9 posts tagged “sumo”
Well, this is quite a year for sumo overseas. In addition to the LA tour below, it looks like there will also be a tour to Mongolia on August 27 and 28.
This time, instead of just the top ranks of rikishi boarding the plane across the sea, all of the Mongolian boys, of whichever rank, will be able to attend. That's nice. A few of the Mongolian rikishi have languished in the non-salaried ranks or lower than the makunouchi (top ranking level) division, so I know they will all be happy to visit their homeland again! Usually, non-Japanese rikishi are not permitted to return to their homelands until they reach juryo, or, in some cases, high makushita. There have, however, been some stablemasters who have rewarded a good performance or who have tried to boost morale with a trip "home", such as Nishikido Oyakata for Kazafuzan and Tatsunami Oyakata for Daionami, (not necessarily for each of those reasons, respectively). In fact, I just heard from one of the sandanme boys who is just ecstatic, and justifiably so, about returning home after over three years..
This is also exciting, of course, for the two yokozuna, who I am sure are anxious to perform together in their home country for their sumo fans there who may not be able to go to Japan! I know that Asashoryu has been lobbying for this tour for quite some time now.
Stay tuned.........
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The "world's oldest active rikishi" is how one of my fellow sumo enthusiasts refers to Ichinoya, the wrestler from
Takasago-beya who will celebrate his 47th birthday this December and his 24th year in sumo with the Kyushu basho this November. Now Jonidan E83, he achieved his highest rank at Sandanme 6.
I know I have been promising photos and video from morning practice, or asageiko, for some time, but yesterday, a wonderful article about Ichinoya on the Asahi.com website, http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200709150071.html, inspired me to finally, at least put up one video - a rare, albeit somewhat shaky-hand video of Ichinoya going through one of his morning routines this past May. I say "rare", because just over a year ago, Takasago generally closed its doors to spectators- with some exceptions, of course - and because Ichinoya is usually the first man to arrive on the dohyo - at a pretty early time, and way before the usual visitor would appear at the heya door.
Just a little explanatory text: The ambient light in most heya is somewhat short of being even remotely satisfactory for a decent amateur attempt at video or photography. Viewers are mostly facing a dohyo backed by a large window with the light streaming in.Tripods are not permitted, unless one
has a press pass, so the action is hard (for me) to catch with my unsteady camera grip.
The first clip has Ichinoya starting his practice sessions in the foreground. His training partner is Asakubo, a 24-year-old Jonidan W54 man. After his combat session, Ichinoya did do quite a bit of "shiko", i.e., leg-raising and stomping, but the light in that corner was just way too poor to capture this exercise, although you can, at times, hear his grunts in the background.. After Ichinoya finishes his own training, and his stablemates begin practice, Ichinoya leaves the dohyo and the "public" practice area to either go to the Kokugikan for his bout, if he is on the schedule that particular day, or attend to his duties of overseeing the meal preparations and performing other general managerial duties for the heya.
Since I was already working with the videos for Takasago, I extracted another clip that
will show some of the other wrestlers, including Asadoryu (formerly Asahanada)
Hananostao, Minanosato (now yumitori, or, bow-twirler), Asanotosa and Asahimaru (the really big guy who is as gentle as can be). In the white mawashi, in the split postion on the floor is Mongolian
Asasekiryu, west Sekiwake, who is another favorite of mine (aren't they all?) - always with the ready smile and always inquisitive.
If I have more time later this week, I will finish documenting the Takasago practice, but in the meantime, please enjoy these two videos.
© Barbara Ann Klein 2007 Please do not reproduce text or images from this blog, without permission in writing from me, which I usually give. Links to this blog are permitted as a matter of course. All rights reserved.
First, I need to apologize to my readers who have waited for me to post some comments about and video of morning practice at the sumo heya - "stables". I was first attacked by general laziness, then the whole Asashoryu-Bad Boy-Impeach-, errr, -Punish-Him thing started a few weeks ago.
I could comment on this until doomsday, but whatever I say will not change anyone's mind or perception of one of the greatest yokozuna to walk this planet. And I say that not because of my relationship with the families, but because it is a simple fact. I had defended him, on occasion, because of the the former, but all of the lies spewing from the mostly Japanese media, the proliferation of same in worldwide press repeating and embellishing these reports, and the undiluted vitriol exhibited on the sumo mailing list - not to mention the latter pointed directly at yours truly over the years by some purported experts and self-proclaimed international Degas wannabes - culminated in my abrupt withdrawal from the said mailing list.
