[fractus2]

Looks like only Asashoryu will make the Sep Tokyo Basho (started today). Don't know what's up with Musashimaru. Absense and withdrawl link shows him withdrawn from 1st day of the tournament. Don't know if this means he's out only today or the whole tournament.

 

[fractus2]

This is turning out to be a pretty good Basho. Asashoryu is undefeated on day 7. Kaio only lost one the other day, but has been pounding his opponents of late. The true favorite is Takamisakari (photo below). The crowd literally goes wild when he even walks into the ring. He won today and he's been getting all of the sponsors and took a stack of money for the win. Took the wife today and even she had a great time. I've been here for 15 years off and on and this is only the third time I've seen one live. And to think I could have seen Chiyonofuji in his day. At least I can see him in person as the head judge. Actually got to sneak and get a ring side seat and was this close to the Yokozuna and got some great photos. Since we were there we got two tickets for day 15, should be awesome and I hope for a tie and a wrestle-off at the end.

 

[aeberbach]

What do you think of the controversy surrounding Asashoryu and hair-pulling? One newspaper report had a sumo fan of many years describing him as a "sissy" because of it. Did you see any sign that he is not so popular these days?

(The picture brings to mind our old thread about swastikas not necessarily being a Nazi symbol.)

 

[Lando]

(Yes, but Takamisakari's swastika is turned the correct direction, not backwards like the Nazi symbol.

)

 

[fractus2]

Quote:

Originally posted by aeberbach What do you think of the controversy surrounding Asashoryu and hair-pulling? One newspaper report had a sumo fan of many years describing him as a "sissy" because of it. Did you see any sign that he is not so popular these days? (The picture brings to mind our old thread about swastikas not necessarily being a Nazi symbol.)

All of the non-Japanese Rikishi who make it have their critics. You can't argue with success though. I picture him as pretty tough, almost as muscular as Chiyonofuji, relying more on strength than speed or weight. One recent bout he literally lifted the guy up while falling back wards and slammed him down. The crowd could only gasp.

 

[LobsterSan]

I got to see sumo wrestling in Japan for the first time yesterday!

Unfortunately, I wasn't at the actual event =)

It was being displayed on the Yodobashi-vision giant TV in the Yodobashi-Umeda subway station. The match drew quite a few standing spectators. It was pretty neat seeing people in the crowd really get into the matches. A newbie to the world of sumo, it was at least more engagin than watching the edited crap they usually put on ESPN2.

 

[fractus2]

Quote:

Originally posted by LobsterSan It was being displayed on the Yodobashi-vision giant TV in the Yodobashi-Umeda subway station. The match drew quite a few standing spectators. It was pretty neat seeing people in the crowd really get into the matches. A newbie to the world of sumo, it was at least more engagin than watching the edited crap they usually put on ESPN2.

LobsterSan, One of the NHK channels starts a live broadcast of the Basho every weekday at around 3:00pm. The weekends are the same or earlier. They always reserve the right to cut in with the news.

 

[daycart1]

It's a shame we don't get the Japanese digest version on TV here in SoCal anymore. It was really superb--far superior to the ESPN digest.

It is hard to see where the next Yokozuna is coming from--none of the four Ozeki is very consistent. We really need for Musashimaru to heal that damn wrist or whatever it is that is bothering him.

 

[fractus2]

This is one exciting Basho. Asashoryu lost yesterday for the second time in a row and is 11-2, and Ozeki Chiyotaikai won and is 10-3. Guess who is fighting who today in about two hours? Best case scenario: Yokozuna Asashoryu loses today and both win or lose Sunday for a king of the mountain match up. And we've got tickets for day 15 tomorrow (hehe).

 

[daycart1]

Another yusho for the ass-man! Sorry about your 15th day, Fractus. There will still be some important bouts for settling the November rankings, though.

 

[fractus2]

Nah, I'm still stoked. That was one pile of cash he got for yesterday's bout. I counted 15 sponsors!

 

[squirt]

i haven't been following Sumo since the local boys (Konishiki, Akebono and Musashimaru) haven't been dominant...too bad Mushi isn't in this basho otherwise i'd be following it closer

 

[fractus2]

Quote:

Originally posted by squirt i haven't been following Sumo since the local boys (Konishiki, Akebono and Musashimaru) haven't been dominant...too bad Mushi isn't in this basho otherwise i'd be following it closer

I agree. Sure [wish] I could have been there to cheer the local boys on. There is one local boy that did fight I think, Sentoryu. He sure looks Polynesian and they announce his country of origin as America. He sure looks like he could be from Hawaii. Funny thing, the other day I saw Konishki in the audience and the way he was rooting for him there is a good chance. I dig his anime design.

 

[adi]

um... I happened to see that guy in discovery channel the other day... don't know what the name was. If I am not mistaken for the person, he's from San Diego.

 

[fractus2]

Well, we had the right country. According to these two sites, he's from St.Louis, Missouri. He's got a cool web site. I wonder if there is a Hawaii connection?

link, link2