Osaka 2010 - Day 10 (Live) - Takamisakari v Miyabiyama - March 23

2nd match I have for you in my live coverage from Day 10 features everyone's favorite goofball rikishi - maegashira #12 Takamisakari (6-3) - as he faces off against maegashira #7 Miyabiyama (7-2).

Enjoy!

-Jason

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[PannaIka]

I like how he plays to the crowd, do you think he's a good guy?

[JasonsinJapan]

It's hard to say - I've seen him be interviewed a few times and he's quite serious about his sumo, but he has certain goofy traits. He is legally blind in the ring - he needs strong glasses outside the ring, so that adds to his ring presence. But I disagree with Tiramisu below - I think he does "play to the crowd" somewhat - his pre-game and his strut after he wins is very calculated and brings sponsor money to most of his matches.

[TiramisuHappy]

...himself and getting "in the zone."

You have to understand how his pre-fight routine started in the first place. It started after he suffered a serious injury back in 2000 Akibasho going against Wakanosato. As a result he developed a tremendous "phobia" about being in the ring facing an opponent. He started his psych-up ritual as a form of exorcism to get rid of his personal demons.

[TiramisuHappy]

Well, lemme disagree back.

I've seen numerous Takamisakari interviews in Japanese (not just on tv) and I'm quite read up on his personal history/background. You're right about his "goofy" traits. If you watch enough Japanese television, you've seen him in many commercials and you know he's somewhat of a comedian. But that's strictly "off dohyo." His stiff (almost mechanical) body movement in the ring(which earned him the nickname "Robo Cop") is just him being

(Cont'd)>>>

[TiramisuHappy]

Most (if not all) of his sponsorship if from Nagatanien as in this video (a maker of various flavor seasonings for steamed rice) for which he's been a spokesperson. Takamisakari and Nagatanien have a very long relationship going further back to his oyakata (Azumazeki) having apperared in a few Nagatanien commercials years and years ago.

There's no point in Takamisakari being calculating to get sponsor money from them.

[TiramisuHappy]

It is in no way a "performance" or even a show aimed at the crowd for their entertainment. That said, I think Takamisakari is fully aware of audience reaction to his pre-fight rituals. It's possible that he sometimes feeds off of that energy from the crowd (to his advantage psychologically.) But again, it is NOT a performance by any means.

And to your point of him being calculating and manipulative to get sponsor money...

[TiramisuHappy]

Hahaha, nobody plays TO the crowd in sumo. This is no WWF! (Except when they go on a goodwill tour around the world. That's when you see them loosen up a bit and become more of entertainers.) But sumo is VERY serious sport/business. What you saw was Takamisakari going through his ritual pre-fight "psych-up" (気合い入れ) routine.