Due to the Japanese National Police uncovering message between gambling wrestlers, exposing them to fixing matches between themselves and others, the Japan Sumo Association has cancel the upcoming tournament. Fixing bouts is referred to has "yaocho" in Japanese.
To clean house and give sumo a fresh start, I propose that they demote all sekitori to Sandanme, let all the sumotori get ranked in Maegashira and Juryo, no Sanyaku ranks, and use that banzuke for May. Yokozuna Hakuho should resign and also accept responsibility of the "yaocho".
Many of the ex-sekitori would quickly rise up the ranks and again, while the newly promoted sekitori would drop down quickly. This would serve as punishment to all sekitori, whether they participated in "yaocho" or not.
In additional, perhaps the JSA would have sample lie detector tests during a tourney, to ask a wrestler if he performed "yaocho" or not.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Monday, June 7, 2010
Behind the Curtain - July 2010
The summer heat is growing everyday which means that it's time for the beach and time to take the bullet train down to Nagoya for the Nagoya basho. This hot summer tourney we have two men stepping out from behind the curtain, along with two other reappearing in the paid ranks.
Fighting at Makushita #2 East, Kaisei notched a nifty record of 5-2 at the Natsu basho to earn his silk mawashi this tournament. Kaisei is 23-year-old Brazilian, who is 3rd generation Japanese and fights for Tomozuna stable. He is the fourth Brazilian to make the paid ranks.
Battling at Makushita #5 East, Sadanoumi recorded 5-2 to get promoted. He is another 23-year-old and is the son of former Komusubi Sadanoumi. When he heard that he was going to be shin-juryo at Nagoya, "My body started to shake! I wanted to become an osumo-san since I was 4." Sadanoumi has been trying very hard from the beginning of his sumo career, to gain weight, eventually adding 40 kilos to his frame. Every evening and night he trained alone with weights, never missing a session, and the fact that it finally brought about a result has him very happy and proud.
Listed last tourney at Makushita #1 East, Masuraumi squeezed back to Juryo with a 4-3 result at Tokyo. He is 21-year-old and belongs to Onomatsu stable. You may recall from our March article, he is an undersized wrester, who failed the first physical exam cause he was too short but passed the newly created secondary physical exam. This year, his two Juryo tournaments have resulted in a pair of 7-8 records, so he needs just a little bit more effort to pull off his first kachikoshi as a sekitori. This could be the tournament.
Finally, having fought from Makushita #1 West, Hochiyama, posted a respectable 5-2 make a return to the paid ranks. He is 28-years-old from Sakaigawa stable, who has been all the way up to Makuuchi. Hochiyama has been behind the curtain for over two years, clawing his way back up the banzuke. His fall in the ranks was due to diabetes. He got the strength he needed to make a recovery and a run back to the paid ranks from his family back in Aomori and his supporters. They were a key factor in his rehabilitation and return.
With these 4 wrestlers take slots on the banzuke as sekitori, 4 other wrestlers will have fall back behind the curtain to clear space.
Futeno at Juryo West #12 was 6-3 at the end of day nine but then lost 6 days in a row to end with 6-9 and an appointment with his old white cotton mawashi.
Kirinowaka at Juryo East #13 managed only 2 wins on days eight and nine to post a horrible 2-13 and a ticket to the makushita division.
Kaiho at Juryo West #14 won only 3 times to finish at 3-12 and step behind the curtain for July.
Sadanofuji at Juryo East #14 lost on the final day to Bushuyama to just miss getting his 8th win and will be in the unpaid ranks this summer.
Fighting at Makushita #2 East, Kaisei notched a nifty record of 5-2 at the Natsu basho to earn his silk mawashi this tournament. Kaisei is 23-year-old Brazilian, who is 3rd generation Japanese and fights for Tomozuna stable. He is the fourth Brazilian to make the paid ranks.
Battling at Makushita #5 East, Sadanoumi recorded 5-2 to get promoted. He is another 23-year-old and is the son of former Komusubi Sadanoumi. When he heard that he was going to be shin-juryo at Nagoya, "My body started to shake! I wanted to become an osumo-san since I was 4." Sadanoumi has been trying very hard from the beginning of his sumo career, to gain weight, eventually adding 40 kilos to his frame. Every evening and night he trained alone with weights, never missing a session, and the fact that it finally brought about a result has him very happy and proud.
