Kisenosato

Aki 2018 Jungyo – Day 18 (Oct 21)

Herouth Jungyo (巡業) , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
hanging-nobori
Nobori being hanged at Takamatsu

🌐 Location: Takamatsu, Kagawa
🚫 Scandal level: 1

The town of Takamatsu prepared for the sumo event, after two years of wait, hanging nobori and preparing the venue:

hanging-roof
The Jungyo hanging roof is a simple, light canopy, unlike honbasho

But alas, two years ago, when the previous Jungyo took place here, the prefecture boasted two sekitori: Kotoyuki and Amakaze. Amakaze is no longer among the sekitori ranks, and Kotoyuki is unfortunately kyujo.

Although he didn’t participate in the torikumi due to an unspecified injury, Takayasu was present at the practice session:

takayasu-practices

Tochinoshin, still no brace but with elaborate taping, did some suri-ashi in the hana-michi:

At one of the corners of the hall, this child is trying to figure out the double-assed monster:

double-assed-monster

Or maybe he is waiting to see if the expected hernia develops right in front of his eyes.

At another corner, Wakatakakage and Gokushindo were doing a mini-Shokkiri version of their own:

I would have expected people to start gathering around, and maybe asking where the hat is to throw coins into. But this is Japan.

Practice bouts:

Gagamaru vs. Yago:

Gagamaru has zero stamina.

Takekaze vs. Akiseyama

Takarafuji vs. Aoiyama:

Yet another Isegahama sekitori is fading away.

Shodai vs. Chiyonokuni:

Mitakeumi vs. Ryuden:

Not in the same league, apparently.

Mitakeumi vs. Tochinoshin:

That’s a whole different level. Note that since the morning Tochinoshin’s taping has become a heavy supporter – though I think it’s still not his usual brace. Maybe it’s being dry-cleaned.

Time for Juryo dohyo-iri. A kid asks Gagamaru for an autograph. Gagamaru replies: “If I said I can’t it would be a lie”:

Maybe it’s just me, but I find it really amusing when a huge rikishi has such a girly voice. It’s the same with Terunofuji. Huge, menacing rikishi, and a high-pitched, small voice.

Kisenosato back from demonstrating his rope tying. Yokozuna wearing their ropes don’t stop for fan service, but Awajiumi is serving as his proxy:

Time for Makuuchi dohyo-iri, and Takakeisho once again shows that his face is capable of more than just a pouting frown:

takakeisho-pleased

But of course, he is no competition to his new heya-mate:

takanosho-dakko

This is from earlier in the day, of course. If you wonder why rikishi are so often photographed with kids, well, there is a belief in Japan that if a rikishi carries your child she will grow up healthy and strong. This one took a long stare at Onigiri-kun, I mean, Takanosho. I guess trying to decide whether he was edible or not.

Waiting for the Yokozuna dohyo-iri, Nishikigi and Shodai exchange – let’s call it an elaborate handshake?

So why have I upped the scandal level to 1? Because once again Tamawashi is tweaking nipples:

tamawashi-tuning-yutakayama

He really seems fascinated by the things. Or is he trying to break into a safe? We have decided to call him Chichiwashi over at Twitter. That means “Boob Eagle”.

So as brain bleach against the booby monster, I give you a great photo of Abi’s shiko:

abi

Now that’s more wholesome. As long as you’re standing on this side, of course.

Here is a summary of the day’s event from NHK, where you can see some glimpses of bouts, and the full Kisenosato-Kakuryu bout:

So here is your daily Tobizaru:

tobizaru

If he ever opens an online dating account for the purpose of marriage, that’s the photo I’d recommend as his profile pic.

 

Aki 2018 Jungyo – Days 15 and 16

Herouth Jungyo (巡業) , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I couldn’t get much stuff yesterday about the Ikeda event, so I decided to give you a double-header today instead.

terutsuyoshi-salt-throw

🌐 Location: Ikeda, Osaka
🚫 Scandal level: 0

Feast your eyes on that salt throw by Terutsuyoshi, because after this event, he goes off the radar.

Well, not before he manages to join the list of rikishi with a moob fixation. But while Tamawashi at least chooses fine-chested harassment objects, Terutsuyoshi is going for one who is not really known for his good build.

