February 2006

Tochiazuma Derails Express

Junior Division Yusho Winners

Tochiazuma Derails Express
Wins Third Cup with 14-1 Effort; Shoryu’s Rensho Ends at 7
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

As the son of Tamanoi Oyakata, and the bearer of his father’s old shikona, TOCHIAZUMA has had a lot of expectations to fulfill from several quarters.  When he won the Emperor’s Cup in his Hatsu 2002 ozeki debut, he became the first rikishi since the War years to win a yusho in every division of professional sumo; but it was Kyushu 2003 before he held the Cup again.  2004 was a year of injury-plagued disaster, with a record of 24-19-47.  2005 saw significant improvement with an aggregate record of 54-25-11; but those 11 absences were all accrued in Fukuoka, leaving him in kadoban.

Ranked at ozeki #2-East coming into the Kokugikan for Hatsu 2006, AZUMA gave no indication of what he was about to unleash on the unsuspecting Makunouchi.  When the race started he did not falter, but pulled into the lead thanks to a day 2 kinboshi win by maegashira #2-West KOKKAI (Georgia Republic) over yokozuna-East ASASHORYU (Mongolia).  The only bump in AZUMA’s road was #1-East MIYABIYAMA on day 9.  He finished strong against shin-ozeki #2-West KOTOOSHU (Bulgaria) to set up a senshuraku reckoning with SHORYU.  To the surprise of everyone AZUMA pulled the grand champion down with uwatedashinage to finish with a personal-best 14-1, claim the third Tenno-Hai of his career – and end the run of the “Mongolian Express” at seven.

As SHORYU saw it, his loss to KOKKAI did not permanently damage his chances of extending his historic rensho.  What finally finished the streak was the loss on day 12 to sekiwake-West HAKUHO (Mongolia) followed the next day by giving up a gold star to small (113 kg/250 lbs) maegashira #6-East AMA (Mongolia).  The senshuraku loss to AZUMA left SHORYU at 11-4:  acceptable performance for a yokozuna under normal circumstances, but far below the standard he had set through 2005.  Time will tell whether he bounces back in Osaka the same way he did in Fukuoka in 2004.

“Eurozeki” KOTOOSHU is being counted on to stimulate the ozeki ranks and (perhaps) push through to the pinnacle.  The “Sofia Skyscraper” won 3 of his first 5, then took the next 7 to stand 10-2 on day 12.  Unfortunately, his last three torikumi were with AZUMA, SHORYU and HAKUHO.  Still, the resulting 10-5 in his first tournament at sumo’s second rank is acceptable.  The other two members of the contingent went completely flat.  Ozeki #1-East CHIYOTAIKAI won 4 of his first 5; but lost his next 2 and withdrew on day 8.  #1-West KAIO split his first 6 matches, then went down in his next 2 and pulled out on day 9.

HAKUHO delivered a breakout performance that establishes him (for the moment, anyway) as a possible ozeki candidate.  “Sleeping Thunder” won his first 6 matches before losing to maegashira #3-West TOCHINOHANA and AZUMA on successive days.  He then ‘ran the table’ with 7 wins (including SHORYU) to go 13-2 and win the Shukun-Sho.  Sekiwake-East KOTOMITSUKI had his problems.  He managed wins in 7 of his first 9 torikumi; but then managed only 1 win in the last six days to scrape through at 8-7.  Both komusubi had a rough go:  East-sider KYOKUTENHO (Mongolia) lost his first 7 matches, could not win on consecutive days, and finished at 4-11.  West-sider TAMANOSHIMA lost 7 of first 8, won his next 6 to stand ‘on the bubble’ going into senshuraku; but lost to wind up 7-8.