Listed last tourney at Makushita #1 East, Masuraumi squeezed back to Juryo with a 4-3 result at Tokyo. He is 21-year-old and belongs to Onomatsu stable. You may recall from our March article, he is an undersized wrester, who failed the first physical exam cause he was too short but passed the newly created secondary physical exam. This year, his two Juryo tournaments have resulted in a pair of 7-8 records, so he needs just a little bit more effort to pull off his first kachikoshi as a sekitori. This could be the tournament.
Finally, having fought from Makushita #1 West, Hochiyama, posted a respectable 5-2 make a return to the paid ranks. He is 28-years-old from Sakaigawa stable, who has been all the way up to Makuuchi. Hochiyama has been behind the curtain for over two years, clawing his way back up the banzuke. His fall in the ranks was due to diabetes. He got the strength he needed to make a recovery and a run back to the paid ranks from his family back in Aomori and his supporters. They were a key factor in his rehabilitation and return.
With these 4 wrestlers take slots on the banzuke as sekitori, 4 other wrestlers will have fall back behind the curtain to clear space.
Futeno at Juryo West #12 was 6-3 at the end of day nine but then lost 6 days in a row to end with 6-9 and an appointment with his old white cotton mawashi.
Kirinowaka at Juryo East #13 managed only 2 wins on days eight and nine to post a horrible 2-13 and a ticket to the makushita division.
Kaiho at Juryo West #14 won only 3 times to finish at 3-12 and step behind the curtain for July.
Sadanofuji at Juryo East #14 lost on the final day to Bushuyama to just miss getting his 8th win and will be in the unpaid ranks this summer.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Behind the Curtain - March 2010
In Osaka, the cherry blossoms are here, and with them the honbasho arrives, where we have three debuts from behind the curtain, including one returnee to the paid ranks.
Tokushinho, from Kise Beya, fought at Makushita East 1 at the last tourney in Tokyo and registered a record of 5-2 to earn his return visit to the paid ranks. He started sumo with the fighting of name of Shiratsuka, over one year ago, at his debut to the dohyo in January 2009. Since that basho, he has been known as Tokushinho, stepping out from behind the curtain for two consecutive basho in 2009, September and November. After a one basho visited to Makushita, he is back in the paid ranks, listed at Juryo West 11.
Kurosawa, from Ounomatsu Beya, fought at Makushita West 2 last basho, recording a 4-3 outing to make his debut to Juryo. He will debut a new shikona this month too, Masuraumi. His previous shikona was actually his family name.
Masuraumi is only the 23rd sekitori from the Aichi Prefecture since the end of the W.W. II. He is is the third undersized sekitori coming out of the secondary physical exams introduced about 10 years ago. This exam was made available to new recruits who failed to meet the minimum height and weight requirements when applying to enter into professional sumo. Only two other wrestlers, who have taken the secondary physical exam, have reached Juryo, Toyonoshima and Sagatsukasa. He listed at Juryo East 14 for this Osaka basho.
Sadanofuji, from Sakaigawa Beya, fought at Makushita East 1 last basho, finishing with an impressive 6-1 record. "I want to do sumo like Iwakiyama-zeki. I am not that excited now, but I guess when I put on that white training mawashi, I probably will be.." His oyakata shared that, "He's the first sekitori with the "Sada" prefix I handed out. There are a lot of foreign rikishi. I hope he becomes strong and will face them well".
He is the sixth sekitori since the current oyakata, and ex-komusubi Ryoguku, re-established the Nakadachi stable (renamed to Sakaigawa in 2003), that includes Iwakiyama, Hochiyama, Goeido, Toyohibiki, and Myogiryo. Sakaigawa oyakata looks good having had back-to-back promotion to Juryo, recalling that Myogiryo was promoted to paid ranks last basho. Sadanofuji has the honor of being the 19th sekitori fom Nagasaki since the end of W.W. II, and the first since Dewanofuji was promoted back in 2003. Sadanofuji belongs to the same debut class of January 2003 as Futeno. He is listed at Juryo East 11 for this basho.
