[sumo] Jonidan and Jonokuchi Yusho Winners at Kyushu

[Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]

Two rikishis from Ishikawa Prefecture, what can be
arguably called "the hotbed of amateur sumo" have won
Yusho at their respective division. Ounomatsu Beya's
Shima and Naruto Beya's Takanofuji won Jonidan and
Jonokuchi Yusho respectively with a record of 7 wins
and no loss.

On Day 13 Shima faced another 6-0 record holder,
Kasugano Beya's Mizukuchi and won by yoritaoshi while
his opponent was pressing him with tsukiotoshi.

Shima made his dohyo debut at the Hatsu Basho this
year as an "Ichiban Shusse" and had kachikoshi at the
Haru Basho with 5 wins and 2 losses record. However he
broke his right leg at the Natsu Basho and suffered
Makekoshi by winning three and losing four bouts. He
missed the whole Nagoya Basho but came back in the Aki
Basho with six wins and 1 loss.

This basho he won two bouts by oshidashi, another two
by yorikiri and two more by yoritaoshi as well as one
win by abisetaoshi to win all of his seven bouts.

"As I was solely focused on oshi-zumo, I was able to
compete calmly without worring about my opponent or
anything else. I will be working harder to be able to
go on offensive immediatly after charging out from
tachiai," Shima said.

"He's done great by working so hard to get to this
point by overcoming the injury. I am hoping he can now
aim higher," said his high school sumo coach, Osawa of
Kanazawa Higashi High School.

After getting a call from Shima, his mother Tokiko
said, "I was concerned that he'd be overcomed by
pressure so I am now relieved. I want him to do all
his best to show the good results for all the people
who are supporting and cheering for him."

(Shima ranked at Jonidan East 100 at the Nagoya Basho
and fell to Jonokuchi West 40 at the Aki and was
ranked at Jonidan East 76 at the Kyushu.)

+++++++++++++++

Jonokuchi Yusho winner Takanofuji made his dohyo debut
at the 1999 Aki Basho and climbed up to Makushita once
but a severe injury to his right knee caused his
downfall in the banzuke. He had completed the surgery
in this February and has only started training three
months ago.

This Kyushu Basho he was able to execute his favorite
technique of "Migi-yotsu to Yorikiri" and kept
accumulating the victory. On Day 13 Takanofuji
overwhelmed Oguruma Beya's Morishita and won by
yoritaoshi.

"I couldn't train well prior to the basho but I have
been able to show my strength. I am going to take care
of each bout one at a time and will be trying not to
get injured," Takanofuji said.

His high school sumo coach at Kanagawa Engineering
High School said, "He has always shown he's got what
it takes. I hope he can make this Yusho as a stepping
stone and do all he could to become a sekitori."

(Takanofuji was ranked at Sandanme West 81 at the
Natsu Basho and fell all the way down to Jonokuchi
West 11 at the Kyushu.)

=====
.....Jonosuke 
  <  Heart  Technique  Physique      &#24515;&#12288;&#25216;&#12288;&#20307;&#12288;>

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[EndPost by Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]