Hawai`ians!

[kawika@gol.com (David F. Meisenzahl)]

OK, a few points regarding the Hawai`ians.

Konishiki is one of the nicest guys I have ever met.  His stablemate,
Nanpu, who comes over my flat to watch MTV tells me he is always asking
about me. I think he wants me to set him up with a MAC.

He has done a lot for sumo, no matter what his rank is today.  As long as
he stays in the sekitori ranks, he should not quit/retire.  Most of you
might not know this but before the Hawai`ians arrived, sumo was in bad
shape, you could walk up to the basho anyday, at anytime and get a ticket. 
Now with J-League and Baseball, they will sell 85% of the tickets on
weekdays, and 100% on weekends.  The Hawai`ians added the missing element
to get the fans back, especially the fair weather fans.  This is over
looked by most people today, but I think it is very important.  Let's face
it, sumo is a sport, like football, baseball, cricket, etc, and it needs to
make money to stay around.  The Hawai`ians provided modern sumo with a new
marketing angle, even if it was by mistake.

Akebono vs Konishiki, like someone pointed out, it took Akebono awhile till
he could beat Konishiki.  Today, he is suppose to beat Konishiki because is
at the apex of sumo.  Heck, if he doesn't win 12 a basho, he should retire,
yokozuna is the ultimate.  I have seen Akebono at keiko, it is unreal! 
Even with the big Hawai`ians (Daiki & Takamio) to practice with, it is no
contest, he is just too fast, too good.

Konishiki is already practicing to be an oyakata.  My friend at
Takasago-beya tells me that when Konishiki runs asa keiko, it is much
harder than when Takasago-oyakata does.

Koryu will be back to Tokyo from Hawai`i this Sunday, 4/23/95.

BANZUKE next week Monday, 4/24/95!  YES, YES, YES!!!!  It won't be long
till I'll be posting results!

Oh, I love this sumo action!

Mahalo!