Nakanishi, from Ounomatsu Beya, fought at Makushita West 3 last basho, squeaking out from behind the curtain with a bare minimum 4-3 record. Like his Ounomatsu stablemate Masuraumi, he too will debut in Juryo and debut a new shikona, Daido. He has taken his new shikona from the name of his alma mater, Daido Middle School in Tokyo's Katsushika ward. "That's where the groundwork for my sumo was laid", he explained.
He missed Haru 2009 completely when he was within reach of entering juryo, and as a result dropped back to Ms45 because of a fractured jaw. Amazingly, he has come back with 5 consecutive KK to earn promotion this tourney.
He is the 39th sekitori from Tokyo since the end of W.W. II and third former member of the Senshu University sumo team to earn promotion to the Juryo Division following Musoyama (Fujishima Oyakata) and the first since Katayama was promoted for 2004 July Grand Sumo Tournament. He is listed at Juryo West 14 this tournament.
Ounomatsu stablemates Daido and Masuraumi are the first wrestlers to make their Juryo debut since the January 2008 tourney, when Kimurayama and Tochinoshin make a joint debut.
Finally it is nice to know that this is the first time since the 2000 May Grand Sumo Tournament for both the Makuuchi and Juryo Divisions to see three or more rikishi making their division debuts in the same tournament.
Tokushinho, from Kise Beya, fought at Makushita East 1 at the last tourney in Tokyo and registered a record of 5-2 to earn his return visit to the paid ranks. He started sumo with the fighting of name of Shiratsuka, over one year ago, at his debut to the dohyo in January 2009. Since that basho, he has been known as Tokushinho, stepping out from behind the curtain for two consecutive basho in 2009, September and November. After a one basho visited to Makushita, he is back in the paid ranks, listed at Juryo West 11.
Kurosawa, from Ounomatsu Beya, fought at Makushita West 2 last basho, recording a 4-3 outing to make his debut to Juryo. He will debut a new shikona this month too, Masuraumi. His previous shikona was actually his family name.
Masuraumi is only the 23rd sekitori from the Aichi Prefecture since the end of the W.W. II. He is is the third undersized sekitori coming out of the secondary physical exams introduced about 10 years ago. This exam was made available to new recruits who failed to meet the minimum height and weight requirements when applying to enter into professional sumo. Only two other wrestlers, who have taken the secondary physical exam, have reached Juryo, Toyonoshima and Sagatsukasa. He listed at Juryo East 14 for this Osaka basho.
Sadanofuji, from Sakaigawa Beya, fought at Makushita East 1 last basho, finishing with an impressive 6-1 record. "I want to do sumo like Iwakiyama-zeki. I am not that excited now, but I guess when I put on that white training mawashi, I probably will be.." His oyakata shared that, "He's the first sekitori with the "Sada" prefix I handed out. There are a lot of foreign rikishi. I hope he becomes strong and will face them well".
He is the sixth sekitori since the current oyakata, and ex-komusubi Ryoguku, re-established the Nakadachi stable (renamed to Sakaigawa in 2003), that includes Iwakiyama, Hochiyama, Goeido, Toyohibiki, and Myogiryo. Sakaigawa oyakata looks good having had back-to-back promotion to Juryo, recalling that Myogiryo was promoted to paid ranks last basho. Sadanofuji has the honor of being the 19th sekitori fom Nagasaki since the end of W.W. II, and the first since Dewanofuji was promoted back in 2003. Sadanofuji belongs to the same debut class of January 2003 as Futeno. He is listed at Juryo East 11 for this basho.
Nakanishi, from Ounomatsu Beya, fought at Makushita West 3 last basho, squeaking out from behind the curtain with a bare minimum 4-3 record. Like his Ounomatsu stablemate Masuraumi, he too will debut in Juryo and debut a new shikona, Daido. He has taken his new shikona from the name of his alma mater, Daido Middle School in Tokyo's Katsushika ward. "That's where the groundwork for my sumo was laid", he explained.
He missed Haru 2009 completely when he was within reach of entering juryo, and as a result dropped back to Ms45 because of a fractured jaw. Amazingly, he has come back with 5 consecutive KK to earn promotion this tourney.
