Yokozuna Takanohana's Retirement Press Conference - Part 2

[Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]

I've forgotten to post the second part of Takanohana's
Retirement Press Conference.  


Yokozuna Takanohana Retirement Press Conference 
Part 2  2:30 PM January 20, 2003 at the Kokugikan
==================================================

Q.  There is an impression that you entered this basho
without sufficiently recovering from your knee injury.
 What was the real reason for your decision to enter?
T. As far as my knee was concerned, I?ve felt it was
in the best possible condition since the surgery.  As
for injuring the left shoulder on Day 2,  it?s been
sometimes said that whether being injured or not is
all up to yourself.  The fact that I did get injured -
that was something I had to deal with myself.  As a
result I had taken two days for the rest.   But I
really wanted to be back on the dohyo.   It?s like as
if I wanted to clearly leave a mark at this juncture
in my life.  

Q. Some were saying that you should have taken a rest
this basho and seize another chance the next basho
since the injury was not related in any way.
T. I have been given a long time -  in fact one year
and four months of kyujo time to recover.  And I was
able to make a comeback already. I had no thought
whatsoever of taking this basho off. 

Q. You are now retiring at the age of 30.  You had 15
solid years of sumo life. In Makuuchi you have
recorded a total off 22 Yushos.  How do you view your
own accomplishment of the 22 Yushos ?
T. As I have mentioned earlier, when I joined this
world, to attain a Juryo rank and become a Sekitori
was no certain thing at all.  For someone who just
kept training all that time hoping to become a
sekitori one day, it?s been a great honor to be
promoted to Yokozuna and to receive the Yusho award
for 22 times.  Right now I feel very satisfied.

Q. To the Shisho please. How do you consider Yokozuna
Takanohana?s accomplishments throughout his 15 years
on the dohyo ?
F. Well, perhaps I can sum it up with two words
-"Efforts? and ?Courage?.  I have no doubt he had the
right stuff.  Whenever he was confronted by a
formidable wall, I?ve seen him consider many options. 
Then I saw him facing it up bravely, always.   It may
be pitch black right in front of him and he may need
to search around desperately using his hands. But
eventually he would overcome it all with courage. 
That?s how I feel about him.

Q. As the Shisho you?ve been seeing him since he
joined your heya. You undoubtedly had a dream back
then.  What would you like to say to the Yokozuna who
did make this dream of yours a reality ?
F. In those days, when he just joined us as a brand
new recruit, I noticed he never stopped working from 3
o?clock in the morning to 10:30 or 11 at the night.  
Obviously he was a  kid with enormous stamina.  I
figured this guy could certainly withstand most brutal
training regimen we could dish out to him. And then I
began to entertain a thought, perhaps with his
stamina, he could one day make it to a Sanyaku rank. 
But for Ozeki or Yokozuna, I knew you needed to have 
a lot of luck going for you as well.
   

Q. After Takanohana was promoted to Yokozuna and in
the last two years particularly he must have been
suffering tremendously from various injuries. As his
shisho, what was this two years like for you ?
F. Well...last year, no two years ago that Day 14 at
the Natsu Basho, I remember talking to Takanohana
about the Senshuraku bout next day.   Basically I
heard him saying he was prepared even if his life came
to the end right then.  He was so determined. His
resolve was firm.  As I was aware of the intention at
the time, since then I had some time to accept the
eventual outcome.

Q. To Yokozuna.  Though it has not passed a great deal
of time since your decision to retire,  looking back
over the 15 years what are your most memorable bouts
and events ?
T. First, the Makushita bout that ensured my promotion
to Juryo (against Tochihidake at the 1989 Aki Basho,
Makushita Yusho with no loss).  And the bout that led
to my promotion to Yokozuna (against Akebono at the
1994 Kyushu, the second consecutive Yusho with no
loss).  I still remember these  vividly. 

Q. From now on, as a one generation Toshiyori
Takanohana, you will be coaching and providing
guidance to younger rikishis.  How do you feel about
the Kyokai directors approving and granting you the
one generation Toshiyori Myoseki ?
T. I do feel really honored.   I will do my best to
take care of the Takanohana name granted to me and
will try to carry on the name with honor.  After I
settle down a bit, I intend to study under my Shisho
at the Heya. 

