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[sumo] Sankei Sports Column on Musashimaru
Sankei Sports: Sumo Column by Tatsuya Miyakawa -
October 4, 2004
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On this October 2, all of us were excited by Ichiro
who crossed the Ocean to establish an historical
record in the America's national sport. At the Ryogoku
Kokugikan, Musashimaru oyakata, who came from Hawaii
and reached the plateau of the Japan's national sport,
had his Danpatsu Ceremony.
After the ceremony, when he was asked what his best
memory was, he said, "It's the 'Keiko' (training). All
of the training I have done with other sekitoris." The
answer reflects a serious side of the man.
KONISHIKI who particpated in the cutting and his
senior from Hawaii put it this way:
"Ichiro is a genius who kept putting on immeasurable
efforts people would have no idea of. Possibly his
record may never be broken again. But Maru who never
had any sumo experience before joining Ozumo went up
all the way to to Yokozuna. He certainly does not take
the second place to Ichiro. And the Maru's record may
not be broken anytime soon either."
Musahimaru's twelve Yushos is the seventh most in sumo
history. But what is truly outstanding is his
monumental record of 55 consecutive Kachikoshi bashos
spanning his Makushita to Yokozuna era after having a
Makekoshi basho in Makushita.
Another is once he became a sekitori, every basho he
participated for the full 15 days (not counting Kyujo
bashos), he had Kachikoshi every time. It may be seen
as a rather low key but not even Chiyonofuji nor
Takanohana could even match this great record.
Obviously the Danpatsu Ceremony for such an Iron Man
with his family members coming over from Hawaii was
one lively event. However there was someone missing
that made it all the more palpable. Takanohana oyakata
was not among them.
At the 2001 May Basho, Takanohana injured his right
knee and came up on the dohyo dragging his leg on the
Senshuraku Yusho Kettei-sen bout. He faced Musashimaru
who played a role of 'foil' this day. Takanohana won
the Yusho and missed the next seven consecutive
bashos.
During that period, Musashimaru while shouldering the
full pressure as a lone yokozuna, served his
responsibility admirably well. Musashimaru never even
once complained of his predicaement.
Even though he belongs to another Ichimon, Takanohana
should had realized his sense of duty and jumped onto
the dohyo. Takanohana giving him a cut and whispering
in his ear, "Otsukaresama" ("thank you for your
service") must have moved "Maru chan" so deeply.
=====
.....Jonosuke
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