Re: Day 6

[abe@kaleida.com (Masumi Abe)]

>> BTW, just to raise a hackle or two, Takanohana is bound for promotion
>> to Yokozuna if he gets at least 13 wins this basho, yusho or not.  If
>> you have any comments on this posture, let 'em rip.  Let's see who's
>> out there!
>
>Well, a few of you may remember a few basho's back when I voiced my opinion
>about how Takanohana should have been promoted to Yokozuna then.  Well, I
>still think he would have deserved promotion then; then maybe he could have
>taken the next basho off a la Chiyonofuji and not come up with that ugly
>make-koshi.
>
>Because of that make-koshi, however, this time I feel that at this point he
>should not be promoted after this tournament.  Since performance in the three
>basho's previous to promotion to Yokozuna is so important, I think that make-
>koshi weighs heavily against Takanohana's promotion.  When was the last time
>a newly promoted Yokozuna had a make-koshi in one of the previous three 
>tournaments?  I think if he had, say, zen-sho yusho'd this tournament, he
>might deserve promotion, but since he already has a loss, he should have to
>wait one more basho, even if he yusho's this Haru Basho with a 14-1 record.
>
>He has, however, shown that he can consistently come up with great records
>when he is healthy, so if the kyokai promotes him, it may be the case that
>they are looking at the make-koshi as a non-factor since he was not healthy
>during that tournament.

Yokozuna is not only a grand champion, it is holy (god-like) champion.  The
heavy white rope on his belly shows his holiness.  To become a yokozuna,
you need to prove that you are in that caliber of devine power (in Japanese
sense).  The shiko motion is to pound evil spirit out of dohyou.  If he
cannot keep himself healthy during a basho, whether he take a basho off or
not, he does not deserve to be a yokozuna.

His uncle (the first Wakanohana, the oldest brother of Takanohana's father)
took a day off because of his son's death before winning the basho.  This
showed his mental strength to be capable of being a yokozuna.
>
>In summary, I don't think he should be promoted after this tourney, but if he
>is, then, well, it's not that big of a deal...
>-yugo

For the traditional sumo, it will be a big change for Sumo Kyoukai to make
an ozeki of losing record in one of last three basho to be a yokozuna.  

sxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsx
Masumi Abe
Director, Japan Market Development              Tel: (415) 966-0824
Kaleida Labs, Inc.                              Fax: (415) 966-0496
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