One of his penances was the equivalent of "house arrest". House arrest? I think not! Try prison, try the Japan Sumo Association overstepping its bounds by imposing this sentence without a jury of peers. Oh, I forgot - the jury system is just now being effected by the Japanese government - albeit veeerrrryyyy sloooowly. Another facet of the processes run by little old men who dye their hair black at the first sign of graying and continue to do so until they look like 90-year-old and still aging yakuza with lined faces and misogynistic, xenophobic tendencies. Not being able to partake of a MEAL outside the home for FOUR freaking months. for God's sake? What a bunch of dictatorial idiots. Now, after the damage has been done and turmoil caused in the yokozuna's life, both private and public, the JSA needs to save face and, so, are "letting" him go back to Mongolia to get over an alleged nervous breakdown? What were they thinking in the first place? Nervous breakdown, my a**. He is more mentally strong than most people. The paparazzi frenziers and the JSA (with the exception of the Rijicho) are the more mentally unstable goons.
And what about privacy issues? Since when do doctors speak publicly about a patient's condition without consent? And they did NOT get consent! Malpractice and malfeasance at their nadirs. Who is starting these rumors of domestic violence and his throwing things around the house? Do any of those people KNOW him? I do, and I know these vicious attacks are unwarranted and untrue.
Do I sense some jealousy regarding the yokozuna's being a free spirit. as it were? It is well-known that Japanese are loathe to express any emotion at all --except violence. Look at the manga comic books the men read everyday. All violence and sex - not necessarily in that order. Even a mailing list member attested that her Japanese non-sumo wrestler husband struck her. (Which brings me to a thought - who knew she was married to another Japanese man other than her former sumo wrestling husband?) Wife-beating is routine in Japan, but covered up. In that case, what reason would they have in trying to out the yokozuna for behavior that is contrary to all of his familial values and the way he was brought up? His parents and he are devout Buddhists - and I mean devout. Violence is against the fundamental Buddhist precepts. I believe that Asashoryu may have done more praying than exhibiting erratic behavior! There can be great comfort and peace in silence.
Have any of these reporters, doctors, and civilian detractors ever witnessed any of this? Do they not know how close Mongolian families are and how violence is SO not a part of their culture? Mongolians are very demonstrative with their affection, are quick to hug one another and plant kisses on family and friends alike. I know. Been there, done that, too. Some one on the mailing list wrote: "Having said that Asashoryu is fantastic at sumo, but I don't think I'd want to hang out with him." If you've never done it, don't be so presumptuous to think he is like his sumo persona in person, because he is NOT. As I said, been there, still doing that. "He sent his family back to Mongolia". Read my words, ignorant press. Get your facts straight. They've been there since May and always go during the humid and scorching Tokyo summers. He wants his kids in clean air. Should they be with him now? Of course, but how about the paparazzi scaring the young children to death? Do you think he would EVER want them to come back to Tokyo? Not a chance.
Confining him to home, keeping him away from friends and family - and getting indignant when Asashoryu does have a friend or two visit, then the press doing a Nuremberg inquisition on everyone he knows, is criminal. Salary cut? No big deal. He has used his earnings wisely and couldn't care less.
Now we have two editorials-which-are- purported -reportage articles on the Japan Times, which I had always regarded as a publication of great integrity. With these two writings, the Times has slipped to a gossip rag, in my opinion.
It's really late now, and I've been writing this off and on since morning, so I will close with this for now: Someone with an obvious nom-de-plume of Schreiber (German for "writer" - thank you Bettina for that) has "reported" that the yokozuna has a propensity for violence, which has sent his wife fleeing to Mongolia...........and that she is now living alone in New York. What a crock! I responded with a letter to the editor, which I will repeat here since I'm sure the paper will not have the guts to publish it in whole or in part. And I DO promise to get those videos up next weekend!
To the Japan Times Editors:
Your newspaper used to be regarded as a fair and balanced reporting medium throughout the world. Now, with this story and its gossip-like tone, along with Mark Buckton's recent editorial that was misrepresented as reportage and had no business being on the sports pages (by the way - are the two Marks one and the same? One of them uses an alias in another publication), your publication has sunk to the depths of Shukan Gendai. These are not journalists. Regurgitating "allegations" about Asashoryu's personal life, which I can assure you are totally false, makes you no better than the gossip rags. Indeed, if the dai-yokozuna's wife were in New York, she would not be "living alone"...she would be with me as she was when she came to visit her cousin in the US for a scant five days this year, before returning to Mongolia. Furthermore, Mongolian men are not like Japanese men, who purportedly routinely beat up on their wives. If any of you over at the Times know any Mongolians, you will know how close they are, how loving and caring of family and friends and how FREE they are to express their loving emotions - unlike the Japanese, who would not DARE express anything - except displeasure and gossip on this topic! Get over your resentment of having a 100% foreigner as a dai-yokozuna. INVESTIGATE TOKITAIZAN'S DEATH, which would be a worthwhile pursuit!!! That is all I will say about this. Personal life is personal life and I just wrote to say how ridiculous those allegations are.
