Sumo is great. Haven't followed it in years but really enjoyed it when I did. MiL and I watched the honbasho on TV in the afternoons together.
Wins by yorikiri my fave.
^ They haven't had a Japanese win a tournament in over 10 years if I'm not mistaken. Maybe 1 ...
Takanohana and Wakanohana were the last of the Japanese yokozuna. It was a point of national pride when they won the title back from the Hawaiians for just a couple of years. The Hawaiians and Mongolians have been the best for all the years since.
Just checked. There has been no Japanese yokozuna since 1998!
^ Even when the Yokozuna or Ozeki champions don't win the yusho like this last tournament ... one of the lower ranked Mongolians steps up to snag it away.
SK,
Is that you in the black and red robe?
Front-center?
![]()
Wish I would have made the time to take in a Sumo tournament when I lived there. Used to follow it religiously on TV though.
I used to laugh at Sumo, simply thinking it was 2 grown men in nappies pushing each other...
Until my mother-in-law, explained to me the intricacies and techniques of the art.
There is an awful lot more to sumo wrestling than most outsiders ever realize.
Now I appreciate it much more.
My Japanese family (and my) favorite, is the Wolf...(chiyonofuji mitsugu) I saw a documentary on him, he wasn't the biggest guy, but tremendously powerful and athletic... I remember watching when he retired, they cut his hair, Japanese usually don't show emotions as we do, but he was overcome with emotion.. beautiful moment.. RIP.
![]()
^ Dude ... there used to be a magazine called 'Sumo World'. I've got several mint copies from the 80s. I contacted the old owner when it vanished and he told me he sold it and the new owner pretty much just let it die. He told me it's possible somebody could take it over. Keep that in mind.
Half Filipino lad makes it to the second highest rank of Ozeki in Sumo.
Relieved Takayasu eyeing first title with ozeki promotion in the bag | The Japan Times
"Soon-to-be ozeki Takayasu spoke on Monday of his relief in coming through the crucial Summer Grand Sumo Tournament unhurt and with enough wins to make promotion almost certain, while making clear his sights are now set on an Emperor’s Cup title.
The Ibaraki-native, whose mother is from the Philippines, ended this month’s tourney with a 11-4 record as a sekiwake and took his tally to 34 wins over the past three tourneys, one above the required mark of 33 to reach the second highest rank.
His promotion is to be officially announced on Wednesday.
“I’m relieved I closed the 15 days without injury. I’ve been set free from a weight on my shoulders,” Takayasu told a news conference at his Tagonoura stable. “It was a defining meet and I’m glad I somehow secured the (required) mark.”
Things could have ended even better for the 27-year-old, who reached the 33-win threshold with three days to spare. Takayasu ended yokozuna Harumafuji’s chance of silverware with a win on the 13th day, but losses to No. 5 maegashira Shodai and ozeki Terunofuji brought him back to earth.
“There were bouts I dropped and also those where I showed my bad habits,” he said. “I’ll train my way through (ahead of July’s Nagoya tourney).”
It was the second promotion shot for Takayasu after he failed his first in November when he posted a 7-8 losing record after winning 23 bouts in the previous two meets. He again racked up a total of 23 in January and March this year, getting him the backing of his delighted stablemate yokozuna Kisenosato.
“I had the frustration from not managing to get the result in the Kyushu tourney. I went in with a strong resolve to somehow get over the line (at the summer event),” Takayasu said.
“He (Kisenosato) congratulated me. I was happy, I’m where I am now thanks to the yokozuna. I’m thankful for him and hopefully I can catch him soon.”
To do so, he needs two straight titles or results as good. He is fully aware of the task at hand, but also the weight that comes with being an ozeki before that.
“It’s a rank you can’t wrestle with half-baked mind set. I want to be a role model and be an imposing ozeki,” he said. “Now I’ll aim for the title, trying to win all the 15 bouts. I can’t go higher if I don’t win it.”
![]()
Used to watch it on ch 4 in the 80's Chiyonofuji Mitsugu was the big champion then, just noticed he died last year. See it on NHK now but it's has a few scandals over the years and the Mongolians do not always behave in a proper manner. It's very watchable.
^^he looks like someone I know... someones, actually....
But seriously, all the best to him... may he have a good career in sumo & may he rise to the top...
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)