Kotooshu all smiles after capturing 1st Emperor's Cup

Monday 26th May, 05:47 AM JST

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Ruger at 11:33 PM JST - 25th May

North London Don't really understand your post of 08:39, just drivel to me Kotooshu put on a brilliant performance this basho. After reading your posts on various subjects I've come to one conclusion; you've got your head so far up you ass a glass belly button wouldn't do you any good, you still couldn't see anything.
northlondon at 12:04 AM JST - 26th May

Ruger,

Lighten up pal, life is too short. If you only want to read and write critically acclaimed posts, try going back to school first. Life is way too short sonny and some of us look to a little bit of humour to keep us going. p.s it was song by Wham, but I doubt you have ever tried a little bit of entertainment such as music in your sad life..
Ruger at 01:55 AM JST - 26th May

North London The song you quoted by Wham does not represent the performance Kotooshu put on this tournament. His Father came to share the honor he well deserved and has has been a past tradition when a wrestler was winning his first tournament, you made a mockery of it.
rjd_jr at 08:08 AM JST - 26th May

Great for him. Kotooshu's rise to Yokozuna makes even the most hardened and cynical "anti-sumo" haters here all googly eyed and excited! I'm rooting for him too, the first caucasian to achieve the pinnacle of a legendary Japanese sport.
Sarge at 09:13 AM JST - 26th May

"Kotooshu's rise to yokozuna"

Or, his return to kadoban ozeki. Ha ha ha! Nah, I think the Bulgarian gladiator is safe in his rank for awhile. He might just become a yokozuna if he can keep up his current level.
ulysses at 09:54 AM JST - 26th May

Well its been worth the wait. I remember 2005 when he beat Asashoryu(I think in the summer tournament)and became a serious challenger before fading out. I am rooting for Kotooshu to go for Yokozuna. And somebody needs to kick Asa's rump out of Sumo if he doesn't grow up fast.
Noripinhead at 02:19 PM JST - 26th May

Seeing all the other bad news on this site, it is heartwarming to hear of a fighter who came back from behind, overcame the odds and rose to the top. He is an inspiration not only to sumo fans but to all foreign residents in Japan, don't you think?
rjd_jr at 02:46 PM JST - 26th May

I totally agree Noripinhead, nowhere are the usual sumo detractors on this site! Now all of a sudden they're the biggest sumo fans on the planet thanks to Kotooshu lol.
USAkuma at 08:34 AM JST - 27th May

Congrats to Kotooshu! Seen him on a bunch of different J-TV shows. he still puts out a soft-hearted, shy boy thing in front of the cameras and the women go gaga for it. Yes its going to be great to see a big hairy foreigner make it to the top. If Asashoryu gets suspended for the next tourney (maybe hakuho too) then he'll easily get the Yokozuna rank.

As to Asa and Hakuho. It all depends on which camera you see to decide blame. The main cameras show Asa from the front and in slow motion it looks very severe. Push down then slap when Hakuho gets up. But if you seed the side camera, you might also get to see that Hakuho elbows/shoulder-hits Asa's midsection as he gets up and the slap is almost a grab to steady Asa as much as a punishment.

But looking at full speed, both events happen very quick, in the span of seconds, so they both might have been just reactions not planned actions.
PrinceskaNo1 at 09:37 AM JST - 27th May

USAkuma, hopefully Hakuho and Asashoryu won't be suspended so that Kotooshyu is given the chance to defeat them again in the next basho. I want to see the flying out of the dohyo.
PrinceskaNo1 at 09:37 AM JST - 27th May

I want to see Asashoryu and Hakuho flying out of the dohyo.
Sarge at 10:53 AM JST - 27th May

View 1: They're making a mountain out of a molehill. Asa just gave Hakuho a little love tap, and vice versa.

View 2: Asa's lucky Hakuho didn't slap him upside the head for that completely unnecessary shove.
Apsara at 11:28 AM JST - 27th May

USAkuma, according to friends of mine the "softhearted, shy-boy thing" isn't just for the cameras- they have met him several times before through Bulgarian friends (no cameras were present) and say that he genuinely appears to be that kind of person.

As for Asashoryu's shove, it was totally unnecessary- Hakuho obviously had his hands on the floor. Anyway, with the uproar about Hakuho's reaction, he will probably avoid glaring competitions and shoulder-bashing in the future.
cleo at 11:38 AM JST - 27th May

Can't say I'm a big fan of sumo (can't get rid of the image of fat boys in nappies), but I rather like Kotooshu and I'm pleased he won.

Asa's face was a picture of hurt surprise when he gave Hakuho a 'dame-oshi' and got a shoulder shoved in his chest in return. It was obvious he hadn't expected Hakuho to retaliate, and thought he could just push him around as he pleased. A sure sign of a thug and a bully - he thought he was safe from retribution.
Blue_Tiger at 02:15 PM JST - 28th May

Asashoryu is a good sumo wrestler, and a great yokozuna. Hakuho has pulled some of the same trix that Asa's alleged to have done. I've seen him give a final shove or a last hand-slap after he has beaten an opponent. I've also seen Asa help up a rikishi he has just defeated. It goes both ways.

I do want to see Kotooshu become Yokozuna. This tourney just proved that he can handle Sashoryu and Hakuho, when he gets the gumption to do so. Let's hope that gumption stays with him awhile....