while since I've had a chance to stay at the heya (on occassions of Tochi-zeki's kyujo) to watch TV. No, no! I did not get fired. (Laugh) The oyakata said Shibuya needed to learn a few things as a tsukebito and that he should start from Kyushu. As a result, I am relinquishing the job at this time. I had my second bout today and, thanks to your support, I was able to get my first win. The basho has just begun and I shall gambarize! I have one other photograph. It's, how should I put it, sad, or rather, regrettable news. Fujiazuma injured his knee during his bout on shonichi and will have to go kyujo from Day 3. He is going to return to Tokyo today and have it checked out at the hospital to determine such things as the course of treatment. It's really too bad since he was doing spirited keiko and was moving really well before the basho. He is still young so I would like to see him get properly healed and return to the dohyo as early as possible. Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 17, 2006 11/17/06 Kyushu Basho Day 6 Good evening! This is Tooyama. Kyushu Basho Day 6 The picture above shows Shibuya working as Tochiazuma-zeki's tsukebito. Shibuya started serving as a tsukebito for the first time this basho so everyday is a learning experience. In the dressing room are the yokozuna, ozeki and other sekitori, and prior to torikumi the place permeates with its distinctive air of tension. Shibuya sez: "I get nervous as heck." Tochiazuma-zeki's tsukebito this basho are veteran Toshinyama; Isoazuma, whose duty is to carry the zabuton; Nishitani, responsible for the bath and sundry duties; and rookie Shibuya. Three of them stand in the hanamichi, carrying such things as water and towels. Back at the dressing room, Nishitani is preparing the bath and packing up for the trip home. Each one does his duties as the day goes on. As for Shibuya, he lost today and has three straight defeats since shonichi. Sumo sure ain't easy. It's not that he is in particularly bad form. As for Fujiazuma, who went back to Tokyo due to his injury, it has been determined that he will undergo surgey next week. He won't be able to do sumo for a while, but it's best to have the injury heal properly. Let's hope his treatment and rehabilitation go well. Additionally, Hoshiazuma-san, who is kyujo this basho, injured a knee in a bout last basho and still can't do any sumo so he is sitting this one out. Only nine days remaining in this basho. I shall gambarize! Tamanoi Beya --------------------- 「世界の相撲ファンのみなさん、 これからも宜しくお願いします!」- 東桜山 "Sumo fans from around the world, I hope for continued good relationship in the future." - Tooyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fukurou 534 Posted November 17, 2006 (edited) Is Tooyama's being replaced by Shibuya as one of Tochiazuma-zeki's tsukebito seen as some sort of in-house demotion for Tooyama, or is tsukebito duty something that gets rotated around among the appropriate ranked rikishi every so often? Edited November 17, 2006 by Fukurou Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Koriyama 0 Posted November 17, 2006 11/14/06Some of you may have noticed by looking at the picture that I had switched places with Shibuya as Tochiazuma-zeki's tsukebito. I have been his tsukebito continuously since '02 Haru, so it's been a while since I've had a chance to stay at the heya (on occassions of Tochi-zeki's kyujo) to watch TV. No, no! I did not get fired. (Laugh) The oyakata said Shibuya needed to learn a few things as a tsukebito and that he should start from Kyushu. As a result, I am relinquishing the job at this time. Check previous post (I am not worthy...) . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fukurou 534 Posted November 18, 2006 11/14/06 Some of you may have noticed by looking at the picture that I had switched places with Shibuya as Tochiazuma-zeki's tsukebito. I have been his tsukebito continuously since '02 Haru, so it's been a while since I've had a chance to stay at the heya (on occassions of Tochi-zeki's kyujo) to watch TV. No, no! I did not get fired. (Laugh) The oyakata said Shibuya needed to learn a few things as a tsukebito and that he should start from Kyushu. As a result, I am relinquishing the job at this time. Check previous post B-) . Which doesn't really answer my question. Why is *Tooyama* the one who isn't doing it any more? Did he cheese someone off, therefore he's the one that got dropped? How is this decided? (for example, could he be being punished via loss of status (assuming being tsukebito brings status) for messing with the computer too much and not focusing on his sumo as much as the oyakata thinks he needs to? <-- I don't know this is anything like the case, it's just an off-the-top-of-my-head example) As my "70-ish and Japanese" Japanese tutor says, "when you're dealing with the Japanese people, yes never means yes, no never means no, and nothing is ever as it seems or how you're told it is". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 19, 2006 "70-ish Japanese tutors" are always right. ;-) There is probably more to this change of tsukebito than meets the eye. However, we are not insiders and therefore not privy to the intimate details. All we can do is speculate. Tooyama and Tochiazuma have a special relationship that goes beyond normal sekitori-tsukebito as detailed in this post from June. The duties of the four tsukebito can be divided roughly as follows: Toshinyama, the senior member is group leader; Isoazuma is the personal valet; Nishitani, the low-man-on-the-totem-pole, is the all-around go-fer. Tooyama's role was more open-ended. He planned strategy with the ozeki, acted as his practice partner in the dressing area, handed him water and towel like a boxing "second," helped write the sekitori's "personal" blog. In other words, his companion and confidante. At the same time, Tooyama has had the responsibility of writing the Tamanoi Blog and maintaining the official Tamanoi home page. As you may have noticed, that function which started as a side job has become more important by the day. So, speculation #1 is that he has become too busy acting as the heya "computer specialist" and begged off the tsukebito assignment--at least formally. Since he is still writing Azuma's blog, he will continue to work closely with the ozeki and travel with him to places like Okinawa where the technical people are located. Speculation #2 is what one may surmise from some of Tooyama's statements. He has just "celebrated" his 30th birthday and has reached an age where a sumotori has to be seriously concerned about his future. As he said in June, he wants to give it one more shot at juryo. Since then, he has been hanging around mid-makushita and there may be serious doubts whether he will ever become a sekitori. His relinquishing the tsukebito role may be the first step towards calling it a career. "Who nose" as Kinta would say. Maybe, the reason is to give Shibuya some tsukebito experience before he becomes a sekitori and have tsukebito of his own. Replacing Tooyama causes the least disruption. As a newbie and a kid, he would do more menial chores than Tooyama did and give the others more of a break. I guess, short of any revelations, we wil just have to consider it a "re-organization" of tasks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,484 Posted November 19, 2006 Tooyama's role was more open-ended. He planned strategy with the ozeki, acted as his practice partner in the dressing area ... Do you think Tooyama still serves in that part of his prior role (perhaps limited to the strategy part now, and inside the heya only), or did that most likely shift to one of the others as well? It seems like a fairly crucial role, even if perhaps more for its psychological aspects (for Tochiazuma, that is) than any physical ones. Speculation #2 is what one may surmise from some of Tooyama's statements. He has just "celebrated" his 30th birthday and has reached an age where a sumotori has to be seriously concerned about his future. As he said in June, he wants to give it one more shot at juryo. Since then, he has been hanging around mid-makushita and there may be serious doubts whether he will ever become a sekitori. His relinquishing the tsukebito role may be the first step towards calling it a career. I always figured that he was sure to end up as heya manager after he retires. Tochiazuma will have to take over the heya from his father in less than 3 years, after all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted November 20, 2006 Do you think Tooyama still serves in that part of his prior role (perhaps limited to the strategy part now, and inside the heya only), or did that most likely shift to one of the others as well? It seems like a fairly crucial role, even if perhaps more for its psychological aspects (for Tochiazuma, that is) than any physical ones. I was going to add the sentence, "He will probably remain as the ozeki's companion and confidante." He could do that without being a "tsukebito." In short, he is being taken out of a "line" position but still retains an advisory "staff" position. I always figured that he was sure to end up as heya manager after he retires. Tochiazuma will have to take over the heya from his father in less than 3 years, after all. I suppose he could always have a job with Tamanoi Beya. But he is a rare toriteki in that he is a Meiji University graduate with computer skills and probably quite a bit of connections hanging around his friend Tochiazuma. Will he be satisfied with a job like heya manager with little upside? At 30, there are still opportunities. If he waits much longer, . . . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Buckton 1 Posted November 20, 2006 the heya manager at present is Tochiazuma's brother - he might have something to say about all this. ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
