|
||||
| ||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
and it was my
first, so I was pleased but beating the yokozuna – I was very happy with that.
MB - You have injured your elbows in the past. Do they still bother you?
K – I can’t straighten my arms now (showing that they only extend to about 160 degrees) so they are bad. A little painful, but better recently.
MB - You are often compared with the other European sekitori – Roho, Hakurozan, Kotooshu and Baruto. How do you get along with them, and do you train or go out drinking together?
K – Of course, of course. We are all friends, all good together, no ranks, no seniors, no juniors. We all enjoy eating together. There is a problem sometimes though, because we like wine and the places we go to run out at times.
When told MB had spoken to Baruto-zeki along similar lines, Kokkai asked about the Estonian’s command of English and looked like that would be the topic for a shitaku-beya conversation-cum-ribbing next time they met.
MB - Has your mother been to Japan? Any plans to invite her?
K – No, not yet but I want to show her the sea, some onsen, the country as a whole. Maybe in the near future.
MB - How many times have you been back to Georgia and what kind of reception do you get over there?
MB - You have injured your elbows in the past. Do they still bother you?
K – I can’t straighten my arms now (showing that they only extend to about 160 degrees) so they are bad. A little painful, but better recently.
MB - You are often compared with the other European sekitori – Roho, Hakurozan, Kotooshu and Baruto. How do you get along with them, and do you train or go out drinking together?
K – Of course, of course. We are all friends, all good together, no ranks, no seniors, no juniors. We all enjoy eating together. There is a problem sometimes though, because we like wine and the places we go to run out at times.
When told MB had spoken to Baruto-zeki along similar lines, Kokkai asked about the Estonian’s command of English and looked like that would be the topic for a shitaku-beya conversation-cum-ribbing next time they met.
MB - Has your mother been to Japan? Any plans to invite her?
K – No, not yet but I want to show her the sea, some onsen, the country as a whole. Maybe in the near future.
MB - How many times have you been back to Georgia and what kind of reception do you get over there?
MB - Is sumo more popular in Georgia now and is there any interest there in becoming a rikishi?
K – It is popular. Many people do sumo now – many. There are many clubs all over Georgia, not only in Tbilisi. I have had two or three calls from people who want to join sumo but, unfortunately, with sumo as it is now (referring to limits on foreign rikishi entering) I can’t help them at present.
MB – How do Georgians follow your progress in Ozumo?
K – On Eurosport. In café bars we have big TVs and everyone gathers to watch in the evenings. Like you have in England in the pubs when you watch football, we have those huge TV screens on the wall.
MB – Live?
K – No, everyone is working so sumo is broadcast on time delay.
MB – Do Georgians understand the meaning of your shikona “Kokkai”? (Black Sea in Japanese)
K – Of course, now.
MB – I understand your hobbies include computers and music. Do
K – Yes, we always keep in touch by mail. (leans over beside futon - to show his own snazzy looking laptop but gives up when he realizes it is switched off). I access Georgian sites to use Georgian script.
MB - What about music – what do you listen to?
K – Hip Hop (laughs) No, I like classic – and Queen.
MB - Can you tell us about any future aspirations and/or dreams?
K – Of course, I want to get to ozeki – to get to ozeki is a dream. Yeah, ozeki.
MB - Kokkai-zeki, I really appreciate the time you have given me today to do this interview, but in closing, let me ask you if you have any comments for the foreign sumo fans out there that will see this on the Sumo Fan Magazine site? In English if you know a few words?
K - Eh, English (laughs and says in Japanese) – nah, you’ll translate won’t you? (continuing in Japanese) Everybody, aah, I don’t know (laughs). Everybody, I really try my best in sumo and now that I am in sanyaku I’d like to say thanks to you all for your support and that I’ll keep doing my best (the shin-komusubi bows his head with this final comment).
Home