He is the 39th sekitori from Tokyo since the end of W.W. II and third former member of the Senshu University sumo team to earn promotion to the Juryo Division following Musoyama (Fujishima Oyakata) and the first since Katayama was promoted for 2004 July Grand Sumo Tournament. He is listed at Juryo West 14 this tournament.
Ounomatsu stablemates Daido and Masuraumi are the first wrestlers to make their Juryo debut since the January 2008 tourney, when Kimurayama and Tochinoshin make a joint debut.
Finally it is nice to know that this is the first time since the 2000 May Grand Sumo Tournament for both the Makuuchi and Juryo Divisions to see three or more rikishi making their division debuts in the same tournament.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Behind the Curtain - January 2010
The Year of the Tiger has begun in Tokyo and with it begins the New Year Tournament at Kokugikan, where we will see not one, but two, newly promoted sekitori, make their debut from behind the curtain.
Ms1e Sokokurai (5-2) is only the second Chinese national to make it to the paid ranks since Kiyonohana way back in 1974. From Day 5 at Fukuoka, when he pulled a neat tsuridashi against Hochiyama, it looked like he would have little trouble getting the four wins necessary to break through the curtain. Of course this forecast was challenged when on Day 11 he played it safe, coming out a little cautious, giving Kurosawa the initiative, who make an all-out attack, giving Sokokurai a loss via hikiotoshi. But by Day 13, Sokokurai had 5 wins and the promotion locked up, with the benefit that he held the East #1 slot of Makushita.
Ms1w Miyogiryu (妙義龍) (5-2), formerly Miyamoto, won 4 straight, after going 1-2, to punch his ticket to wearing a silk mawashi for the first time. From the time he competed in sumo at Saitama Sakae High, it was obvious that one day he would enter Ozumo and be successful at it. In between, he attended Nittai University, doing well enough there that he earned himself a Makushita Tsukedashi qualification to enter below Makushita 15 at his dohyo debut in May. He notched up 4 straight kachikoshi results to make his sekitori debut at the first tourney of 2010. He has sanyaku hopes written all over, due to his hard work ethic, solid mental strength and just plain good sumo skills. Ozumo needs a new star, Miyogiryu might be just the guy!
These two step up to Juryo because two other wrestlers are falling down the banzuke, and behind the curtain.
Kotoyutaka J14w (4-11) fell apart after Day 10, losing his 5 last days. He first put on the silk mawashi at the Nagoya basho. He has the skill and size (146kg), we ought to see him out in front of the curtain by next Nagoya basho.
Daishoumi J10w (4-11), like Kotoyutaka, also fell apart after Day 10, losing his 5 last days. Perhaps the wear and tear of the first 10 days took its toll on Daishoumi. Since somewhat young at 25 years old, we should watch him climb quickly back in the Juryo division in 2010.
Ms1e Sokokurai (5-2) is only the second Chinese national to make it to the paid ranks since Kiyonohana way back in 1974. From Day 5 at Fukuoka, when he pulled a neat tsuridashi against Hochiyama, it looked like he would have little trouble getting the four wins necessary to break through the curtain. Of course this forecast was challenged when on Day 11 he played it safe, coming out a little cautious, giving Kurosawa the initiative, who make an all-out attack, giving Sokokurai a loss via hikiotoshi. But by Day 13, Sokokurai had 5 wins and the promotion locked up, with the benefit that he held the East #1 slot of Makushita.
Ms1w Miyogiryu (妙義龍) (5-2), formerly Miyamoto, won 4 straight, after going 1-2, to punch his ticket to wearing a silk mawashi for the first time. From the time he competed in sumo at Saitama Sakae High, it was obvious that one day he would enter Ozumo and be successful at it. In between, he attended Nittai University, doing well enough there that he earned himself a Makushita Tsukedashi qualification to enter below Makushita 15 at his dohyo debut in May. He notched up 4 straight kachikoshi results to make his sekitori debut at the first tourney of 2010. He has sanyaku hopes written all over, due to his hard work ethic, solid mental strength and just plain good sumo skills. Ozumo needs a new star, Miyogiryu might be just the guy!
These two step up to Juryo because two other wrestlers are falling down the banzuke, and behind the curtain.