And because of my last sentence, I will not reveal any conversations, email or other communication I have exchanged with the yokozuna and/or his wife. Those who are looking for some of that know that friends don't talk until the subject parties do themselves, so get over it and realize that the organized media is probably the least truthful medium there is.
'Night all.
Sumo has a new yumitori with the retirement of Oga. His name is Minanosato. At the moment, he is in sandanme - and judging from his sumo performance in May (3-4), he will remain within that rank, but at a lower level than at the May basho.
Initially, when I heard of Oga's retirement, I conjectured that Hananosato would be the likely successor due to
As I mentioned in my post about the 20th Yusho party, Minanosato told me he was extremely nervous about performing the yumitori-shiki, or bow twirling ceremony, for the first time in public on the first day of the May tournament. He was particularly fearful of any upset (perceived or real) in the last bout where the spectators tend to throw zabuton onto the dohyo. While the twirling requires a somewhat loose grip on the yumi, or bow, a carelessly thrown
Just one anectidote: although everyone commented on what a fine figure Oga cut as bow-twirler - me, included - Kimura Shonosuke, the tate-gyoji when Oga was made yumitori always said that while Oga looked really good doing
As for Hananosato, he will have his chance in Hawaii to do the yumitori-shiki and I can't wait to see him at it!
For anyone who hasn't seen Minanosato do his thing, here's one of the videos of his performance that I took: Yoisho, Minanosato!
© Barbara Ann Klein 2007 Please do not reproduce text or images from this blog, without permission in writing from me, which I usually give. Links to this blog are permitted as a matter of course. All rights reserved.
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Well! It took me a while, and I doubted some information that was given to me, but I finally did find out that the tsuna-making ceremony (“tsunauchi”) was to be held last Thursday. You know what the tsuna is: that huge white “braided” rope that the yokozuna wears when he does his dohyo-iri. Usually it’s the Monday or Tuesday before the start of the basho, so when I first heard “Tuesday or Wednesday” in response to my initial query, I assumed it would be Tuesday. But wait, the information came from a pretty good source, so I continued to try and pin down the exact date.
At the soken last Saturday, one of the Takasago-beya coaches was playing “guard” in the hanamichi, so I asked him when the tsunauchi would be. He put up ten fingers – May 10. Hmmmm, that seemed very late for this event, so I assumed he meant it would be at 10AM one day the following week, and I was STILL ignorant. Finally, I asked someone to ask the yokozuna’s trainer, and he confirmed the 10th. Good! Now, at least I had a goal.
Takasago is closed to any kind of “watching” except for the heya’s supporters. (Last year, they even had a sign on the door stating that if one wanted to watch sumo, one should by a ticket at the Kokugikan!) Having attended previously, though, I entered the heya anyway. I looked around, and found no one. There were murmurs coming from the living area upstairs, so I took a peek into the keikoba and saw the blue tarp on the floor and the white fabric around the teppu pole, and, at least I knew I had the right date. I also saw a number of professional video cameras and bags of accessories.
Some background –I never really wondered how the tsuna was made until I
happened to meet the yokozuna sometime in 2005 (or was it 2004?) right before
the September tournament, as he was stopped at a corner in his big, black
Hummer. “Doko?” he asked me. “Where
are you going?” I said for a walk. “Come to my heya. Tsunauchi.” I said “huh?”. “Heya,
heya. Itte.” “Go, go to the heya!” Okaaay……so
I went around the corner to Takasago-beya fully thinking I was going to watch
asageiko (morning practice). But what greeted me was an empty keikoba,
partially covered with a blue tarp. Several reporters and photographers were
readying their equipment. I asked one of the English-speaking reporters what
they were there for, and he explained that the Takasago boys and others from
the Takasago Ichimon (group) were going to construct the yokozuna’s ceremonial
rope belt – the tsuna, the process known as “tsunauchi”. Needless to say, I was
thrilled and have since been to four such ceremonies two with and two, including this one, without the yokozuna
being present.
