RE: Takanohana vs. his makunouchi opponents

[Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]

 --- Robert Hovestadt
<Robert_Hovestadt@finance.neu.edu> wrote: > 
>  This
> observation "Yet the younger Koji (Takanohana) sits
> directly behind his
> father's shoulder, intently watching practice",
> combined with the above, I
> think, makes it clear how deep Sumo ran in
> Takanohana's heart and life.

I may have posted this story asome time ago here but
it may be worth repeating now. 

Ever since he was a child, Koji Hanada wanted to be
nothing else other than a sumotori.

His mind was set long before he could even read or
write Futabayama.  As a child he had no interest in
anything other than sumo.  His passion for sumo went
far beyond his own father's career, achievement or
popularity though Ozeki Takanohana was one of the most
popular rikishis during his active career, somewhat
similar to Terao being very popular.

Little Koji was always practicing sumo moves every
time he had free time.  He simply did not play, he was
just doing sumo practices.  Everyone who visited their
home in those days had no doubt that Koji would one
day become a rikishi.  

He could have gone to a high school or university and
join the club but there was no question in his mind
whatsover what he wanted to do in his life.  As soon
as he graduated from the mandatory middle school at
the age of 15, he joined his father's heya.  Since
then there is nothing but sumo in his life.

It was an interesting to watch an interview NHK had
the other day with him and a Japanese baseball player
Matsui who will be playing for New York Yankees this
year.  When asked about if there was anything
different since his retirement,  Takanohana said he
found himself when he got up in the morning, he
realized he wasn't always thinking about sumo.   He
explained he was always thinking about sumo when he
woke up during his active days.

His older brother Masaru was not this dedicated to the
sumo-do.  When he was a kid, he had many interests and
hobbies - he played baseball and loved auto racing. 
Just like all the other kids in the neighborhood.  He
never showed any interest whatsoever to sumo. People
thought perhaps if he become an athlete one day, he
would be a baseball player.  

Wakanohana first went to a high school, not joining
the heya when he graduated from the middle school.  He
only made up his mind to join when his younger brother
decided to join so he had to quit the school.  I
suspect he had other things he wanted to do with his
life than becoming a sumotori though the first
indication he felt he needed to follow his father's
footsteps was when Ozeki Takanohana announced his
retirement.  Masaru locked himself in a toilet crying
his heart out when he heard his father was retiring. 
He only came out after his mother literally dragged
him out of there.      

Yokozuna Takanohana was often reportedly upset and
critical about his brother after they became Yokozuna
as Takanohana felt Wakaonaha did not show the
intensity and dedication that should be shown by a
Yokozuna. 

I believe this was one of the causes of the family
break-up that has been sensationlized by weekly
magazines and talk shows in Japan that time.        

Wakanohana's wife (a former flight attendant who
proved herself to be a bit of bimbo during their
engagement announcement press conference) stated she
never wanted to be an okamisan.  So perhaps knowing
that as well as his need to be free from the Kyokai
life, Masaru wisely left the sumo life and became a
semi-professional American football player in Japan as
well as appearing as a 'Talento' in Japanese TV shows
occasionally.

While Takanohana's wife Keiko, a former well known
newscaster at Fuji TV, is already helping out
Futagoyama oyakata out with some light heya duties
after the oyakata's wife left the compound.         

So it was rather clear how the Hanada brothers would
purse their life plan after the active sumo career.
One day Takanohana oyakata will be the Kyokai Rijicho
while for Masaru Hanada, the road ahead is still hazy.
 


=====
.....Jonosuke 
  <  Heart  Technique  Physique     ?S   ?Z   ?Ì  >

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