Kotoyutaka J14w (4-11) fell apart after Day 10, losing his 5 last days. He first put on the silk mawashi at the Nagoya basho. He has the skill and size (146kg), we ought to see him out in front of the curtain by next Nagoya basho.
Daishoumi J10w (4-11), like Kotoyutaka, also fell apart after Day 10, losing his 5 last days. Perhaps the wear and tear of the first 10 days took its toll on Daishoumi. Since somewhat young at 25 years old, we should watch him climb quickly back in the Juryo division in 2010.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Behind the Curtain - November 2009
The leaves have all changed color in Nikko, just outside of Tokyo, and on the other end of Japan, in Kyushu, we will see the beginning of another sekitori, spending out from behind the curtain, along with one returnee to the paid ranks. The Fukuoka Basho will be the debut of a wrestler who may have what it takes to reach sanyaku.
Makushita Yusho winner – Gagamaru (7-0) Ms10e puts on the silk mawashi for the first time. He becomes the third sekitori from Georgia.
"I couldn't sleep last night because I was so nervous. When I heard of my promotion I was really happy. If I wouldn't have been promoted, I promised myself to gambarize next basho!", declared a happy Gagamaru. He lost his father in a traffic accident three years ago almost to the day. "I'm sure he's happy for me up there", he said, gazing into the distance.
Gagamaru, Oyakata Kise and Kise wrestlers visited the K International School in October, for their annual bazaar. There he said that he was very confident about getting kachi kochi in his Juryo debut.Gagamaru did it by taking his first Makushita championship. The makushita yusho was decided in a playoff between two 22 years old foreigners Gagamaru and Kaisei, and Gagamaru was ablr to grab his juryo promotion with his second yusho in his career (he won jonokuchi in his debut basho).
In addition, we have one wrestler returning to the paid ranks. He debuted in Juryo at Nagoya but had a one basho visit behind the curtain.
Kotoyukata (4-3) Ms1e managed to get a majority wins to return to Juryo. It should be nice for Kotoyukata to return to his home prefecture as a 2nd time sekitori. His hometown happens to be in Fukuoka prefecture, the town of Tikuzyou.
What goes up, something goes down, especially in sumo, where someone just lose his slot in order for someone below to take his slot. In essence you can consider that Ms10e Gagamaru 7-0 replaced J12w Tokushinho 6-9 and that Ms1e Kotoyutaka 4-3 replaced J10w Sotairyu 5-10. Interestingly, Kise Beya has one wrestler step out from the curtain, in Gagamaru, while on the sametime, another wrestler must step behind the curtain, in Tokushinho.
Sotairyu fell 3 wins short at the Aki basho of continuing his kachikoshi streak. Before the Aki basho, he had 6 consecutive tournaments will a majority wins.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Behind the Curtain - September 2009
The colors of the leaves have not started to change here in Tokyo, but the Fall Tournament or Aki Basho is here. This tourney we have 5 men stepping out from behind the curtain. There are 3 new faces making their debut to the paid ranks and 2 guys we have seen before in the silk mawashi.
Ms1w Sotairyu 6-1 from Tokitsukaze-Beya is putting on the silk mawashi for the first time this September. He entered the dohyo for the first time back in the summer tourney of 2005. After 4 years, he enters the paid ranks. Sotairyu is also the 10th college wrestler for Tokitsukaze stable.
Sotairyu was the only low-ranker who did not change his shikona in January 2008 after the Tokitsukaze-Beya scandal and remains with the shikona given to him by the former Oyakata. "After the scandal I was so depressed I couldn't do any sumo. I thought of quitting and even consulted my parents on this". He is 115 kilos light, but "I'll move around furiously and get the fans all excited!" he promised.
Sotairyu joins 4 of his stable mates as sekitori representing Tokitsukaze stable: East Maegashira #7 Toyonoshima, West Maegashira #10 Tokitenku, East Maegashira #14 Shimotori and West Maegashira #14 Tosayutaka.
Ms2w Tokushinho 4-3, from Kise-Beya, must have breathed easier after Dejima’s retirement announcement, which sealed Tokushinho’s promotion to Juryo. He is the first guy from Asahi University to become a sekitori. It will also be his first tournament fighting in a silk mawashi.