Back to today’s effort - the dohyo area was totally empty except for the blue tarp covering the corner and the back of the dohyo where the fabric-covered teppo pole is located. Since I was obviously very early, I took out my crossword puzzle book and sat on the step in the heya entrance until I could detect some activity. Soon, there were shouts, then total silence, as the rikishi – about eight of them - came downstairs holding a very long length (actually three lengths) of fabric. As I greeted each one, there was a noticeable lack of response and a great deal of solemnity on the part of these young men. One, Daigonishiki, even gave me the hand-chop sign that I should not come in (or maybe not take pictures, which I hadn’t begun to do yet anyway). Well, I ignored his gesture, since I have a standing invitation to this ceremony – no matter how many times this rikishi sees me, and that’s a LOT, he never has a clue that I’ve been there before.
Very slowly taking my own camera out from behind my back, I followed the procession, which was, itself, followed by familiar cameramen from NHK, into the main area. Looked like this was going to be one of the features during the basho telecasts. Shortly, one of the yokozuna’s tsukebito, Shinzan,
approached me, gave me a zabuton, and motioned for me to have a seat. Whew! I really felt better now! Settling in, I noticed another welcome sight, Kazafuzan, from Nishikido-beya (you remember - I saw him at the 20th yusho victory party, too), who obviously has become quite comfortable in his role as “borrowed” assistant to Asashoryu.
Most of the wrestlers were wearing white fabric over their practice mawashi (belts); a few also wore towels over the mawashi. There were Kimenryu, Asadoryu, Minanosato, Asahimaru, Daigonishiki, Hananosato, Shinzan, Asanotosa, Asakubo, Asashogo and two other youngsters who are (comparatively) new with the heya and whose names escape me right now – in other words, every Takasago rikishi plus Kazafuzan. Only Oga was missing, but then, he is formally retiring during this basho. After donning white gloves, eight or nine of them took the ends of what turned out to be three lengths of cotton and tied them to the cloth-covered teppo pole. What followed was an exercise in precision, discipline, and exceptionally hard work as the group proceeded to twist and braid the cloth into what you see the yokozuna wearing during his dohyo-iri.
After a portion of the cloth was wrapped around the teppo, the lowest ranked rikishi had the chore of keeping one end of the material taut while the other rikishi were aided and spurred on by oyakata from Takasago (the former Asanosho and Asanowaka) and Hakkaku, Jinmaku from the latter. Jinmaku Oyakata, slim - but very well-built - has been there each time I’ve watched. I suspect that he is the driving force behind this effort with his strength and rich voice, which you will see and hear in the video.
The thickest part was braided first and was “padded” with additional cotton fabric. As usual, it was difficult to see, close up, exactly what that process was, particularly with the pro cameramen around, but, before I knew it, the
center section of the tsuna was done, and was the part now closest to the teppo pole. Three long thinner strips of cloth, reinforced with copper wire, were then individually rolled very tightly, with a lot of help from Jinmaku Oyakata, while one rikishi held each strand. When the rolling was done almost to the end of the cloth strips, sandanme rikishi Hananosato lay on a tatami mat placed on the tarp to guide the “braiding” of the tsuna from beneath as the rest of the party stood in two parallel lines handing the rolled strips over each other to form the rope-like product.
Around this point in time sekitori Asasekiryu came out to the dohyo to watch. Although he put on the white gloves, he really did not participate in the process.
Jinmaku again led the action with a booming: “hi, hu, mei” while the rikishi responded with “soo, ichi, ni, san!” each chant meaning one, two, three. In the old days, a taiko drummer would accompany the chant, but, although a drum still resides in a corner of the heya, it is not used anymore.
As the tsuna twisting approached the ends of the cloth, and the strips were rolled tighter and tighter, the “hi, hu, mei” chants became faster and faster, and louder and louder, until the braiding was done. The completed length was given to another rikishi close to the teppo pole, and the twisting and chanting began anew for the other end of the tsuna.
Occasionally, during the process, Shinzan
would snip superfluous pieces of cotton and copper from the tsuna where the
rope was required to be a bit thinner. The cotton remnants would later be given to friends and supporters
Another rikishi whom I hadn’t noticed before – looked a bit like Shinyu, a Sandanme rikishi from Azumazeki-beya, I didn’t recognize him from Takasago – took his place lying on the tatami to be the stabilizer for the braiding. Then, there were shouts for “Miyoshi”, that’s makushita rikishi Asashimaru’s real name, and he was the last to writhe on the floor until the braiding was done.