And while he does this, he continues to talk to Wakatakakage, completely ignoring his squeezy toy. No wonder Akiseyama looks sad. Eventually he fends off the groping pixie and covers his chest with his arms defensively.

Tamawashi gives Chiyotairyu a command: fetch Enho. Enho arrives at the dohyo at the komusubi’s request, and Don Tamawashi takes him a side for a little conversation:

I don’t know about you, but it seems to me like Enho is twice trying to escape. I can only imagine the conversation:

“Hello, little one. I hear a lot of good things about you lately, you know. We were in Kanazawa the other day. You have family in Kanazawa, right? Well, I sent some people to pay them a visit, see that they are alright. You know, family is important. Your brother seems like a nice guy. I’d hate to see anything bad happen to any of them. So now, half pint, I have something to tell you. I’m sure you’re not going to be impolite and not listen”

[gulp] “Um, yes, sir?”

“Happy birthday! Many happy returns!”

Yes, yes, this was Enho’s birthday. And that’s what Tamawashi wanted him for, apparently. Well, I’m sure it is. Positive.

So let’s look at some keiko.

Chiyonoumi vs. Tomokaze:

Azumaryu vs. Meisei:

Meisei is not having the best of times lately.

Takakeisho vs. Aoiyama:

Kisenosato continues with Mitakeumi:

Aoiyama lending his mighty chest to Meisei for butsukari:

Tochiozan turns out to be a rather severe dealer of butsukari:

Get your legs moving! Get up quickly! The legs, I told you to get your legs moving! [slap on arm] Legs!

Arikawa is a friendly guy. Here he is following his bout:

Admit it, before this Jungyo you didn’t have a clue who Arikawa was. Now you know!

And speaking of Yokozuna tsukebito, here is Kasugaryu, the servant without a master, getting his oicho done in preparation for his bow twirl:

I wonder who it is he is greeting with that shy smile and “osu”.

Finally, the only bout I have is Meisei vs. Kyokushuho:

How Kyokushuho manages to get his front mawashi end loose like that in this slow match is beyond me.

Here is your Tobizaru:

tobizaru

🌐 Location: Kurayoshi, Tottori
🚫 Scandal level: 0, despite this being Tottori.

hiyonoyama-misasa-onsen
Hiyonoyama decides to go to Misasa Onsen

Do you know what day it is?

It’s Ichinojo day!

Everybody knows that Ichinojo and Tottori are synonymous. Well, in a world in which he is not a Mongolian giant specializing in shepherding and wolf avoidance, that is.

Having graduated from the famous Tottori Johoku high school – and also worked there after graduation – the locals consider him a home boy. Especially when all the other home boys, like Ishiura, Takanoiwa and Terunofuji are MIA. He has managed to stay away from last year’s scandal by being kyujo due to hernia, so this year, he is the subject of adoration. Sought after when he is in his practice mawashi:

ichinojo-in-practice-mawashi

And when he is in his kesho-mawashi:

ichinojo-in-kesho-mawashi

Requested for interviews:

Looking mighty worried until he remembers the magic incantation: “Gambarimasu!”

Note how he always shuffles his feet and seeks something to cover himself up:

Even Abi wants a piece of Ichinojo this day:

Which he obviously doesn’t need because as soon as Ichinojo leaves, everybody is running to Abi.

Speaking of Abi and attention-seeking, here is how he avoids stopping for autographs:

“Oh, my shoulder hurts! Ow, it hurts terribly! Oh, woe is me!”

Five minutes later he was signing autographs with a totally straight face, of course.

Right outside the venue a great board was set up, for people to write encouragements following the Chubu Earthquake. Some space was allocated for the rikishi to put in their tegata, autograph and words of encouragement. Here is Takanosho applying his:

Ichinojo chose this spot for todays fashion statement:

ichinojo-fashion-statement

I want a towel that’s big enough to wrap around a whole Ichinojo!

Here is a part of the board:

tegata

Ichinojo’s message is the one without a Tegata, right below the 回. He wrote in shaky Hiragana “All Tottori people, gambarize! I love Tottori! Please support me.”

By the way, the tegata marked with that triangle is Takakeisho. The tweet author noticed that he has a much smaller hand than most other rikishi. It’s a real mystery how this man is the level he is, given his short arms, tiny hands, and severe respiration issue. I guess he has serious gambarization skills.

