We interrupt the scandal to bring you some relaxing Jungyo stories.
🌐 Location: Kurume, Fukuoka
😛 Goofometer: ◾️◾️◾️◾️◽️
The Jungyo continues its trail through Fukuoka. The rikishi start practicing around the venue. We have Ryuden pumping iron:
Or in this case, pumping Shobushi. The tweet, by the way, says “Oh, I want to be hugged by Ryuden princess-style!” – carrying a person in this position is called “Ohime-sama dakko” – “Princess-style hug”. Shobushi is the princess in this case.
On the first day, Terutsuyoshi was a good boy and didn’t touch Enho at all! But it seems that the phase of the moon changed, the monster is out and about:
Eventually, of course, Terutsuyoshi does end up with at least one hand on his favorite pixie:
Enho doesn’t seem to mind it too much, though. By the way, I was surprised to realize that Takarafuji is taller than Chiyoshoma. Proportions can be misleading. Of course, both look like giants next to the pixie pair.
Rikishi come to greet Asakayama oyakata (the oyakata formerly known as Kaio). He seems to have a little rule: You want to talk to me? Talk to that salt bag first!
Terutsuyoshi as all like “Are you kidding me? All I want is to say my greeting!”. Nevertheless…
Pump that salt! Mission accomplished, Terutsuyoshi can have a few words with the former Ozeki, and make his bow. All the while, Enho is waiting for his turn.
That is to say, he’s pumping that bag as well.
Many photos and videos we share with you actually come from the NSK’s social media. They get ther via the lovely NSK social media ladies:
Bearing in mind that these PR people are, indeed, ladies, there is no wonder we end up with the following Yokozuna practice video:
I’m sure videos like this increase the sales of hand fans at the concession stands at least threefold – even though it’s mid-winter.
Speaking of the Yokozuna, he and Takayasu were comparing their tegata print skills:
While the Yokozuna wins in the speed and quantity categories, Takayasu totally nails the cool category by getting retweeted by…
And Ms. Rowling wins by having Takayasu retweeting her, of course!
The participants in the Jungyo are the sekitori and their tsukebito. Now, the on-going scandals may make you think that being a tsukebito sucks rocks. The truth is, though, that it all depends on the master you serve. Some are abusive. Aminishiki was asked today (Dec. 7) about the Takanoiwa scandal, and said, among other things: “Your tsukebito is not your plaything. In exchange for helping you with the daily necessities of your career, you are supposed to guide and sort of ‘raise’ him”. Apparently, Aminishiki is not the only one in Isegahama who believes sekitori owe their tsukebito some coaching:
Takarafuji’s tsukebito is Sakurafuji. And Takarafuji gives him both some general tips:
…and actual hands-on practice:
Meanwhile, on the dohyo, there’s some butsukari taking place between moshi-ai sessions:
Here is some Juryo moshi-ai:
Interesting to note that they have a short shikiri between the bouts. They don’t just go down and tachiai. So here is some Makuuchi moshi-ai:
Practice time over, the Yokozuna leaves the building, but doesn’t forget his fansa:
Before we turn to the dohyo-iri, let’s take a look at one of the back rooms. Apparently, the rikishi have changed their favorite game this Jungyo.
In the previous Jungyo, it was “Nip the Nipple”. This Jungyo they have switch to the less-painful “Wiggle the Wattle”.
And Kyonosato does have a considerable wattle.
And this leads us right to the dohyo-iri, where Onosho decides to play “Wiggle the Wattle” with Chiyomaru:
Dohyo-iri over, and the Yokozuna is also done with his.
I dunno. Takarafuji looks completely out of place in that scene.
It’s bout time. I don’t have many bouts, but I do have this:
Apparently, in Jungyo, Kotoshogiku still entertains the spectators with his back bend.
Shohozan, at this point sitting beside the dohyo as his turn is two bouts later, is apparently impressed, because…
…he totally steals the move.
The only bout of which I have footage is… guess… Enho! He is facing Chiyonoumi.
And Enho does his famous… tsuppari? Tsuppari? Enho?
Well, the Jungyo is the right place to try new stuff, I guess. But Chiyonoumi is all like “Thanks for the gift, man. You do know that tsuki-oshi is my specialty, right?” – and unceremoniously tosses the pixie off the dohyo.
Practice makes perfect, though, Enho.
Time for our pin-up rikishi of the day. And by special request…
Um, nope. I’m not going to close a post with Akiseyama. Un-uh.
Now that’s more like it.
Any word on whether Chiyomaru’s wattle has stopp wiggling yet?
Thanks Herouth for some much need levity after a depressing couple of days. However the image of Akiseyama is now burned into my retina. Luckily there’s plenty of other things to look at to reduce the trauma 😁
I miss Abi…
It’s interesting to compare Ehno’s tsuppari here with Takakeisho’s “wave action”. Ehno’s tsuppari barrage is fast, but it doesn’t have much “oomph” behind it because he’s only using his upper body. One of the main reasons that Takakeisho’s “wave action” is effective is he applies force with his lower body. Aoyiama uses a similar tsuppari form to Takakeisho with similarly devastating effects. It will be interesting to see if Enho learns to use his legs more often.
Just found your site, and I wanted to say thanks for all the hard work. I watched sumo in Japan as a kid for many years, and now as an adult in the US, I’m getting back into it. It’s great that you’re providing news between basho — it is appreciated.
thanks Herouth!!! and thanks for rounding out the article with pinup birthday boy Wakatakakage!
Thanks for lightening the mood after a grim week. Things can only get better from here (looks around nervously)..
The Takayasu hand stamp also made it onto The Last Leg (a popular UK Friday evening comedy show)!
Thanks for further promoting Akiseyama, soon he’ll be ready for the top spot
So sad that Fukuoka was likely my only chance to see sumo in real life and then Hakuhot is not there.
Aminishiki’s word about Sekitori-Tsukebito relationship is so full of wisdom. It’s heart touching.
I feel he’ll make an incredible and very well respected oyakata in the future.
I don’t know who is his Tsukebito, but my guest is he is more than honored to be priviligiated to be his “pupil”. Perhaps, he’ll even be a bit sad the day Uncle Sumo will trade his mawashi for the black robe. Maybe he’ll ask to continue to “kinda” be his tsukebito even though Oyakata don’t have really any.
(Am i guessing right here ? Does Oyakata have Tsukebito or a person to do the same role ? )
Actually, oyakata do have tsukebito. I am not sure if only stablemasters or every oyakata, but they certainly do. There was a photo on the Chiganoura Twitter account the other day, and in the background there was the list of tsukebito. Chiganoura oyakata had four or five, while each of his sekitori had two.
Is it just me or does it seem like Hakuho is moving a little better on Jungyo Day 3?
It’s so encouraging to see him doing squats after his knee surgery.
I just presumed being a tsukebito wasn’t just about serving the rikshi, but learning how a proper sekitori is supposed to act, kind of like a job-shadowing thing, “If you make it to sekitori status, your life changes a lot, and here’s a preview of how.”
I’m not surprised Aminishiki phrased his answer the way he did, given that he has kids himself.