The yokozuna had already indicated that he would likely not attend the
tsunauchi, and, he did not, but the size is well-known by now and there appears to be no need to have a “fitting” as there used to be when he was a new yokozuna.
When the strenuous activity was finished, Asasekiryu sat at the edge of the dohyo, while I was still taking my video, and motioned for me to come over. The rikishi are always intrigued by the cameras. He inspected my camera, I showed him what I had just filmed and he seemed tickled by all the rikishi’s - excuse me – “butts” in the video and the stills. In turn, he would call a junior man over to show him his butt. Of course, this prohibited
me from taking the video of the coiling of the tsuna, but - hey – who am I to complain? I did, at least, get a picture of the finished product! Soon, most of the junior men, chomping on their rice balls were surrounding us, looking at the video.
I had some juice that was offered to me, while Asasekiryu had a Calpis drink (uck!), and, as I made my way back to my hotel, I reflected on how fortunate I am and how grateful I am for that..
Videos are coming later today or tomorrow, but here is the usual caveat: Now, the video, at times, is like watching paint dry, very repetitious,
and sometimes with an NHK cameraman in the frames, but I have tried to identify
the more “exciting” clips, while leaving the paint drying in, as well.
© Barbara Ann Klein Please do not reproduce text or images from this blog, without permission in writing from me, which I usually give. Links to this blog are permitted as a matter of course. All rights reserved.
The best laid plans………. I always say I will do my blog the same day that the events unfold. Hah! Easier said than done. I just got so sidetracked yesterday with other things here, like trying to find the exact day and time for the making of the yokozuna’s belt (tsuna uchi). So let’s go on, before I get distracted yet again.
First, I have to thank my good friend Eduardo, for needing photos of the heya entrances, a task for which I volunteered. If not for his request, I would never have been in the area. As it happens, I went to photograph the Kitanoumi entrance (Kitazakura” heya), then over to Otake-beya, run by the former Takatoriki. Can one ever forget when he won that tournament while he was at the lower echelon of Makunouchi, and how the tears just appeared on his usually sumo-inscrutable face?
When I approached Otake, I saw a few non-sekitori types outside, one of whom looked somewhat familiar, but whom I, even now, cannot identify. I took the photo of the door, and reminded myself to pass by again after photographing the Oguruma entrance, since Roho is over at Otake. On my way down the street, I heard whistles - not the wolfish kinds that are usually reserved for attractive women, but as in someone calling out to someone else. Ignoring them, I made my way down the street, then for some reason decided to backtrack to Otake. There went the whistles again, coming from a park-like area, and there was the source of the whistles – Yuho-san, a coach/oyakata type from Otake-beya.
Motioning for me to sit with him, we greeted each other with the Japanese equivalent of “long time, no see” and then began the ritual conversation: Yuho-san asked me– when did I get here, am I alone, am I going to the basho, when am I going home? I responded, and asked him, in turn – are you well, hot day, isn’t it, are you going to Hawaii, when are you getting there, and, finally – is it true that there will be a Los Angeles koen in 2008? To the latter, he hemmed and hawed a bit, talked about finding the clay for the dohyo, and some other matters that I really did not understand..(Note: this conversation was in Japanese, so the most I could do at times was just say “hai”, even though I may not have had a clue.) Then he told me that Kotooshu was there for degeiko.
Taking my leave, I ran into Otake Oyakata, who motioned for me to go in to the heya to watch the practice. At first demurring, I "gave in" the second time he and a supporter urged me on.
The viewing area was pretty well packed, but there were a few empty zabuton in the rear. I took my place, realizing that many there were from the press, the others, club supporters, almost without exception in suits and ties.
Then my attention turned to the dohyo, where I was surprised to see not only Kotooshu, but Kotomitsuki, Kotoshogiku and Sadogatake Oyakata (former Kotonowaka). The full Russian/Georgian sekitori contingent was there, as well – Roho, of course, Kokkai, Hakurozan and Wakanoho. Takekaze from Oguruma-beya was also in attendance.
The keikowas pretty uneventful – no one seemed to be fighting very intensely, and Kotooshu looked the worse for wear, with the most clay on his body. Kokkai was still in Bluto mode – ouch! I’d hate for him to scrape up against me! I really didn’t keep score in the win/lose department, but other than Kotooshu, Wakanoho looked as if he were doing quite a bit, with his usually fair skin a deep crimson.