I can’t pretend to be able to read the rikishi signatures, but I can recognize Tochinoshin (to the right of Ichinojo’s spot), and Nishikigi (below Takakeisho’s).

Back inside the venue, Chiyonokuni once again demonstrates his superb flexibility:

chiyonokuni-really-flexible

While Shodai is harrassed again – but not by Tamawashi, but by Kaisei:

kaisei-hazes-shodai

Shodai was doing his stretches, when out of nowhere Kaisei appeared, declared “You are not flexible enough”, and proceeded to apply pressure to Shodai’s legs to make them more like Chiyonokuni’s above. This was countered by cries of “Ouch! It hurts! It hurts! Stop forcing it! You are the sumo world’s dark side!”

Kotoshogiku practiced a bit on the side lines:

Some practice bouts on the dohyo:

Meisei vs. Azumaryu:

Ah, the voice of frustration.

Nishikigi vs. Tochiozan:

Chiyonokuni vs. Tochiozan:

Chiyonokuni seems to try to go for the mawashi – but that fails miserably.

Ryuden vs. Myogiryu:

Practice time over, and Nishikigi shows us how he survives through a Jungyo full of practical jokers who fiddle with his glasses when he is away:

nishikigi-three-pairs-of-glasses

Three pairs. Simple.

Are we going to see a whole day without somebody groping somebody’s boobs?

No we aren’t!

A… A… Aoiyama?! People who live in glass houses…

And why is everybody picking on Shodai anyway?

On a brighter note, remember the new yumitori performer, Awajiumi? Well, today was his debut. This doesn’t mean Kasugaryu has been deposed, yet, though I’ve seen many on the net wishing for that to happen… Guess why…

The man has talent! Still needs to brush up his transitions, but look at that shiko!

No Tobizaru was forthcoming this day, so here is Enho instead:

enho

Aki 2018 Jungyo – Day 14 (Oct 17)

Herouth Aki Basho 2018, Jungyo (巡業) , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

geiko

🌐 Location: Kyoto, Kyoto
🚫 Scandal level: 0

Sumo tournaments and events draw members of other traditional Japanese professions, such as rakugo story tellers, and in this case, geiko.

Geiko are the Kyoto version of what is called a “geisha” in Tokyo, or a “geigi” in Fukuoka. They are traditional entertainers, skilled in singing, dancing, playing instruments, conversation, and drinking games.

There are many similarities between the world of geiko and the world of sumo. Aspiring geiko join an okiya, which is the equivalent of a heya. There is strict hierarchy between them, and you can tell the ranks by the outfits and accessories. There is a sharp difference between an apprentice geiko – a maiko – the equivalent of a makushita-and-below rikishi, and a full-fledged geiko, the equivalent of a sekitori. Maiko and geiko wear kimono or yukata even when off-duty (though less fancy then their work kimono), and you can recognize an off-duty maiko by the combination of the kimono and the special hairdo.

They also spend most of their days training. Even when they have graduated into geiko.

So in the photo above we have five maiko – one of them a minarai, the equivalent of a Jonokuchi wrestler – and one senior geiko, from the Tsurui okiya, coming to see and be seen at the Kyoto Jungyo event.

So let’s join them and see what the rikishi are up to.

Today’s fashion statement comes from Kagayaki, who shows how to do a head tie:

kagayaki-fashion-statement

The fans claim that this is actually a form of stretching.

Yesterday we had a discussion in the comments about seiza and hefty guys like Takayasu. So what would you say about this guy sitting seiza?

ichinojo-seiza

My legs ache in sympathy. The fans, by the way, claim that this, too, is a form of stretching.

Now here is a mystery rikishi for you. Since the connoisseurs here are able to tell Kisenosato from Kotoshogiku by the mere outline of their moobs, I’m sure identifying this butt will be no challenge:

guess-the-butt

The answer is below, following the daily Tobizaru.

Goeido does shiko stomps at the bottom of the dohyo. But something seems to distract him:

There are no sekitori hailing from Kyoto. The NSK had to dig really hard for home boys – the reason why Enho is accompanied by Kyoto-born Jonidan rikishi Umizaru this Jungyo rather than his regular tsukebito. Another Kyoto man is Sandanme rikishi Kawamoto, from Kasugano beya, who gets the unexpected honor of a butsukari from an Ozeki.

kawamoto-butsukari-tochinoshin

This is easy enough for the Ozeki to leave his gigantic brace off his knee.

