Tamanoi Blog

[madorosumaru 7]

Looking at the picture of Shibuya lying around watching TV in the "Big Room" reminded me of Tooyama's story about all the "Young Guys" of Tamanoi Beya sleeping in that 70-tatami room, where the "Symphony of Snores" is featured each night.

The other day, Ichinoya wrote about the situation at Takasago Beya where 21 of their "Young Guys" slept in a 54-tatami room on the second floor. The logistics of the placement of futon would be a major part of maintaining harmony in the room. Each night, the rikishi arrange, in the order of their seniority, their futon with the pillow side to the wall. Since there are doors and closets, wall space is at premium. Why is it so? Well, in an open room with no personal area as such, the small open space above the head of the futon would be the only "private space" where personal effects can be placed.

Once all the wall space is taken, the newer deshi are left only with the center of the room to place their futon. Obviously, since there is going to be traffic, there can be no "private space" for them. Each time, they need a personal item, they would have to go to the storage area to fetch it and then return it after its use.

Well, after Hatsu Basho, Takainazawa retired and his wall space became available. Finally, low-man-on-the-totem pole, Asanozawa, was able to get his own "private space." For a young sumotori, happiness comes from such modest gains.

[madorosumaru 7]

01/28/06

How to travel by airplane

[Cammy 0]

01/28/06

When a large osumo-san sits in a normal seat on a plane,

the seat belt, obviously, wouldn

[Manekineko 200]

I would love to see him try and fit into some of the desks at my college...now I am kinda big...and don't fit into some of the desks that easily...I think it would be funny to watch him try and get into one.

He could always apply st. Thomas Aquinas' method: have the desk sawed in circular shape so his stomach would fit. (Showing respect...)

Ghirlandaio's Thomas Aquinas, from Uffizi gallery in Florence.. Photo taken in stealth, so quality dubious... (Blushing...)

[madorosumaru 7]

01/31/06

Henshin (Homonym for

[Cammy 0]

Oh man that picture is great...now those are the kind of drunk pictures that are great...the ones you don't remeber.

[madorosumaru 7]

02/02/06

Annual Physical

This is Tooyama.

NSK held its annual physical examination yesterday and

they took x-rays, drew blood and measured height and weight at the Kokugikan.

The picture above shows Tooyama getting his blood pressure taken.

There were a bunch of reporters around on assignment so

I coaxed them into taking a photograph.

My blood pressure was a wee bit high . . .

The part that is most time-consuming during sumo-san

[madorosumaru 7]

02/03/06

Mame-maki (Setsubun Bean-throwing)

Good evening! This is Tooyama!

Today, I went to Hoshoji in my hometown of Hachioji for mame-maki!

The photo above shows, from the left. Ohidake-san, sewanin at Tamanoi Beya, Dobashi-san, manager of the Tokyo Dreams baseball team of the Masters League and Teruazuma-san.

While I was taking the picture from below, Teruazuma-san threw a bunch of beans at me.

Here is another snapshot.

All the people in this photograph are graduates of Meiji University.

The chief priest of the temple is a fellow Meiji man so he takes good care of me all the time.

The gentleman in the pink hakama is our senpai, Ogawa-san.

He is participating despite a broken leg that is in a cast.

We also had mame-maki back at the heya . . .

so there are beans scattered all over the darn place.

What an awful mess to clean up!

Tamanoi Beya Blog

[madorosumaru 7]

02/07/06

Photos from Okinawa Trip

The above picture was taken at Naha

[Cammy 0]

Bear-kun giving the peace sign, because he doesn't want them to kick his ass.

Tooyama, thinking to his self how can I fit in the cart and have someone push me around?

Oh god I hope I don't get my head stuck!!!

Isoazuma, using the knife as a microphone...If this guy doesn't shut up I am going to stab him!!!

Left: Isoazuma "I am so drunk!!!"

[Bishonohana 0]

These pix are great!! (Nodding yes...) I really enjoy the casual photos! As always, thank you Mado-san for your hard work in translating the BLOG! (Applauding...)

[madorosumaru 7]

02/08/06

I Love Movies

Hello. This is Tokiryu. It

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

02/07/06

Photos from Okinawa Trip

The above picture was taken at Naha’s Naminoue Beach. It is a view of my back.

The teahouse in the Brando film Teahouse of the August Moon was located near Naminoue, but is closed now.

I don’t know what it has to do with Okinawa, but we’re having a tapioca drink . . .

Quickly is the name of a chain of drink stands on Okinawahonto, and their soy milk tea with tapioca balls is a very popular choice

The local population is also known for its longevity.

The prefecture has slipped in recent years...women are still number one in terms of longevity in Japan, but men have slipped to about 26th. Nagano has taken over the title of longest lived men, IIRC.

Edit:

Tochiazma-zeki went to play golf so Isoazuma and I, along with the IT guys,

went to the Churaumi Aquarium, which I had always wanted to visit.

I was impressed to the max. It was really beautiful.

Chura is "utsukushi" in Uchinaguchi, the local lingo, so Churaumi becomes "beautiful sea".

Edited February 9, 2006 by Otokonoyama

[madorosumaru 7]

02/10/06

Osumo-san Blood Drive.

The picture shows Shibuya giving blood.

This is Tooyama!

As I wrote the other day on the blog, there was a rikishi blood drive held at the Kokugikan on the 7th.

It

[Mark Buckton 1]

Tooyama seems to pick on Shibuya a lot, but that's because he loves the kid almost as a little brother--they are both from Adachi in Tokyo where the heya is located.

Tooyama isn't from Adachi-ku - promise

Translated later - Today, I went to Hoshoji in my hometown of Hachioji for mame-maki!

[Mark Buckton 1]

02/10/06

It

[madorosumaru 7]

02/13/06

Koide International Snowball Fight (Tentative Update)

This is a temporary update.

I will write a proper article tomorrow.

This is Tooyama!

We've just returned from Uonuma in Niigata Prefecture!

I took plenty of pictures but I'll just post one for now.

The rest will be presented tomorrow so please look forward to that.

Tamanoi Beya Blog

[Jonosuke 28]

One thing I'll always know I am in Japan even in a dark place is this Exit sign (like in a theatre or arena like the Kokugikan). Where I am, the color is red rather than green.

[madorosumaru 7]

02/13/06

Participating in the Koide International Snowball Fight.

This is Tooyama!

We went to participate in the Snowball Fight held in Uonuma, Niigata.

As for why Tamanoi Beya got involved with the event, Adachi and Uonuma (formerly Koide) are sister cities

and there were talks of the folks in Koide wanting us to participate. We felt that we would go and

treat them to some chanko-nabe to cheer them up after the Nakakoshi Earthquake of two years ago and the blizzards of last year.

Since I didn

[Cammy 0]

Shibuya doesn't even try and hide...he just kinda turns his back...I don't think that will work. (Whistling...)

[ilovesumo 12]

I'm sure he suffered a cold... (Cold...)

[_the_mind_ 0]

Shibuya doesn't even try and hide...he just kinda turns his back...I don't think that will work. (Cold...)

he must have thought if he cant see them, then they cant see him lol

[Cammy 0]

Shibuya doesn't even try and hide...he just kinda turns his back...I don't think that will work. (Cold...)

he must have thought if he cant see them, then they cant see him lol

lol...to bad that is far from the truth

[madorosumaru 7]

02/18/06

Tegata

This is Tooyama.

I am sorry for the long interval between blog updates.

I

[Jonosuke 28]

Just for those who may not know, Tegata can only be made by active rikishi (once you are retired, you can no longer do it). Oyakatas can sign their shikona but not do the handprint.