#11-East HOKUTORIKI and #14-West TOKITSUUMI both scored 12-3 to share best hiramaku performance honors.  RIKI also won the Kanto-Sho, while SUUMI garnered the Gino-Sho.  Other honorable maegashira mentions:

#2-East ROHO (Russia) (9-6)
AMA (9-6)
#7-East AMINISHIKI (9-6)
#8-West FUTENO (9-6)
#12-East KASUGAO (South Korea) (9-6)
#16-East WAKANOSATO (10-5)
#17-East KITAZAKURA (9-6)

In the Juryo, Makunouchi veteran #1-East TOCHINONADA won his first 7 torikumi on his way to a 13-2 that makes re-promotion to the “bright lights” a certainty.  Other distinguished second-division efforts:

#2-West USHIOMARU (9-6)
#4-West OTSUKASA (9-6)
#6-East TAMAKASUGA (12-3)
#6-West BUYUZAN (10-5)
#8-East RYUHO (11-4)
#10-West MOKONAMI (Mongolia) (11-4)
#11-East KYOKUNANKAI (9-6)
#12-East HOMASHO (10-5)
#13-West SATOYAMA (9-6)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

JUNIOR DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS  

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

The 600-Win Club (updated after Hatsu 2006)

* Non-Japanese

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

Current Holders of USSF Dan Rank

Current USSF Life Members

1. Harry Dudrow  2. Yoshisada Yonezuka  3. Jim Lowerre  4. Andrew Freund  5. Troy Collins  6. Hiroshi Matsuzaki  7. Manny Yarbrough (honorary)  8. Trent Sabo  9. Packy Bannevans  10. Doug Cochran

List Of USSF Sumo Clubs in good standing   (as of February, 2006)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

GOLTZ SUMO IX  (Hughes Center, Claremont, CA) - OFFICIAL RESULTS
(division designations by Sensei Gary Goltz)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

IMPORTANT NOTICE

GOLTZ SUMO IX:  Kids, Middleweights Dominate
Report by "Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO

The ninth annual Goltz Sumo Tournament was held at the Alexander Hughes Community Center in Claremont, CA on Saturday, January 21st.  Thirty two competitors ranging in age from four to sixty two answered the bell.  We actually had an abundance of officials both on the dohyo and watching from outside.  Ernie Hunt brought his grandson down from northern California, and current US middleweight champ Troy Collins put on the whites as well.

We never know from one tournament to the next what divisions will have the most competitors.  This time we had lots of kids under twelve, three Masters (over 40 years) and three Grand Masters (over 50 years) to start the action.  In the senior divisions there were only two lightweights and two heavyweights, but seven middleweights.  There was only one woman, so we had no women=s competition.  Medals were awarded in thirteen divisions.  Plus, Sensei Gary Goltz was supplied with three special plaques that he could award to anyone he chose.  These special awards went to Kala Crosby, Matthew Clark and Kurt Rightmyer.

Action started with the small kids, the old guys, and the very old guys.  Trent Sabo’s second win over Art Morrow in the lightweight division was one of the matches of the day.  He managed to throw Art while balancing on one leg (Note to self:  must send Art a copy of the “Finishing off an Ashi-Tori” article from the SUMO SHIMPO archives).  The middleweight action saw California middleweight champion Dan Kalbfleisch fall to eventual champion Ian Harris and newcomer Trevor Nakawaki (who, at 250 pounds, fought as both a junior heavyweight and a senior middleweight) on a close call that required a mono-ii by the judges.  Steve Jimenez (391 pounds) and Jim Lowerre (335 pounds) fought a single “winner-take-all” match for the senior heavyweights title.

The day’s action ended with a tough Open division battle consisting of one lightweight (Trent Sabo), five middleweights and one heavyweight (Steve Jimenez).  After losing to Jimenez in the third round, Dan Kalbfleisch came back through the consolation bracket with wins over Trent Sabo, Doug Cochran and Ian Harris to beat the mammoth sixteen-year old for the championship.