Otake came back in with a cloth covered baseball bat in his hand. I hoped he wasn’t going to start using it (I can’t stand watching that stuff), and thankfully, he didn’t!).
A lot of banter amongst the boys, and then butsukari commenced, indicating the imminent end to the practice session, with each sekitori in turn, lending his chest to one man, then pushing against the next.
When this was over, Otake Oyakata announced that everyone was invited upstairs for chanko – I decided to go home. I was sure he didn’t mean for me to go, but he motioned me upstairs, anyway. Thanking him, I backed out of the heya, likely missing out on another memorable experience, but risking that so that I wouldn’t have to face the barrage of questions– or, worse, not even being talked to, at all.
Outside, I saw an NHK person whom I know and asked him about the koen. He just responded with sucking in his breath and a “maybe”. I’m sure we’ll all hear after or during the Hawaiian jungyo.
I didn’t have a decent camera with me, not even remotely anticipating that I would be at keiko – I just had my old Sony Cybershot, which is not the best for the lighting in most heya. Nevertheless, I have posted those photos which came out the best – even with some photoshop-ing. Here I give you a surreal look at degeiko at Otake-beya. Please open the folder entitled Degeiko in the column to the right and enjoy, or click here.
Oh.....almost forgot. On the way back to my hotel, I saw a gaggle of reporters outside Dewanoumi-beya interviweing Homasho. Here are the two photos I was able to elbow my way in to take.
It took me longer than I would have liked to upload these, but here they are. I have now placed all Soken images in the Collection "Soken" folder icon, which you can access from the right side column.
Some of the video is pretty choppy, so if you don't have sea legs, beware, and fasten your seat belt. The person in front of me kept getting in my lens and I could not use the tripod much of the time. I'm not the most steady-handed person, either.
I have tried to identify the rikishi wherever I could. Most of this is Makushita.
Enjoy!
I had planned to do some ramblings about being here, but I procrastinated and then - soken was here.
So, what's soken? I'm sure it has a lot of history, but to me, it's a practice put on for the pleasure (or vanity) of this body that calls itself the "Yokozuna Deliberation Council" (the "YDC"). Why? Again, that's probably history,
somewhere along the way, but at the moment, it seems that the YDC exist only to carp about which sumotori is doing what - usually poorly. It's a rare occurrence when the YDC, notably Ms. Uchidate, (see photo) doles out praise. Despite the lofty title, I really wonder how much weight they carry anymore by themselves - surely they are not the ultimate "deciders" (oooh, sorry President Bush!), given all of the press about which oyakata and the rijicho (head of the Japan Sumo Association) say about anyone's chances for promotion. And, come on, do they really take notice of the boys at the lower or even non very upper-echelon ranks that much? Yeah, when they are sure that someone has potential based on - what? - perception? Going regularly to morning practice? I wonder.
Anyway, enough about me. The soken was held this morning at the Kokukigan. One might think that because this is held at the pleasure of the YDC, only the higher ranks would be represented. I always thought so until I went to my first one last May. I was then quite surprised to see that the makushita ranks were well represented, and that there was a young Russian boy that I had followed since his entry to sumo, Wakanoho, whose rise to upper makushita was nothing less than meteoric.
So, I got up early, as is a habit I've been trying to break since I retired - to no avail - and went on the computer, had coffee and watched some CNN. When I finally looked outside at around 6AM, to my absolute horror, there was this snaking line already waiting to get in to the Kokugikan for the soken. Geez, I hadn't even showered yet. I hurried up, went to the local convenience for some breakfast to take with me and, around 6:30AM, went to take my place in line, which had doubled since I first looked out. The flyers handed to me the day before at the ticket office indicated that soken started at 7:30, and I really didn't remember going there so early last year. I later met Doreen Simmons, who was about a column ahead of me in the line (don't ask me to quantify any more than that), and she said that she had gotten there just about 6AM, but that a fellow sumo fanatic had gone to the line at 5:30AM!!!!!!!
When I entered the Kokugikan, with everyone scrambling for the best seats, I decided to take the unorthodox view of
the dohyo, i.e., from the back of the arena. I knew that there would be members of the sumo mailing list and the sumo forum who would be sitting shomen-side (front and center) and that they would likely post photos and videos.
