Re: RE:Rankings - and a Question

[American Embassy <usemb@servis.net.tr>]

On Wed, 1 Jun 1994, Masumi Abe wrote:

>Jack:
  Ozeki Kirinji belonged to Nishonoseki-beya the
same heya Yokozuna Taiho belonged to. I thought he was active later than
Haku-Ho jidai, maybe the latter half of just Taiho jidai, and Kita-Tama
(Kitanofuji-Tamanoumi) jidai.

I recall now that he and Taiho never met in the dohyo - both from 
Nishonoseki-beya.  You also may be right that he did not come up until 
after Kashiwado retired.  I don't recall him in the early days of my sumo 
interest.

Kirinji means prodigy. Kirin is the same as kirin of Kirin Beer, a Chinese
mythological animal which is similar to Western Pegasus, with dragon-like
head, horse-like body with wings etc.

Ah, yes, my *Favorite* Japanese Beer. (;-)

I don't remember what his nickname was, either in English or Japanese. Giraff
could have been a logical choice for his name in English.

I think Andy Adams, when he first started Sumo World back in the ?70's? 
used it once or twice and that may be where I remember it from.  

If my memory is correct, he changed his name (shikona) from Kirinji to
Dai-Kirin, a big grown-up Kirin, when he became an ozeki. If this was the
case, there were no "Ozeki Kirinji" but only "Ozeki Dai-Kirin". He is now
Oshiogawa oyakata of Oshiogawa-baya.

I DO remember that!  You are absolutely right.  He did it for good luck, 
as I recall.  Had a fairly successful career but never went 
any further. 

There was another Kirinji late 70's early 80's, who is actually
Moto-Sekiwake Kirinji II, 

I remember this one, too.  I was scandalized at his effrontery.  I liked 
the original Kirniji and thought they ought to "retire" the name.  
Thanks, Abe-san.
>
>Jack Gartin
>usemb@servis.net.tr
>CIS 100330,705
>US Embassy, Turkey