The day concluded with the presentation of the annual SUMO SHIMPO awards.  The recipients were:

Steven Simpson:  CA Junior Sumotori of the Year
Michelle Pike:  CA Female Sumotori of the Year
Justin Crite:  CA Most Improved Sumotori of the Year
Dan Kalbfleisch:  CA Rookie Sumotori of the Year
Trent Sabo:  Outstanding CA Sumotori of the Year

Trent was the first SUMO SHIMPO Outstanding California Sumotori of the Year in 2002, and is the first repeat recipient.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

IF YOU REALLY LOVE SUMO AND WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO IT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME…

MAKE THE COMMITMENT!!

Become a United States Sumo Federation LIFE MEMBER

A one-time tax-deductible donation of $200.00 eliminates your worries about annual USSF dues FOR LIFE.  If you compete in USSF-sanctioned amateur sumo events for ten years or more, a Life Membership will pay for itself.  It also shows you are very serious about the sport, and is a definite ‘resume enhancer’ if you decide to seek office in the USSF or any other amateur sports body.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

Photos from Goltz Sumo IX (Hughes Center, Claremont, CA)
	<<  A VERY BIG PROMOTION…SUMO SHIMPO publisher Harry “Tonkatsu” Dudrow receives his  designation as a judo “Shodan” (and the accompanying black belt) from Sensei Gary Goltz prior to the start of-the day’s sumo action.  (Photographer unknown)

>>  “GRAND MASTERS” BATTLE IT OUT…Jerry Tambe (in shorts) forces Glenn Nakawaki over the tawara in the “Really Old Guys” competition as referee Ernie Hunt monitors the action. (Photographer unknown)

<<  UNEXPECTED HONOR…Masters’ champion and former gubernatorial candidate Kurt “Tachikaze” Rightmyer was the recipient of one of the Special Awards handed out by Sensei Gary (Kala Crosby and Matthew Clark were the other honorees).  (Photographer unknown)

>>  THIS YEAR’S HONOREES…This year’s SUMO SHIMPO Award recipients gather for a group picture.  From left:  Dan Kalbfleisch (CA Rookie of the Year); Steven Simpson (Outstanding CA Junior); Trent Sabo (Outstanding CA Sumotori of the Year); and Michelle Pike (Outstanding CA Female Sumotori).  (Not present:  Justin Crite (Most Improved).)  Next to Dan is last year’s Outstanding CA Sumotori, US middleweight champ Troy Collins.  (Photographer unknown)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

My First Sumo Bout
by Hiroshi “Honetekawa” Matsuzaki (with a foreword by “Tonkatsu”) for SUMO SHIMPO

One pleasant afternoon on Matsuzaki-san’s patio last summer, the conversation turned to his boyhood in wartime Japan.  “Did the American bombers come to Kanazawa?” I asked.  “No”, he answered.  Then I asked him about doing sumo in elementary school.  Just as every schoolyard in America has some kind of softball diamond, in those days every school in Japan had a sumo ring.

