Rikishi Talk Day 9 Kyushu Basho 2003

Rikishi Talk Day 9 Kyushu Basho
===============================

Kokkai (vs Asanowaka)
---------------------
"I feel good about this basho. After the fifth or
sixth bout, I thought I could win 10　bouts or
so.  I try to analyze my sumo by watching the video
every night.  I still have six days to go.  I will
still need to face many different opponents."  

Musoyama (vs Kaio)
------------------
"I was preparing to go offensive but the opponent
appeared to be psyched up more.　So I got
started moving more or less with his pace. I just let
him have the mawashi. It was one thing I should never
let him do. I should have gone without worrying too
much." 

Kaio (vs Musoyama)
-----------------
"I think I had a pretty good tachiai.
I could move quite a bit more now. But the basho feels
like a lot longer."
-Finally seeing the light at the end of tunnel?
"Hardly. Remember the last basho...I went to Makekoshi
from 6 wins and 1 loss at the　
midway point. So you never know what can happen. I am
getting used to the pain now but you can't really
worry about it all the time. Right now all I can do is
go full out."

Tomozuna oyakata (Kaio's Shisho)
--------------------------------
"For a while it was painful to just see him sitting
down. He is saying he has no intention of continuing
his active career if he ever falls out of Ozeki rank.
I believe he wants to go out high when the time
comes." 

Kitanoumi oyakata, chair of Kyokai
-----------------------------------
"I have a feeling Kaio is getting his rhythm back. He
is initiating the attack. We are all feeling a sense
of his presence now."

Kokonoe oyakata, Chief Dohyo Judge
----------------------------------
"It was an excellent sumo by Kaio."

Asashoryu (vs Tosanoumi)
------------------------
(Executing a perfect Katasukashi)
"I have to go on. I am not thinking in terms of
Kachikoshi."
-You looked to be concerned about your foot.
"Oh...I just slipped. Somehow...I guess I am OK..." 

Tochiazuma (vs Tamanoshima)
---------------------------
(Now only undefeated Makuuchi rikishi)
"Perhaps I got a bit too anxious after getting the
kachikoshi yesterday."
-Comparing to the Hatsu Basho last year when he won 11
straight? 
"As I don't remember anything about my first Yusho,
there is no way for me to compare. I am moving better
gradually but the Yusho is still very very far away.
All I could do is go out and do my best one day at a
time."

Tamanoshima (vs Tochiazuma)
--------------------------
(On Tochiazuma)
"If you don't go all at once, you lose by his superior
technique. He is really strong this basho."

Wakanosato (vs Toki) 
-----------
(Now danger of even not winning 10 bouts)
"I am not moving at all, right? I tried real hard not
to get dragged down by the loss  from yesterday."

Iwakiyama (vs Kyokutenho)
--------------
(The first win this basho other than a fusensho)
"I want to make this basho to lead into the next
basho, to make it as a good learning experience." 

Kyokutenho (vs Iwakiyama)
-------------------------
(Losing after mono-ii)
"I was all expecting to do it once more. I watched the
video replay on TV but I still am not convinced. This
is making me feel like going out all wild and crazy
tonight."

Chiyotaikai (vs Kotomitsuki)
----------------
"This was my best bout of the basho. If I stop, I know
I will start getting the pain. Today I had a low
tachiai, just like I visualized it."      

Kotomitsuki (vs Chiyotaikai) 
------------
(Winning 11 bouts last basho but already Makekoshi
this basho)
"Physically I am in much better shape than the last
basho but my tachiai is awful. I just got too anxious
from the tachiai today. It was simply the worst bout
of this basho. It was a totally pitiful loss. More
than my body, my heart aches. Hey, what is going on
here!"

Tochinonada (vs Kyokushuzan)
----------------------------
(Assured of Shukunsho Award if he can get kachikoshi)
"I will do the best to win the two more bouts.  But if
they are giving me a Sansho award, I'd prefer Ginosho
Award."

Kyokushuzan (vs Tochinonda)
---------------------------
"I went head first and started thinking. It means I
should not do something I am not 
accustomed to doing."
-On Day 10 "Grudge" match against Yokozuna Asashoryu
"My cellphone hasn't stopped ringing.  All my
Mongolian friends are saying they are taking the day
off to watch the bout on TV.  I know this has
Kachikoshi and Kinboshi riding on it so I will
definitely go all out." 

Miyabiyama (vs Takamisakari)
----------------------------
(Almost talking like Yoda)
"Knowing fully well of my injured left shoulder
slapped me there, he did. Pretending totally oblivious
to all around him but scheming real good, a good real
schemer he is."   

Note:
According to a survey conducted by the Kyokai at the
Aki Basho in September, Komusubi Takamisakari was
voted as the most popular rikishi by far, getting
8,889 votes out of 27,000. The Kyokai asked the fans
who was their favorite rikishi.  The second was Ozeki 
Chiyotaikai with 1,784, followed by Yokozuna Asashoryu
who got 996 votes.

"The strongest rikishis used to get all the attention
in the old time, but the time must have really
changed," Takasago oyakata, Kyokai's PR Director said.

While the center of attention, Takamisakari provided
another non-sequiter response:  "Hmmm, 8889 votes. If
I had one less, it would have been 'Zorome'?!?
(meaning rolling two dices and getting two sixes)."