Re: [sumo] jungyo news-August 2-Takamisakari

[Rachel Mason <rachelida@yahoo.com>]

--- moti <sumo@dichne.com> wrote:
> The jungyo is now 20 minutes from  Takamisakari's
> home town. 

Actually, it's moved further north and today was just
20 minutes (well, more like 45) from MY home!  So of
course I went down there bright and early to check it
out.  It was an amazing day, and unfortunatley I don't
have time to write all my impressions right now, but
here are a few:

1. While we're on the topic of Takamisakari, I was
impressed at how long he spent doing shiko.  While
other guys were standing around chatting, or off in
the back doing who knows what, the robot was going
steady on the side of the gym for almost an hour!

2. When Asashoryu did his shiko, the sound of his feet
landing reverberated through the (large) room and
sounded a lot like a dinosaur approaching.  Wow.

3.  Everyone looks friendlier in person than on TV. 
Or maybe it's that everyone looks friendlier during a
jungyo than during a basho.  They certainly were
acting friendlier -- it was a really relaxed
atmosphere, which was lots of fun!

4. I saw Kokkai watching keiko from the side of the
gym, so I went over there, intending to try to talk to
him.  But then I wasn't sure what language I should be
speaking, so I got flustered and just asked in
Japanese if I could take a picture and wished him
luck, then thanked him in English and ran away
embarassed.  So much for my effort at making
conversation.  Oh well.

5.  Miyabiyama probably scared a little kid away from
sumo forever -- he and Musoyama did some keiko with
the kids from a local sumo club, and he picked up one
of the tiny boys by his mawashi and dangled him in the
air for a bit.  Everyone watching thought it was
hilarious, but the poor kid (who was maybe 5 years
old, if even that) was traumatized and started howling
and ran off the dohyo!  If that kid does ever get
anywhere with sumo though, I'm sure the videos taken
today will become priceless.

6.  I think I saw Kyokutenho chatting with Asasekiryu.
 Might have been mistaken (I was on the other side of
the gym), but it looked like them and it looked like
they were pretty friendly.  So I guess the
'shoryu-'shuzan rivalry hasn't affected their
heya-mates that much.  At least I hope that's the
case!

7.  To my delight (and everyone else's), the last bout
of the day featured the two yokozuna!  I know they
weren't really trying that hard, but Asashoryu seemed
to be trying to lift Musashimaru out of the ring.  It
was rather amusing.  Anyway, I'm looking forward to
seeing them both healthy in the next basho.

I also took a ton of photos today; will try to get the
better ones up on the web sometime soon!

-Rachel

ps. someone asked about jingisukan ("Genghis Khan") --
it's just thinly sliced lamb and whatever else you
want, barbecued on a grill and dipped in a slightly
sweet tare (sauce).  Very easy, very yummy, and very
popular here in Hokkaido!  In fact I just made it last
Monday at a picnic with some of my students...

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[EndPost by Rachel Mason <rachelida@yahoo.com>]