Re: Japanese citizen Akebono

[abe@zoom.com (Masumi Abe)]

Attila:

He applied for the Japanese citizenship about 10 months ago. 
I don't think it is any indication of Akebono's early retirement. 
It is just to secure his position and willingness of staying in
Sumo Kyokai after retirement.

Needless to say, sumo is not an easy sport in any means, particularly
for 500 pounds body yokozuna. Since yokozuna are not allowed to be
demoted, if his body (read it as knees) does not react quickly enough
to recover from any injury, it might mean early retirement.

Since it seems he has been doing fine during jungyo after Haru-basho,
I expect him to be in reasonable shape for Natsu-basho. If he could
not do well or re-injure his knee, that might be the indication of his
earlier-than-expected retirement near future.

Akebono's dillemma is that his sumo power is mainly from his 
overwelming body, and if he lose some of his weight, he lose that
power. For him to stay active longer, he needs to lose some weight
for his knees. So, with or without Japanese citizenship, I don't think
he could go on the way he was before last year. He may win once or
twice a year next couple of years. But I don't think he will stay in
yokozuna past his 30th birthday. That's my feeling. If I find I was wrong,
I will be very happy about it.

Anyway, I see his Japanese citizenship as an indication of his committment
to sumo, for now, and an insurance for the worst.

-Masumiriki

Attila Sali さんが 10:29 AM 4/23/96 +0900ごろに
「Re: Japanese citizen Akebono」の件で：
>Today's Daily Yomiuri had a short article about Akebono's new citizenship. 
>It seemed to me that they wanted to hint that Akebono would retire because 
>of his continuing knee problems and citizenship procedures were speeded up
>to allow him to stay in sumo after retirement. What is your opinion on this?
>
>Attila Sali 
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>舎利　亜亭羅(ATTILA SALI) 九州大学理学部数学教室                               
>福岡市東区箱崎六丁目十番一号 〒812 JAPAN 日本                                  
>E-mail: sali@math.kyushu-u.ac.jp FAX: 092-642-2778                         
>*******************************************************************************