Kise Oyakata explained, “I will have you know, young man, that new promotee Tokushinhou weighs 220 kilos.”
Tokishinho shared, "I'd like to see how I measure up today to the guys I did sumo with back in college and could never beat.”
Tokitsukaze Oyakata added, "At first, he couldn't do shiko or teppo or push ups.. He did serious training, but I felt it may take him more time to become a sekitori", said his Oyakata Kise. He is 25 years old and is 1.92 meters tall. "He looks like a tall tree to me", added the awe-yakata, who decided he will use a green mawashi. "I hope he utilizes his outside grip well and does 'big' sumo!", he summed.
It is said that last Basho Yamamotoyama met Tokishinho in the shitakuBeya and called out: "Get up (the ranks) quickly and let's ruuumble!!"
Ms1e Sagatsukasa 4-3 from Irumagawa-Beya, did not need to win his last bout in Nagoya, against, Toyazakura, cause he only need 4 victories to guarantee his return to the paid ranks, after a one Basho visit behind the curtain.
Ms2e Hoshikaze 4-3 from Oguruma-Beya got his promotion on day 12th in direct exchange bout with a uwatenage win against another Mongolian Hoshihikari. "I want to do strong, forward-moving, my own kind of sumo!" He joined sumo together with Kotooushuu. "Now that I'm closing in on him in the ranks, I'd really like to face him on the dohyo". He is known for having difficulties getting in sync with his opponents at the tachiai because of his over-enthusiasm. "I hope he becomes a rikishi who does a nice tachi-ai", said his Oyakata, Oguruma.
Ms4e Fukuoka 4-3, who is renaming himself to Okinoumi, again, is from Hakkaku-Beya and is our last man stepping out from the curtain, plus along with Sagatsukasa, our 2nd returnee to the paid ranks.
With 5 men rising to the Sekitori tier of sumo, and with Deijma opening up one slot, 4 men must fall to behind the curtain to make room. J13e Hoshihikari 5-10, J13w Kitazakura 3-12, J14e Kotokuni 1-14 and J14w Kotoyutaka 7-8 will drop to Makushita.
Ms1w Sotairyu 6-1 from Tokitsukaze-Beya is putting on the silk mawashi for the first time this September. He entered the dohyo for the first time back in the summer tourney of 2005. After 4 years, he enters the paid ranks. Sotairyu is also the 10th college wrestler for Tokitsukaze stable.
Sotairyu was the only low-ranker who did not change his shikona in January 2008 after the Tokitsukaze-Beya scandal and remains with the shikona given to him by the former Oyakata. "After the scandal I was so depressed I couldn't do any sumo. I thought of quitting and even consulted my parents on this". He is 115 kilos light, but "I'll move around furiously and get the fans all excited!" he promised.
Sotairyu joins 4 of his stable mates as sekitori representing Tokitsukaze stable: East Maegashira #7 Toyonoshima, West Maegashira #10 Tokitenku, East Maegashira #14 Shimotori and West Maegashira #14 Tosayutaka.
Ms2w Tokushinho 4-3, from Kise-Beya, must have breathed easier after Dejima’s retirement announcement, which sealed Tokushinho’s promotion to Juryo. He is the first guy from Asahi University to become a sekitori. It will also be his first tournament fighting in a silk mawashi.
Kise Oyakata explained, “I will have you know, young man, that new promotee Tokushinhou weighs 220 kilos.”
Tokishinho shared, "I'd like to see how I measure up today to the guys I did sumo with back in college and could never beat.”
Tokitsukaze Oyakata added, "At first, he couldn't do shiko or teppo or push ups.. He did serious training, but I felt it may take him more time to become a sekitori", said his Oyakata Kise. He is 25 years old and is 1.92 meters tall. "He looks like a tall tree to me", added the awe-yakata, who decided he will use a green mawashi. "I hope he utilizes his outside grip well and does 'big' sumo!", he summed.
It is said that last Basho Yamamotoyama met Tokishinho in the shitakuBeya and called out: "Get up (the ranks) quickly and let's ruuumble!!"
Ms1e Sagatsukasa 4-3 from Irumagawa-Beya, did not need to win his last bout in Nagoya, against, Toyazakura, cause he only need 4 victories to guarantee his return to the paid ranks, after a one Basho visit behind the curtain.