This is Matsuzaki-san’s story of his first sumo bout - a story which he (modestly) thought nobody would be interested in.
-Tonkatsu

 ~~~~~~~~~

“Ouch!”  I felt a sharp pain in my back.  Then it quickly spread to my whole body.  I lay flat on my back on the cold ground and struggled to get up, much like a turtle turned upside down.  That’s my bittersweet memory of my first sumo bout...

I was ten years old (1941) and attending the 4th grade of a boys’ elementary school in my home town of Kanazawa City in Japan.  At the time, Japan was fighting in China:  the militarism penetrated into everything and everywhere.  Sumo training was a mandatory part of physical education classes.  There was sumo in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and universities.   Most had a raised dohyo with a roof supported by four post.  Big sumo meetings or tournaments were held on May 5th, the traditional Boy’s Day in Japan.

A competition between classes of the same grade was the way at my school for the sumo meeting.  Interclass bouts were conducted by the Japanese phonetic alphabet under each boy’s last name for competing classes.  So I didn’t know who my opponent would be before the sumo meeting.  Several teachers took an active role as name caller (yobidashi) or referee (gyoji).  Well, so much for the background.

It was a fine and beautiful day for the sumo meeting after the rain that had been falling since the previous night stopped.  My class of twenty-five boys sat on the East side of the dohyo; the rival class of twenty-five sat on the West side, facing us.  Every boy was naked except for a boy’s mawashi (fundoshi).  As the meeting progressed smoothly, all of a sudden I heard my name and Isamu Kimura called for the next bout.  I stood up to see my opponent and found out that he was the heaviest boy in the 4th grade.  I now wanted to go home to avoid a bout, but there was no choice.  While I was walking towards the dohyo, young mothers among the spectators cheered me on, shouting “Fighting spirit!” and “Go for it!”  I made a bow and entered the dohyo.  I was getting poised for charging without seeing Kimura’s face.  My body was shaking with tension (or maybe fear).

When I heard a loud voice say “Hakkeyoi” I lowered my shoulders, and with my eyes closed and arms fully extended rushed into his huge body.  At the moment when my hands reached to his stomach, my opponent grasped a knot on my mawashi, lifted me completely out of the dohyo and threw me in the air.  That made for a hard landing on the edge of the dohyo, after which I rolled down to my classmates at the outside of the ring.  Sand and dirt covered my body like sugar on a glazed donut:  my new mawashi was also a mess.  That was my first sumo bout, short and miserable.

About sixty years after my first sumo experience, I was lucky enough to be accepted as a member of the Southern California Sumo Kyokai .  (We think we are the lucky ones. Ton.)  Every time I practice sumo at the “Dohyo of Dreams” in Garden Grove, especially when pushing and shoving with Tonkatsu-san, my first sumo bout always comes back to my mind.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

New Sumo E-zine
by “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

Last June, at the US National Sumo Championships in New Jersey, I was introduced to a lady from Washington D.C. named Ngozi Robinson.  She told me that she was starting a new online sumo fan magazine.

The name of the publication is “Sumo Fan Magazine”.  You can find it online at www.sumofanmag.com.  Their motto is “By the fans, for the fans”.  They certainly seem to be living up to their motto, since the masthead lists more people than this humble publication has subscribers.  I might add that what they are basically fans of, is professional sumo.

The Nationals were Ngozi’s first look at amateur sumo in the United States.  Her article in the August 2005 issue is both interesting and amusing - especially her description of this writer in the role of referee.  “The referee was dressed, for lack of a better reference, like a Good Humor ice cream man.  Clad in all white, from his bow tie (actually, my tie was black) to his socks, my first impression was that this man should be playing shuffleboard in a Florida retirement community.  That said, he was actually extremely spry and made great calls.  My thoughts of him as the friendly ice cream truck man were quickly thrown out when one wrestler initiated a matta and the referee gave him a look so dark and thunderous to express his displeasure as to leave no doubt as to who was the boss.”  Apparently Ngozi didn’t see this “spry old man” competing in the Grand Masters and Masters divisions before he donned his “Good Humor man” costume to referee the main matches.

Sumo Fan Magazine posted its first issue in June of 2005, six years to the month after the first issue of SUMO SHIMPO.  In addition to covering the current bashos in Japan, they have profiles of past sumo greats.  A lengthy article on Chiyonoyama, the founder of Kokonoe Beya, was very interesting.  I might add that one advantage of being strictly an e-zine is the fact that you have the luxury of having more and longer articles than we can fit into the eight pages of SUMO SHIMPO (although we do have additional material in our online version – “Y”).  There are photos, games and even a French edition.

