Re: Takanohana

[abe@kaleida.com (Masumi Abe)]

>Date: Tue, 22 Mar 94 11:14:02 EST
From: steveb@telco.com (Stephen Baker)
>To: sumo@essspg.stat.ncsu.edu
>Subject: Re: Takanohana
>
>> 
>> Now INCLUDING the make-koshi, he is 106-29 over this period.  Only Akebono 
>>has a better record (110-25), and the next closest is Wakanohana with a 96-39
>> record.
>> 
>> So, I don't think a promotion after this basho would be appropriate, but once
>> he puts the make-koshi at least four basho's behind him, if he keeps it up 
>>like he has been and gets the 36+ wins "necessary" (he actually had 39 wins 
>>over three basho's last year), I think he would deserve it.

Generally speaking, I agree with you.
>> 
>> -yugo
>> 
>I've noticed that everyone keeps refering to "36 wins/3 previous basho" as one 
>of the benchmarks in determining what might constitute an acceptable level of 
>performance prior to promotion to the rank of Yokozuna. And I'm sure that, 
>historically speaking, statements like that can be reasonably made and used as
>>a guideline.
>
>However, I have yet to hear any mention made of sumo's restrictions concerning
>>bouts with stablemates. Clearly, Takanohana and his stablemates Wakanohana
>and
>Takanonami, enjoy a definite advantage in any discussion that deals with wins 
>in absolute terms.

Surprisingly, the current system is not that old and better than the old
system which was to prevent having a match between the stables within a
group.  For example, Nishonoseki group used to be with Nishonoseki,
Hanakago (Waka-xxx), Sadogatake (Koto-xxx), Futagoyama (Waka-xxx) and
Fujishima (Taka-xxx).  Dewanoumi group was with Dewanoumi (Dewa-xxx) and
Kasugano (Tochi-xxx).
>
>For instance, although Akebono (as shown above) only has 4 more wins than 
>Takanohana over the same periond of time, in all liklihood Akebono had as many 
>as 18 (2X9bashos) more fights with san-yaku ranked rikishi. I admit I'm only 
>guessing here since I don't have any detailed information (I even lost access 
>to Japan Today last week through my local cable channel, AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!).
>
>I guess my point pertaining to this discussion about Takanohana is that, I 
>don't think it unreasonable for one to expect him to win on the order of 40 or 
>more bouts in any three basho period prior to his promotion to Yokozuna. And 
>that any serious consideration of promoting him at this time (ESPECIALLY with 
>the make-koshi) is IMHO premature.

If he get more than 36 wins for a period of three successful basho with at
least 11 wins in Ozeki, I think the rikishi deserves to be promoted to
yokozuna.  But at the same time, I would like to see that yokozuna-to-be is
at least 1-2 (.333) winning ratio against the current yokozuna before
becoming yokozuna.  I don't think Takanohana has been winning that much
against Akebono.  When there are two yokozuna and one particular yokozuna
almost always wins the match between yokozuna, sumo will be rather boring.

Taihou Era was rather boring and people used to say "Kyojin (baseball's
Yomiuri Tokyo Giants) Taihou Tamagoyaki (Japanese style sweet omlet:
all-time favorite breakfast dish in Japan)", but at the biginning of Taihou
Era, there was a powerful yokozuna Kashiwado against Taihou and they called
Haku-Hou Era.  On-yomi for the letter Kashiwa is Haku, and Hou is obviously
from Taihou.  This sumo's Hakuhou Era was named after these two yokozuna
and the Hakuhou Era, a portion of Nara period in the Japan History.
>
>BTY, although I can't speak directly of the popularity of the current 'Ohana 
>brothers, I was a big fan of their father (former Ozeki Takanohana) and I do 
>know that he was IMMENSELY popular back in the early to mid 70's. And that 
>there was similiar pressure back then to promote him before his time.

He used to be a olympic candidate butterfly swimmer when he was in a junior
high.  He decided to follow his oldest brother (yokozuna Wakanohana I) and
earn money than participating Olympics for a medal.  He was handsome and
rather skinny and musculine for a rikishi.  This type of rikishi is
traditionally popular among young female sumo followers.  Before Takanohana
I (current one is Takanohana II), there was Myoubudani famous with
Tsuridashi.  His nickname was "Human Crane", with pulling up his opponent
and taking him out of dohyou.  He was tallest and totally musculine without
big tummy.  This type is called Soppu campared to Anko with a big tummy. 
If I remember correctly, Soppu means a chicken bone and Anko is from "anko
mochi", a Japanese pounded rice cake with sweet red bean past in it.
>
>-Steve-
>
>

sxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsx
Masumi Abe
Director, Japan Market Development              Tel: (415) 966-0824
Kaleida Labs, Inc.                              Fax: (415) 966-0496
1945 Charleston Road                            Internet:  abe@kaleida.com
Mountain View, CA 94043                         AppleLink: ABE.M