Ms2e Hoshikaze 4-3 from Oguruma-Beya got his promotion on day 12th in direct exchange bout with a uwatenage win against another Mongolian Hoshihikari. "I want to do strong, forward-moving, my own kind of sumo!" He joined sumo together with Kotooushuu. "Now that I'm closing in on him in the ranks, I'd really like to face him on the dohyo". He is known for having difficulties getting in sync with his opponents at the tachiai because of his over-enthusiasm. "I hope he becomes a rikishi who does a nice tachi-ai", said his Oyakata, Oguruma.
Ms4e Fukuoka 4-3, who is renaming himself to Okinoumi, again, is from Hakkaku-Beya and is our last man stepping out from the curtain, plus along with Sagatsukasa, our 2nd returnee to the paid ranks.
With 5 men rising to the Sekitori tier of sumo, and with Deijma opening up one slot, 4 men must fall to behind the curtain to make room. J13e Hoshihikari 5-10, J13w Kitazakura 3-12, J14e Kotokuni 1-14 and J14w Kotoyutaka 7-8 will drop to Makushita.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Behind the Curtain - July 2009
Summer is in full swing, the heat and humidity is draped over most of Japan, and during this time, men will step out from behind the curtain to accept their silk mawashi, in some cases, for the first time, and defend their elevated rank of Sekitori, the top of the sumo pyramid. This Nagoya Basho we will have two first time Sekitori and one returnee.
First to get a promotion for this July tournament is Tokusegawa, who is one of the almost 40 Mongolians in sumo. He is has the honor of being the very first wrestler to reach Juryo for the Kiriyama stable. Kiriyama Oyakata formed his stable 15 years ago, and now he has his first Sekitori, “That is good. I was beginning to wonder if I’ll ever see the day.” It took Tokusegawa 6 years and surgery on his right elbow to reach this milestone, “I knew that some day I’d get my chance.” During those 6 years, Tokusegawa did win his division twice, once Makushita and another time Sandanme. Let’s see if he can string together a good run and add a Juryo yusho to his resume!
Next there is Kotoyutaka is a man known for his sense of humor, smarts and overall sweetness, which is not always traits that comes to mind when you like about a sumo wrestler. He has been known to be quite the clown on the Jungyo tours. His wit has been on display on television, when doing an interview on of numerous wide shows with Kotomitsuki and Kotomisen, where he shutdown the obnoxious host with some seriously sharp retorts. Besides his skills off the dohyo, he also managed to get one Makushita yusho in his climb up the banzuke. Upon hearing of his promotion, Kotoyutaka remarked, “I’d like to send my very first salary to my parents, with the envelope still sealed!” His coach, Sadogatake Oyakata shared, “I remember how the old shisho (the deceased ex-Kotozakura) used to say to him ‘If you ever make it to Juryo I’ll walk around the eighborhood on my hands!” Now, wouldn’t that be a sight to behold.
Finally we have our returnee, Kitazakura from Kitonoumi stable. Surprisingly, after getting demoted back behind the curtain for his poor showing at Juryo 11, posting only 5 wins for the entire tourney, he did not retire has many predicted. Instead he fought behind the curtain, and at the rank of Makushita 2 West, he won the majority of his bouts, finishing 4-3, including a win against a Sekitori, Juryo 13 East Wakatenro. This did not get him back in front of the curtain, since he was bumped from getting one of the 3 open slots in Juryo by Sagatsukasa, Jumonji and Tamaasuka. So he went on to post another 4-3 result in the Natsu Basho at Tokyo, to earn him his return to the paid ranks. He is the 2nd oldest wrestler ever to earn a promotion back to Juryo, after the great Oshio.
To make room for these boys, someone must have retired or gotten sent back behind the curtain. At writing, the official standings are not release but it is very likely that Sagatsukasa will return to Makushita, limited his visit in front of the curtain to just one basho. Okinoumi will join him, along with Hoshihikari. Don’t forget, the promotion to Juryo are announced the first Wednesday after a tournament ends to give the wrestler time to find the money and get his silk kensho mawashi made, for his grand entrance via the tournament dohyo-iri (entering the dohyo) ceremony.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