The practice bouts had already started. Now, this is very similar to what you would see in regular morning practice at
the respective heya (stables). Two of the lower-ranked rikishi start out against each other, and the winner chooses his next opponent. He could be someone that the previous winner just favors for a good practice, or the one who gets directly in the selector's face enough. Note: So when the newspapers report that so-and-so did this many bouts and so-and-so did
not participate much, it could just be the winner's selections. What this means, as you will see in some of my video, is that, the rest of the rikishi rush up to the winner shouting that they want to be next. Naturally, some do not act at all, and some are in the perceived winner's face even before the match is over, but that's basically how the practice goes. There is no pattern - it's on the whim of the winner whom to choose. Of course, when a sekitori steps on the dohyo and indicates that he wants a bout, everyone gives way to him, as he would then to the sanyaku, sanyaku to ozeki, and ozeki to yokozuna.
Some of the more active (most chosen) makushita men were Takamifuji (most active and most winning), Hokutoiwa, Dewaotori, Isobe, Kagaya, Kotokuni, Ikioi, Kirinowaka, Buyuzan, and Tochinoshin, These stuck in my mind as the ones that had at least two bouts.
The bouts were over very quickly, and Takamifuji received the most "pick me" attention. Takanoyama, the Czech boy
from Naruto-beya, tried a few times, but no one chose him. One other Naruto boy, Sasaki, had a few bouts and won two that I saw.
After about an hour, the juryo men started coming in - Mokonami being the first and Hakurozan following soon thereafter. I may have missed one coming in from the nishi (west) side, but the two named were the most prominent from my seat. Eventually, the rest came streaming in - I caught all but seven or eight of the 28 men in the division. Tosanoumi - back in Juryo after over 11 years in Makunouchi, with only one previous relapse to Juryo - looked fit and happy. Although he didn't participate much in the bouts, he did lend his chest for butsukari.
Kitazakura stopped by to say hello for a moment while coming down the hanamichi. He said he feels good, he feels strong and he is hoping to get back up to Makunouchi (now he's Juryo 1), so that he can take his wife and child to Hawaii. What a treat that would be for the spectators in Honolulu.
Soon, the stadium announcer advised that butsukari would begin - that exercise generally ends the session for the respective ranks - you can see this video for a demonstration.
That would be Toyohibiki lending his chest to Sadanofuji, Toyozakura to Sotairyu, Hakuba to (unknown) and Hakurozan to Kakuo, respectively.
Juryo bouts lasted about another hour with Bushuyama and Hakurozan being the most active - Bushuyama was doing very well, winning many of his bouts. Hakurozan appears to have recovered nicely from his knee injury sustained last year. No one really seemed to be the belle of the ball, i.e., having a huge number of rikishi vying for a match, but the two just mentioned kept it going pretty quickly. Mokonami, Kaiho, Hakuba, Daimanazuru, Byuho were also active. Yoshikaze had one bout, which he lost.
The Brothers Zakura - Kita and Toyo participated quite a bit, and, in a highlight of the soken, Kitazakura even chose Toyozakura as an opponent. Although a very short match with one false start,this was a rare occurrence since brothers may not fight one another during the regular tournaments.
As the Juryo progressed, the Makunouchi started streaming in. Notable by his absence was the Estonian Baruto, who had a very severe knee injury last year. I hope that his decision whether to fight or not this tournament is made solely on the progress of his rehabilitation, not his ultimate place on the banzuke should he decide not to return this time. Ozeki Tochiazuma did not attend, either - understandable given his decision today to retire. Others absent included Iwakiyama, Kyokutenho (no doubt under house arrest after the car accident) and Takekaze. Hmmmmm...was it just the other day that I saw Takekaze over in Kinshicho with a young lady?
Kokkai apparently heard that "Popeye" (Naruto Oyakata's nickname for Wakanosato) was going to be there, so he came in character.
As each sekitori - including the Ozeki and Yokozuna - entered the dohyo area, he went (as required) to pay obeisance to the members of the YDC. The Ozeki and the Yokozuna, though, would have the luxury of enetring later, as befits their ranks.
Roho looked as though he were having a bit of trouble, shaking and stretching and twisting his head - stiff neck? Headache? Too much vodka?
With most of Makunouchi there, the Juryo practice began to wind down and butsukari ensued. Notable were Miyabiyama lending his chest to Bushuyama, Chiyotaikai to Chiyohahuko, Tokitenku to Hakurozan, and Tochinonada to Matsuzakasa.
The obvious crowd pleasers were Ama and Takamisakari, both of whom are always interesting to watch - although for different reasons. This time around, Takamisakari was not entertaining for his usual arm-pumping, chest thumping antics, but for the way he was picked as an opponent, as well as being asked to pick. Take a look at the video to the left and be sure to watch it to the end.
