Re: [sumo] More WakaTaka after the Kyokai Service

[Joshua Reyer <circlejar@gmail.com>]

13 Jun 2005 22:44:49 -0700, Jeanne Hedge <sumo@jhedge.com>:
> I'm sorry, but I find Takanohana's behavior through all of this quite
> disgusting.
> 
> This fuss with his older brother Masaru (Wakanohana III), making claims to
> position within the family that, as the younger brother, he just doesn't
> have in Japanese society. Not to mention taking all available public
> opportunities to snipe at him, while Masaru appears to be taking the high
> road in public.
> 
> Claiming the certificates were lost and asking that they be reissued to
> him, when it turned out his father *had* given them to someone else for
> safekeeping. From what I read of his comments, it sounds as if he was very
> much aware of where they were when he asked for them to be reissued to him.
> To echo the thoughts of someone else on another sumo forum, it appears to
> me Takanohana was "trying to pull a fast one".
> 
> Now Takanohana appears to have lied to his brother about their father's
> remains, running off with them to do what he wants. Not to mention sniping
> at Masaru on live TV for Masaru having been on live TV himself (huh?)
> 
> He's just another egomaniac prima donna sports star running amok, just one
> of many around the world and nothing special at all.  I'm sure his beloved
> the sumo association is quite proud of him. Yeah boy, now *there's* a guy
> that people in the sumo world should look up to and emulate.
> 
> Regards,
> Jeanne Hedge

I just got back to Japan yesterday and I was quite surprised to see
replays of Takanohana's appearance on TV that day.  Broadsides at his
brother and his mother, and not looking all that great physically. 
Not pretty, in just about every way.  Obviously a lot of this stuff
has been festering for years, and perhaps Futagoyama Oyakata himself
was the only reason it never erupted like this before now.  That, or
perhaps Takanohana feels liberated to speak his mind now that he's no
longer an active Yokozuna and the face of sumo.  In any case, it's all
very sad...

Josh Reyer

[EndPost by Joshua Reyer <circlejar@gmail.com>]