Takayasu went for a more serious butsukari opponent – Wakatakakage. And Takayasu doesn’t do butsukari by halves.

takayasu-butsukari-wakatakakage

Tamawashi’s moshi-ai bout with Yutakayama:

Tochinoshin didn’t settle just for Kawamoto, and also landed his chest to Tochiozan:

Still no brace.

Moshi-ai, Kagayaki vs. Onosho:

Still no joy for Kagayaki.

Onosho also had a butsukari session with Kisenosato:

And Kisenosato continues to practice san-ban with Mitakeumi:

Yutakayama vs. Goeido:

Now here are a couple of lessons in Japanese consideration for others. First, Takanosho practices his tachiai. But waits patiently until the arriving spectators move along, so as not to hit them by accident:

Abi starts doing some push ups, but hurriedly stops and instructs his tsukebito to pick up the bars to make way for a wheelchair.

After training is over, there is some Jinku.

I find it strange to see jinku without the famous Mutsukaze and his mutton chops.

Gokushindo seems to enjoy his continuing oicho-mage privileges:

gokushindo-enjoys-his-oicho

What is Nishikigi laughing so hard about?

nishikigi-enjoys-whipping-ryuden

As it turns out, he has been using that towel of his as a whip, lashing at Ryuden as he came down from his bout down the hana-michi. I guess Nishikigi is yet another one in the “pain is fun, especially in others” faction of bored rikishi. But Ryuden seems not to mind too much.

Remember Goeido’s new gag, heckling Tamawashi by proxy? Well, I have footage of it. Tamawashi is about to start his bout with Kaisei:

“Kaisei, gambare”

“Tamawashi!”

And the ozeki is guffawing into his elbow. He then has that tsukebito get eye contact with Tamawashi after he wins and raise his fist in feigned encouragement.

goeido-heckles-tamawashi

Eventually Tamawashi comes down the hana-michi after giving Takakeisho his chikara-mizu, and Goeido sends his proxy to greet his hero.

Tamawashi, for a change, is totally classy about all this:

Let’s see some bouts. Here is Akiseyama vs. Meisei, though I have to warn you – the end has been cut off, because apparently this fan, sitting in this excellent seat, is a huge fan of Yago:

As soon as the last bout of the day (well, the last Juryo bout in this case) is over, the kachi-nokori and make-nokori, the rikishi from the previous bouts who fill the seats next to the shimpan (and also have a duty to raise a mono-ii if they see something amiss) rise and hurry off to the dressing room. Yago was one of them.

By the way, here is something that only happens in Jungyo. Takayasu and Tochinoshin were waiting their turn by the sides of the shimpan – who happened to be the gregarious Tomozuna oyakata. The oyakata took the fan’s smartphone and took their pictures for her:

Let’s see you try to get a picture from that angle in honbasho. And those smiles right before a bout.

Here is Goeido vs. Takayasu:

Finally, here is your Tobizaru:

even-monkeys-fall-off-trees

OK, OK, what’s that supposed to be? Yet another prank during the wait for the dohyo-iri?

No, worse. It’s a prank during the dohyo-iri itself:

Tobizaru demonstrates the Japanese saying “Even monkeys fall from trees” – or dohyos, in this case.

So here is your real Tobizaru of the day:

tobizaru

And the mystery butt is, of course, Enho, the thinnest sekitori.

Aki 2018 Jungyo – Day 13 (Oct 16)

Herouth Jungyo (巡業) , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
abi-and-tsurugisho-are-in-osaka
We’re in Osaka! Dotonbori! Food!

🌐 Location: Izumisano, Osaka
🚫 Scandal level: 0

The Jungyo reaches Osaka, where a one day hiatus allows the rikishi to roam the big city and try to imitate the Glico Man, which Abi does much better than Tsurugisho. They then head to the town of Izumisano.

But the theme of attempting to imitate local landmarks continues:

mitakeumi-tobizaru-hokutofuji-statue-1

Guys, that statue has his right arm stretched straight forward. Mitakeumi, are you trying to demonstrate self-defense techniques? That’s a tried-and-true way to defend against a taller guy attacking you from behind, though I can hardly think of anybody who would dare to do that. Well, maybe Hakuho. But I wouldn’t recommend trying to elbow him in the face if you want your innards to stay out of the sun.

mitakeumi-tobizaru-hokutofuji-statue-2

Yeah… well… Hokutofuji, good marks for being the closest. Mitakeumi, you are imitating that statue, not Muhammad Ali, and your left arm… oh, I give up. Where is Abi when we need someone who can (a) lift his leg properly, and (b) imitate a land mark closely enough?