Q. Perhaps it?s too early to ask but what type of
rikishi would you like to develop ?
T. Well, I want them to become persistent and powerful
rikishis.

Q. You mentioned about the fans earlier but can you
say a few words to the people all over Japan, who have
been supporting you throughout your career ?
T. Today I am retiring from rikishi life.  With the
same drive I nurtured through my active career, I will
be guiding the next generation of rikishis from now
on.  I hope to be helpful and of service to others.   
I appreciate your continuing guidance and generous
support.

Q. As you leave the dohyo today, what expectation do
you have if any for the rikishis who will be following
your footsteps?        
T. Well, you know, for them...as I retired from active
sumo, I believe the Kyokai will be building an
environment where the rikishis can compete freely.  If
I am permitted I'd like to contribute what I can as a
member of the Kyokai.                 

Q. You have been involved in many great bouts in your
career but if you must name one greatest rival of
yours, who will it be ?
T. Well, again I have to say the bout that determined
my promotion to Yokozuna, against Yokozuna
Akobono-zeki.  We joined at the same time.  I feel
very strongly that he was the opponent I could have
gone against with all my might.   
                      
Q. To Oyakata.  You needed to cease to be his father
when the Yokozuna joined your heya.  But now with this
retirement, do you foresee if there may be a shift in
the balance between you being the father and his Shiso
? 
F. What can I say (laugh).....we really have not had
any meaningful talk as a father and son in the past 
so in that sense I?d like to have such a discussion.  
The Yokozuna has kids..ah..my grandchildren and wife,
Keiko san, so I certainly look forward to have a happy
family relationship.

Q.  Will the Yokozuna be an oyakata affiliated with
Futagoyama Beya or if he will become independent
immediately and establish a heya of his own.  Can you
tell us if it?s already been decided or if there is a
likelihood of such a possibility in the near future?  

G.  First I?d like to give him some time to rest
physically and mentally.  Then I expect him to come
work for me as an oyakata affiliated with the heya.  
When the proper time comes, I?d like him to inherit
the heya from me.

Q  Are you saying he won?t be setting up a new heya of
his own then?
F. Exactly.

Q. To Yokozuna. There is a feeling among us that if
you did not get injured, you may have been able  to
continue a little longer.
T. Even if I did not suffer the shoulder injury, I
believe I would have lost regardless.  I felt such
superior strength and speed from my opponents.  
     
Q. What were the things you most cared about as a
rikishi?
T. As the Shisho often says, be forceful and
persistent and never give up.  The dohyo is round, so 
I always strived to be a rikishi who could move around
to make the fullest use of it.   

Q. What was the toughest for you mentally?
T. While competing as Yokozuna, I suffered one injury
after another.  I found these times to be
excruciatingly difficult.  I was really thankful for
those who supported me during those difficult times ?
the fans who called out my name when I stood at the
Hanamichi, the senior rikishis at the heya and those
junior rikishis who have been taking care of me.

Q. To you personally  what does your brother and
former Yokozuna Wakanohana mean to you ?
T. Our reason for joining the sumo world was not
exactly identical but he is my brother after all, so
he was someone I felt very close to.  I know we got
stronger together by training together.  

Q. How did you explain to your family about your
intention to retire ?
T. I just talked to them very naturally.  I believe
both my family and I shared the feeling of my wish to
retire at this time.

Q. During the basho, you chose not to speak to
reporters.  What was the reason ?
T. It was an indication of my desire to have you
observe me solely on the dohyo, not off dohyo as I
felt I was in a sheer struggle.  In the turmoils I was
hoping that you could sense something.   Right now I
feel I have been freed from that anguish.

Q. You?ve established the new sumo records for the
youngest rikishi.
T. It was just the results of keep trying with the
same intensity I had when I joined the sumo world.  I
never cared for setting any records.  

Q. What comes to your mind especially now? Your source
of inspiration ?
T. Cheering of the fans I have received. More than
anything else, the thing I am most proud of is that
even to this date I still Can say I love Sumo dearly. 
	
Q. If you are asked what Yokozuna is, how do you
answer it? 
T. You are able to always give 120% of yourself. You
withstand your opponents?force with all you have. And
it?s crucial to possess a mental strength to face up
to your opponents on the dohyo with a premise of
always winning.  　  

=========================

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

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