On the other hand, Ama, when trying to get the previous winner's attention, jumped up and down and waved his hands ala President Bush dancing with the band during his recent "combat malaria" trip to Africa.
Since I won't go into all the details of wins and losses - that's not what this is about - I'll just make some observations.
As in regular practice, mawashi had to be tightened periodically - Hakurozan helped his brother, Roho, with his (and the crowd went wild) and Kisenosato tightened Ama's belt at one point.
The Mongolians seemed to have a predilection for choosing other Mongolians as their partners. I guess with Tokitenku (who looked really good, by the way), Ryuo, Ama and Kakuryu - all of whom were actively contending to be next, it wasn't really surprising. Eventually, all things became equal later on, but not before Ama roundly beat poor Kakuryu, who couldn't get another bout despite swarming around at every chance.
Asashoryu had a conversation with Kasugao and seemed to be advisig him on his sumo technique. This apparently worked as Kasugao made quick work of Wakanosato.The bouts were fairly evenly distributed among the non-sanyuku (with the exception of the ever-in-demand Takamisakari) and were also fairly pedestrian.
The Ozeki looked pretty worn, with Kotooshu in his knee brace, Hakuho with a foot bandage, Kaio with an elbow
taped and Chiyotaikai with arm, wrists and fingers bandaged. Asashoryu took a breather himself to put an ice pack on his left elbow, which has been a bane to him for some time now, but he didn't wear any support on his elbow.
Kotooshu lost two in a row to Hakuho. After their first bout, they both had to have the dohyo dirt brushed off by their tsukebito (attendants), but Kotooshu also had to have his mage (hairdo) brushed off, as well. I guess he lost his second bout to Hakuho by putting his hand down first so that he wouldn't further mess his hair.
Hakuho (according to Ms. Uchidate) had a cold and won all but four of his twelve bouts. He attributed his loss to Asashoryu as the result of a "slight henka", but it looks to me as though they both just missed. No excuses for his loss to Kaio. The Yokozuna won all of his nine bouts, most of them very swiftly.
Chiyotaikai was very feisty, pushing Hakuho out of the way when vying for the next bout with Asashoryu!
When butsukari time came, Asashoryu put both Miyabiyama and Ama through the mill, having them come to him from all angles and edges of the dohyo. I do have some clips of this that I will put up in the collection later.
You can read more about the soken from a reporter's perspective in the Daily Yomiuri by James Hardy, so I'll just finish by telling you who butsukari-ed whom:
Kaio lent his chest to Kotooshu,
Hakuho to Kotomitsuki,
Asashoryu to Kasugao, (maybe THIS is what the advice was about),
Kotomitsuki to Chiyotaikai,
Tochinonada to Kaizoe,
Roho to Kokkai,
Kotoosho to Kotoshogiku,
Wakanosato to Kisenosato,
Tamanoshima to Dejima,
Futenho to Homasho,
Ama to Aminishiki,
Tochinohana to Tochiozan, and
Wakanosato to Tamanoshima
Well, some, including Hakuho gave the Yokozuna water in respect and apprecaition for the bouts.... and the soken ended at 11 AM.
Please be sure to come back and check my remaining photos and video.
© 2007 Barbara Ann Klein. Please do not duplicate story or photos without permission, which I usually readily grant for the asking. Links are permitted to this blog.
Well, the first day of the sumo in Osaka and I am NOT happy. First of all, with the time change here on the East Coast, the DVR got all messed up and only recorded the first hour of today's bouts. I mean, I was happy to see Wakanosato getting back in form with his shonichi win, but I really needed to see the last bout of the day. At 8:00 AM, then, I turned on the 10 minute newscast fron NHK - that's TVJapan here in the States. Usually very local and boring and who cares type news, as soon as I heard the word "ohzumo", I went "uh-oh". And then my worst fear was realized. Tokitenku did wuite a do-si-do and the Yokozuna just couldn't turn himself back around quite in time, and, yep, down he went!
Of course, I comfort myself by saying "Hah! He just wanted to show that he is not involved in the yaocho allegations reported in that rag, the Shukan Gendai, after January's tournament". Especially so, since all but two of the Ozeki lost, as well. But that's okay. Asashoryu will come back with a vengeance . He REALLY hates to lose.
Anyway, I never did get the chance to start in on the serious work for this blog yet, so please bear with me. I have to figure out how to upload my personal videos, either here, or on My Tube, or anywhere on the web that I can give you all a link to.
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