Still outside the venue, a lucky spectator caught a sekitori playing catch with his tsukebito. Only… from that distance, it’s not clear who the rikishi is:

mystery-game-of-catch

I’d swear we’re seeing a Yokozuna here, and Kisenosato is known for having rather strange forms of exercise. But opinions on Twitter say that this may actually be Kotoshogiku. What do you think?

OK, let’s move inside the venue. What do we see there?

Ryuden is trying to make a fashion statement.

ryuden-fashion-statement

I think this is inspired by Greco-Roman art.

Takayasu, on the other hand, demonstrates a perfect seiza (did I mention “ouch”?):

bear-demonstrating-perfect-seiza

God, look at his paws. I mean, feet.

Now, I know I make fun of poor Akiseyama all the time. The man really has an unfortunate shape. But he is apparently a nice guy. Here he is fixing Chiyonoumi’s mawashi knot:

akiseyama-fixes-chiyonoumi-mawashi

Here Tsurugisho tells a young fan that Akiseyama is hot and needs to be fanned. The little lady complies:

Akiseyama: “Thank you”.

I personally started liking him when I saw him in the previous Jungyo, interrupting Takayoshitoshi, who was trying to strike a conversation with his tsukebito, with remarks about violence prevention. I call that Akisekarma.

So go Akiseyama! (Just try to go dressed if you can).

Practice bout between Meisei and Chiyonoumi:

Intense!

Myogiryu vs. Ichinojo:

Sigh.

Onosho vs. Shohozan:

Onosho still not as dominant as he would like to be.

Takayasu vs. Daieisho:

Takayasu needs to get that ass of his down.

Yutakayama vs. Mitakeumi:

Tons of upsets this day.

Kakuryu (who has began doing serious keiko rather than just butsukari) vs. Shodai:

No upsets here.

Practice time over, and the rikishi begin their bouts. And the torikumi schedule of the day is repurposed as a rack for spectacles:

torikumi-hyo-multiple-uses

There is even a pair in one of the portholes. Japan, and East Asia in general, has a very high percentage of myopia, and rikishi are no exception.

Just before Juryo is up, Enho turns up the Cute generator to near maximum level:

enho-overdoing-it-on-the-cute

I’m guessing it’s at this point that Tomokaze and Chiyonoumi start asking him if he has a sister. No, seriously, that guy is a walking cognitive dissonance. What’s a pretty pixie oozing with Cute like that doing in a combat sport, and practically at its top decile at that?

That doesn’t prevent people from pulling pranks on him, though. Here he is receiving his power water and power paper… form somebody who makes a point of handing them from high above:

enho-power-water
“Here is your water, short stuff”
enho-power-paper
“And your paper, half pint”.

I think that’s Tomokaze doing the deed.

And before the Makuuchi bouts, who else but Tamawashi is pestering Kaisei:

tamawashi-kaisei-cheektamawashi-kaisei-ouch-hehehe

Can’t you find a way to amuse yourself that doesn’t involve pain?

Here is the Abi-Onosho bout, courtesy of Teraoumi (who serves as Abi’s tsukebito):

Onosho looks a lot better here than in the keiko session earlier on.

And here is a Kisenosato digest for you, which includes the bout between him and Kakuryu:

Both Yokozuna have their hips up in the stratosphere. I don’t get this.

Here is a lonely Kasugaryu with his bow:

kasugaryu-with-bow

Kasugaryu is Hakuho’s tsukebito. But now Hakuho is not in the Jungyo, and basically, he’s a servant with no master. His only duty is the bow twirling – he doesn’t even participate in the torikumi!

That’s it. No additional Tobizaru other than the group photos has been located today. So instead, here is another Enho. With the inseparable Terutsuyoshi, of course:

terutsuyoshi-enho
Hey, there’s a spec of dust on your right wing. Let me get that for you.

Did you notice something strange? A whole day spent in Osaka, and there was absolutely nothing about Goeido. And it wasn’t as if I wasn’t looking. There were only some photos with fans.