[sumo] Editorial concerning Asa and the Jungyo

[Moti <sumo@dichne.com>]

An editorial from today's Sankei Sports:

Asashouryuu still far from Chiyonofuji's stature

Ex- Yokozuna Chiyonofuji (current Kokonoe Oyakata) has had a a lot of 
experience with overseas jungyos (Mexico, New York, Paris and one more, 
4 to be exact). He had the right build, ruggedness and "look" that 
foreigners can relate to, and everywhere he went there were calls of 
"wolf, wolf" (MD-Does this include the boy who cried "wolf" as 
well??)and was immensely popular. He was powerful on the dohyo and 
seemed invincible, but what really made him popular was that he seemed 
to make an effort to be friendly with the "man on the street" as well. 
"I felt, as a Yokozuna, that this was my priority at the time", he 
confirmed.
This Chinese Jungyo, it is very clear that Asashouryuu is not following 
suit. He had promised to join the other rikishi on the sightseeing trips 
at various venues, but cancelled most of them, to the total dismay and 
disappointment of fans and media alike.
The Japanese media was imagining front cover pictures of Asashouryuu 
climbing the Great Wall, among other things. "That would have been the 
epitome of the delegation's sightseeing - the perfect picture", they 
said. The Chinese media was disappointed as well. "This kind of picture 
would doubtlessly have caused a lot of interest in the Jungyo", they 
added. Some of the accompanying Oyakata were heard to complain about 
this too.
Things were not much better in Shanghai. Asa was nowhere to be seen 
during the town tour on the 8th. On the dohyo, the three consecutive 
basho winner was certainly showing his stuff, but it is equally 
important to do what Kokonoe Oyakata deemed important- to get close up 
to the people. Being "the face of Sumo" when he goes overseas, he is 
expected to be an ambassador outside of the dohyo as well. His salary 
certainly covers that aspect too.
Kokonoe Oyakata had a few words with Asashouryuu concerning this, and on 
the evening of the 9th, he finally participated in an outing in 
Shanghai, and had an extensive photo session as well.
As an invincible Yokozuna on the dohyo, I hope he quickly catches up to 
his senpai's "level".

So says the reporter.
--
Kintamayama Mochiron

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[EndPost by Moti <sumo@dichne.com>]