Sumo Fan Magazine is apparently (at least in part) a response to the fact that SUMO WORLD is no longer available anywhere but in Tokyo.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

Sumo Fans Back Ban on Women in Ring

Associated Press:  Wed Feb 8, 10:57 AM ET

A majority of Japanese sumo fans support a tradition which bans women from stepping on the raised dirt wrestling mound, according to a survey released by the Japan Sumo Association on Wednesday.

The association conducted the survey, distributing 350 questionnaires at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 12 for a response rate of 51 percent, Kyodo News Agency said.  Fifty-four percent said the ban should be maintained, and 46 percent said the prohibition should be scrapped.  A similar survey in 2004 also showed a majority opposed to lifting the ban.

JSA officials were not immediately available for comment.

The 2,000-year-old national sport has always banned women from the ring, though the origins of the ruling remain unclear.  It was believed to be based on beliefs in Shinto, Japan's native religion, that women are impure.

The eligibility of women to enter the sumo ring became controversial in recent years when the female governor of Osaka repeatedly requested she be allowed on the mound to present a prize to the winning wrestler, as her male predecessors had done.  Since her election in 2000, Ota has been banned from presenting the prize to the tournament winner by the JSA, which has cited the sport's traditions.  A male vice-governor has presented the award for the last five years.

It was not until 1778 that women were permitted to watch bouts, and then only on the final day of tournaments.  A century later, women were allowed to watch entire tournaments, but not permitted to climb on the ring.  The sport has since gained many female fans, but few women are asking to compete in the sport.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

>>  Matsuzaki-san with son Hajime (age 5) on his shoulders.

^^  Group photo of the Hanwa Sumo Club of Osaka, early 1970’s.  Matsuzaki-san is at the right end of the adult front row; son Hajime is at the right end of the boys’ row.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

Memoirs of A Geisha
Movie Review by “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

We get calls from casting directors looking for sumo types on a fairly regular basis.  In November of 2004, one such call came from someone who said she was looking for sumo wrestlers for the movie version of the novel “Memoirs of A Geisha.”  She said they wanted to be authentic.  I faxed her ten pages of pictures of sumotori from the 1930's and 40's.  I later found out she was only casting extras.  In any case, I never heard anymore from her and since her name didn’t appear on the credits, I assume she didn’t get the job.

Obviously, the reason we are reviewing this film is because there is a sumo scene in it and we wanted to see how authentic they were.  But first a few words about the entire movie.  “Memoirs of A Geisha” got mixed reviews.  Roger Ebert, who thought the subject had been covered better in several Japanese movies, gave it thumbs down.  Richard Roper gave it thumbs up.  Michael Medved gave it two and a half stars out of a possible four.  So did my local paper.  The casting of three Chinese actresses in the lead roles created controversy among both Japanese and Chinese.  Japanese (both here and in Japan) thought that there were plenty of actresses in Japan who could have played the roles.  In China, where bitterness over Japan’s aggression in World War II is still strong, some felt that the three were traitors for portraying Japanese.  Roger Ebert didn’t have a problem with the casting, and neither did I.  After all, using Chinese to play Japanese isn’t any worse than having Marlon Brando and Mickey Rooney portray them in “Teahouse of The August Moon” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.

I started going to Japanese movies (mostly at the old Toho LaBrea theater at 9th and LaBrea) shortly after I came to Los Angeles in 1958.  Several of my all-time favorite movies are Japanese.   This is not a Japanese movie.  It’s a Hollywood movie set in Japan.  I would have liked it better if it were a Japanese movie.  In other words, I would have preferred it in Japanese with English subtitles.  Why?  Because in my view, you can’t really capture the essence of Japan in any language other than Japanese.  (As a dedicated fan of the English-subtitled NHK historical dramas that run on Saturday nights in SoCal, I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment – “Y”)

Also, I think that “Memoirs” is the kind of novel that would have translated better into a seven-hour TV mini-series (such as “Shogun”) than a feature-length film.  I’ve seen the movie twice, once with Ning and once with Matsuzaki-san.  The first time I made the mistake of washing down my popcorn with a large Coke.  I ended up making two trips to the otearai and missing several key scenes.

