Asashoryu completes memorable comeback to win 23rd title

Sunday 25th January, 06:24 PM JST

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Ranger_Miffy at 01:22 PM JST - 26th January

Northlondon, I've met plenty of Japanese here in Tokyo who like both, and who certainly support Asashoryu. Blanket statements like "I haven't met one single Japanese person who likes Asashoryu" sound a little silly.
northlondon at 02:59 PM JST - 26th January

Blanket statements like "I haven't met one single Japanese person who likes Asashoryu" sound a little silly.

But it's not a 'blanket' statement, whatever that means. It is fact. And like I already said before, I have not met a single Japanese person who likes Asashoryu. I never described my comment as a blanket statement and it is a personal opinion. Just because you have met Japanese people who like Asashoryu doesn't mean that my experience should automatically be the same as your experience.
dennis0bauer at 03:38 PM JST - 26th January

No Nortlonden it is not a fact, The JSA do not like asa. They asked people around japan who they wanted to win in a show just a few days ago and in every city they voted most for asa.

ExPrinceska i know why you like Kotooshu, he fights like a princess.

If asa can keep this up then he is truly worthy of his name of Yokozuna but 23 thropies should say that allready.
okapake at 05:08 PM JST - 26th January

Hakuho has 15 to go to catch Asa!
Asahak at 06:23 PM JST - 26th January

When Asa walked down the hanamichi after the playoff, the scores of fans leaning over the railings to slap hands with him were all Koreans an Chinese... according to North London!
spudman at 09:22 PM JST - 26th January

Northlondon you need to get out more and talk to more Japanese people. I spoke to at 10 people today who were glad to see Asa "come back". About the same number had no idea what happened in the sumo cause they were snowboarding all weekend.
lynny at 12:14 AM JST - 27th January

Get in there Asa! :D
BurakuminDes at 01:49 AM JST - 27th January

As Ive said in previous comments, imagine how good Asashoryu will be when he is fit! Full respect to Hakuho, but he was OWNED by Asa in the playoff, *picked up and dispatched out of the ring! * I personally find Hakuho quite dull and unexciting in his fighting style, even though he is a brilliant wrestler. It seems he was only promoted when Asa slipped up due to injury. There is no doubt Asa is the "bad guy" - the foreigner who had the hide to not marry a Japanese woman, who dared to wear a suit on TV at one time; most Japanese people I know seem to state they "dislike him" because he "...doesnt follow Japanese rules...". However, they all still watch him fight. This Champion will quite possibly go on to be Greatest of all time, and, maybe just save this dwindling ancient sport.
Sarge at 11:10 AM JST - 27th January

If it hadn't been for Ama, er, Harumafuji, handing Hakuho that loss on Day 10,, Hakuho would have won the yusho. I'll bet Asa and Ama, er, Harumafuji are best buds - until they face each other on the dohyo next time, ha ha ha!
flammenwerfer at 01:08 PM JST - 27th January

The biggest loser seems to be the Sumo Association. It is so clear that it was all a fix

really? and what makes you an expert?, Asa blew the first bout by himself, he thought (muttered it as he walked down the hanamichi) he had false started and waited for the gyoji to call it, but the call never happened and Asa was caught with his pants down as he dropped his guard and powered off and was easy prey for Hakuho - schoolboy mistake, he should know better. Besides do you really think Asa would play the Kyokais games like a some of the others? especiialy given his tumultuous past and the fact he is a rogue and loves winning and especially hates losing to Hakuho.
AlfGarnett at 01:15 PM JST - 27th January

Sumo is fixed, they exposed it on Channel 4 yonks ago, that's why they stopped showing it.

It is well known outside of Japan to be fied like pro wrestling is.
Ranger_Miffy at 06:44 PM JST - 27th January

AltGarnett, I'm calling you on this one. Just HOW fixed? Every bout? Just a few? And, just how important is this to sumo.

And, by the way, Sumo is not exactly a "sport" like baseball, soccer, etc. It's more a way of life with deep historical ties to a way of life with values hard to find in Japan anymore, and with deep ties to Shinto...and it's held in a different regard because of both points.
AlfGarnett at 06:56 PM JST - 27th January

Rangey Muffy: It is fixed on certain bouts, proved beyond shadow of a doubt mate.

That is why they stopped showing it on telly. It's all a big con, daft it is.
cracaphat at 02:39 AM JST - 28th January

Sumo without Asa is finished,finito.Even the Sumo pharts know that Asa puts bums in seats and money in their tainted pockets,which even the hinkaku of Hakuho couldn't do.
rtrhead1 at 09:07 PM JST - 28th January

so, alf, where did they stop showing it? it is showed here in japan, soooo, maybe mongolia? africa? the U.S.? yeah, I thought not.