Hakuho: the Gentleman Sumotori

(In English and in French)

Sumotori Hakuho sama whose real name is Munkhbat
Davaajargal is the fourth foreign wrestler to be
promoted to Sumo’s highest rank as "Yokozuna" (Grand
Champion) following Asashoryu and Hawaiians Akebono
and Musashimaru. He attended a remarkable press
conference luncheon in Tokyo yesterday at my press
club.

I tested his push and I certainly see a bright future
for this extraordinary young man, whose strength
endurance and power also accommodate a real kindness
and gentleman's behavior.

After the luncheon event, I came to chat with him, and
I asked him to give me a push same as in the Sumo
ring, my first ever attempt to confront in a kindly
manner a Great Champion. He naturally hesitated but
played a smart move and while I was literally
propelled away he also kindly caught me back with his
hands as you can see on this extraordinary picture
seized by a fellow journalist colleague. We went into
a long laughter after that, being filmed by a
Japanese TV.



Having experience of Martial or Combat arts like in
Judo,Tae Kwon Do or fencing I had never experienced
the speed and the push of sumo before: "Terrassant"!

Hakuho and his compatriot Asashoryu, who has won 23
titles, have dominated sumo in recent years and there
has not been a Japanese winner of a title since
January 2006 when Tochiazuma lifted the Emperor’s Cup.

Some sumo traditionalists worry that Japan is being
left behind in its own national sport. There hasn’t
been a Japanese grand champion since Takanohana
retired in January 2003. There is a move by some in
sumo to restrict the number of foreign participants.
Hakuho is one of nine Mongolians wrestling in sumo’s
top division and one of 15 foreign wrestlers in the
elite class.

“I’d like to see more foreign wrestlers allowed in but
it’s not my decision.” “The fans should be allowed to
see the best in the world,” said Hakuho, who won his
10th Emperor’s Cup at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament
last month. While the rules are not clearly defined,
each sumo stable is allowed one foreign wrestler and
there are 53 stables.

Grand champion Hakuho wants to see sumo opened up to
more foreign wrestlers and hopes Japan’s ancient sport
will someday be included in the Olympics but knows it
is an uphill battle.

“I’d be really happy if it became an Olympic sport and
would try to do better than my father,” Hakuho said
that the International Sumo Federation has been
pushing to get sumo in the Olympics but its not on the
list of sports under consideration for inclusion on
the 2016 Olympic program.

Hakuho’s father won a silver medal in freestyle
wrestling at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

French

Le "bizutage" des académies de sumo était peu connu
jusqu’à ce que le champion mongol Hakuho ne lève le
voile sur ces pratiques taboues. Des bizutages de
titans où tout le monde envoie du lourd. «Je pleurais
tous les jours», avoue le sumotori qui aurait été
victime de longues séances de tabassage à ses débuts.
«Quand vous me voyez maintenant, j'ai l'air heureux,
mais à ce moment-là, je ne l’étais pas», raconte le
colosse de 1,92 m pour 154 kg, devenu l'un des plus
grands lutteurs depuis son arrivée au Japon à l’âge de
15 ans, et ses 60 kg d'alors.

Ses révélations interviennent au moment où un ancien
maître est jugé pour la mort de son apprenti sous les
coups. Certaines séances de tabassage pouvaient durer
jusqu'à 45 minutes. "Les 20 premières minutes sont
incroyablement douloureuses, mais après (...), même si
vous continuez à être frappé, vous sentez moins la
douleur», explique-t-il en choisissant ses mots avec
précaution comme "encouragement affectueux".

Celui dont le nom signifie «le grand oiseau blanc» est
l’une des plus grandes stars du Japon. L’un des deux
seuls yokozuna (le grade le plus élevé de la
discipline), avec son compatriote Asashoryu. Il
témoigne près de deux ans après la mort de Takashi
Saito, frappé à mort par son maître à coups de
bouteille et par trois sumotoris plus âgés armés de
battes de base-ball.

"Une minorité de lutteurs" conclut Hakuho.

Un moment unique passé avec notre Sumo favori,
authentique où l'on a vu que le géant et ses amis
athlètes savent aussi marcher sur des oeufs, avec
élégance. Il lui faudra prochainement démontrer ses
talents face au Sumo Asashoryu bien connu pour ses
tactiques un peu "raides" selon les spécialistes des
arènes.

(Reportage et agences)