On to the sumo!  Was the sumo authentic to the period of the novel?  How did the sumo scene in the movie compare to the sumo in the book?  We know from the book that the sumo match in chapter seventeen takes place shortly after Sayuri becomes an apprentice geisha in 1934.  So, how would sumo in 1934 differ from today?  First of all, the tsuriyane (which today is suspended from the ceiling) was supported by four wooden posts until the advent of TV in 1952.  Second, in common with heavyweight boxers (6'7" 270 pound Primo Carnera being the notable exception) and football linemen (when Notre Dame had a tackle named “Moose” who weighed around 220 pounds) of the period, the rikishi of the 1930’s were on average much smaller than those of today.  In those days, a sumotori who weighed 350 pounds would have been really huge.

Another difference that I thought would be the case was difference in the tachiai.  I have seen videos of older sumo where the two rikishi more or less squat simultaneously and charge into each other without even touching the ground.  Finally, Matsuzaki-san informed me that in the days when the tsuriyane was supported by posts, the judges sat on the dohyo with their backs against said posts.  (This has been borne out by photos of old sumo matches – “Y”)

So, how did the movie do in the authenticity department?  Well, the tsuriyane is supported by posts.  The smaller of the two wrestlers, played by the former top-division star known as Mainoumi, squats and charges without touching the ground, and the judges sit on the dohyo with their backs against the posts.  Looks pretty good, thus far.

However, a run through my tapes of old sumo, which starts with Futabayama (35), shows the judges not sitting in the ring.  Also, during this period the rikishi very clearly put both fists down before the tachiai.  Matsuzaki-san, our research editor, says that old photos (perhaps from the Meiji era) show judges sitting on the dohyo.  After further research he determined that the first basho in which the judges didn’t sit on the dohyo was the Natsu Basho of May 1930.

How did the sumo match in the movie compare to the book?  Well, first a word about the book - and a few brickbats for its author for calling the dohyo a “Mound” and the tawara a “Rope!”

Here is the description of the bout from the book. “To see Miyagiyama (played by Mainoumi) leaning forward as he did, you’d have thought he was ready to throw his weight into Saiho.  But instead he used the force of Saiho’s charge to stand back up on his feet.  In an instant he swivelled out of the way like a swinging door and his hand came down onto the back of Saiho’s neck.  By now Saiho’s weight was so far forward, he looked like someone falling down the stairs.  Miyagiyama gave him a push with all his force, and Saiho brushed right over the rope at his feet.  Then to my astonishment, this mountain of a man flew past the lip of the mound and came sprawling into the front row of the audience.”  In both the book and the movie, this move is described as hataki-komi.

In the film, Mainoumi engages in tsuppari with Saiho before rolling him out of the ring.  Here are several thoughts on this.  First, the first part of the description in the book sounds very much like the beginning of a henka or hataki-komi as we have often seen done to CHIYOTAIKAI by TOCHIAZUMA.  The problem is that victims of hataki-komi usually end up on their hands and knees in the middle of the ring, not out in the sand seats.  Secondly (and I will have to wait for the DVD to tell for sure), but what Mainoumi does to Saiho doesn’t look like hataki-komi to me.  I thought it was an uwate-nage.  Matsuzaki-san thought it was an okuri-dashi.   He may have been influenced in that opinion as a result of reading the Japanese translation of the novel.  I had him translate the Japanese back into English and in the Japanese translation, the winning technique is rendered as okuri-dashi not hataki-komi.  We invite our readers who see the film to offer their opinions.

We think it’s worth noting that while there were a few rikishi in this period who weighed less than two hundred pounds, at a top weight of two hundred twenty Mainoumi would have been small even for that era.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

<<  STILL HANGING TOUGH AFTER ALL THESE YEARS…Matsuzaki-san (aka “Honetekawa”) engages  Harry “Tonkatsu” Dudrow in some serious training as Jennifer “Harukaze” Perkin watches and waits her turn on the “Dohyo of Dreams”.  (Photo by  “Yukikaze”)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]

California Sumo Calendar for 2006

CLASSES/TRAINING SESSIONS

Fees may be charged for training session attendance.  Contact the listed STAGING ORGANIZATION for latest information.

COMPETITIONS

(T) = Tentative
All information on this calendar is subject to change.  Contact the listed STAGING ORGANIZATION for latest information.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo Shimpo home]