Hi Friends!!
Oh, what can I say? It was the new year and now it is May... time flies!!!
I believe I had promised to keep up with my blog at my last post but things became incredibly busy and crazy and a combination of both!!!
I was busy looking for some new jobs from February and trying to set up my own English school. I didn't get the English school set up for this year (really need to start them when the school year starts in April, or I may be able to try to work it out at the end of the year so I could get a little build up for the new school year in 2009.
I did however find success in landing some new part time jobs which is good and bad! It means that I found some extra work but the time schedule stinks! I have first period classes and then I have long (unpaid) breaks and then I have some more classes (more unpaid time) and classes again till often after 9pm! I swear it is killing me!!!
I needed money to help pay for my gym membership and now I can't have enough time to go to the gym. I'm fed up that in the last month I went only once! I threw my money away!
My jobs aren't normal jobs so I don't have a set schedule. Some days I have the same school every week but others I change around. One week I have a night high school on Monday and another week I have a company class. Some Wednesdays I teach elementary kids and some I teach high school. Some weeks I have an Elementary school English club. All in all it is confusing and I have to keep my schedule by my side at all times so as not to be confused where I work each day!
Starting this week I'll be a lot less busy and can get back to the gym. I feel terrible since I didn't do any training except a little walking outside in a month. I went from 3-5 hours training a day to nothing, so you know that I don't feel good!!!
Aside from trying to get the work ironed out, there are new jobs with new co-workers, new students, etc. I have been busy to make materials, choose text books and get used to everything. So after a month and a half of the new school year I think I'm getting settled and maybe now can start relaxing a bit!

In addition during January I spent half the month enjoying my Sumo friend Tochinoshin's debut in Juryo! He did magnificent and even earned the Juryo Yusho (championship) in his debut tournament! I watched as much as I could on TV and I went to the Sumo stadium (Kokugikan) twice during the tournament to see him!

In February Tochinoshin's shin-juryo party was held (promotion to juryo party). What a wonderful time it was and I even went all out and wore a kimono for the event!

In March the Sumo tournament was held in Osaka. I couldn't go there but I did watch on TV. With Tochinoshin's Yusho he moved up to the top of the Juryo division and with a winning record in Osaka he was promoted to the upper rank of Makuuchi!

April found me busy starting the new school year and getting a bit more busy with Sumo things near the end of the month. There were two one day tournaments I went to on what they call "Jungyo Tour." These tournaments are one day events which are quite informal compared to the national scheduled 15 day tournaments. The atmosphere is more relaxed and you have a nice chance to meet and chat with many of the guys that you can't talk to during the regular tournaments. I was extremely fortunate during two tournaments to meet many new wrestlers who I love so much now!! I could finally talk to one of my all time heroes: Kitazakura! I have loved him since I liked Sumo but it was the first time I could talk to him and did so for nearly 15 or 20 minutes I think! Then at the second jungyo tournament I got to talk to him again, for less time but lucky for me that was twice in two weeks!!!! Of all my Sumo Heroes he is my #1!!!!

I also got to know Kasugao from South Korea. He is the sweetest man and talked to me a long time. I also met Kaiho and Ryuo who were friendly and kind. I got to know Tamakasuga and was lucky enough to also get a chance to talk to him at the second jungyo I went to as well!
I had also for a long time wanted to talk to Hakurozan from Russia. He always had a million fans around him at the Tokyo tournaments when I saw him. I once got close enough to touch his back as he walked by... but I could talk to him for more than half an hour during the jungyo tournament and that was great. I found out he is a really gentle man! I got to meet Kotoshogiku too, he is the guy with the cutest smile of anyone!! I always write messages in his blog and I am the only one who writes in English so he could recognize me when I met him and told him who I was!! *Shoki, if you read this know that I love you!! Kazuko loves you too!!!!*

I also was able to meet Kihaku the night before one tournament. We met him in front of his hotel in Yokosuka & took him driving in my car! He is now one of my top three favorite Sumo guys of all time. He is gentle, kind, sweet and adorable! Kazuko and I both met him that night and talked to him the next day of course and again I saw him the week after at the next tournament I went to. *Kihaku we really really really love you!!!!!*

I also did something that still amazes me... I FINALLY was able to talk to Baruto! I have loved Baruto since about 2005. Every time I saw him I froze and couldn't speak. (OH, just like in the beginning with Petter... those of you who know me know that when I finally met him I just stood and cried and couldn't say a word!) Well, in 2005 I wrote a fan letter to Baruto telling him I wanted to meet him and here it was 3 years later I finally had the courage to speak to him. I knew I couldn't miss the chance as it was the last jungyo tournament I could go to and maybe last chance to really meet him. So I got up my courage and as he walked by I just started chatting. To my amazement he stopped and we ended up in a great conversation. We talked forever while he signed autographs for little kids. The more I talked the easier it got. I admitted with embarrassment that I had not had courage to talk to him before. I told him "I wrote you a fan letter in 2005...." and he cut me off and told me what that letter had said. He had remembered it. I was amazed and almost so stunned I couldn't talk. He said "didn't I call you after that letter?" I said "No, because if you had I wouldn't have been waiting three years to talk to you!" Then he took my cellular phone from me and punched in a number. He dialed it.. he said "that is my number, you can call me any time!" I went from not being able to talk to him at all, running the other way when I saw him to getting his phone number programmed by him into my phone. Now, how great is that? The conversation went well and he had to get ready for his match so he told me to go and meet him in the waiting area on the other side of the arena. There we talked more and I became the happiest woman in the world...
Later after the tournament was over and he was on the way to the showers he called me! He wanted me to know it was indeed his number and he hadn't programmed in someone else!
A few days later I called him to thank him for spending time talking to me and he surprised me by inviting me to dinner. I was kicking myself.. "why hadn't I talked to him sooner? why had I waited all these years?" Well, in any case a week later I was eating at a Russian restaurant with him living a dream!!! He's a fantastic guy and funny too!

At the end of April I attended a formal practice session called Yokozuna Soken which was held at the Sumo Stadium and all Rikishi (wrestlers) from every division and every stable came there. It was a great event but it was too early in the morning. As many of you all know I'm a vampire and my two hobbies are Rally and Sumo both of which are early morning things. Not good hobbies for vampires!
The Soken started from 7am, I got there a bit later than I wanted but a lot later than I should so my seat was not ideal. I still enjoyed immensely even though I was exhausted! My friend showed up a bit later and it was good she could help keep me awake.

The Soken was over before noon so I had brought cookies, chocolates and some other treats to bring to all the sweeties I had met on the jungyo tour and some beer for Tochinoshin's Oyakata. His favorite beer is American Budweiser so last time I saw him he told me that.. it was a bit of a hint I guessed. I surprised him with two cases on that day! And I brought some sweets for my sweeties at Kasugano beya as well!

My friend Hiromi and my new friend (that I met that day) Chris went off on our own Sumo Stable Tour of the day. Ringing the bell here and there and spending time talking to most of the guys I had things for. Three guys were gone at the times we stopped by so we just left the treats but most were there and spent some time talking with us. It was a fantastic day! I took Hakurozan driving in my car as well and he signed it. The first Rikishi autograph among the Rally drivers! We spent all day hanging out in Ryogoku (where most of the stables are) and then we took Kihaku out to dinner at the American military hotel in Tokyo. It is a very nice place and a bit of America in the heart of Tokyo! Kihaku wants to go to one of the bases but at least I could get him a little closer to America that night!

It was a fantastic day, fantastic night! I drove Kihaku and Chris home and then Hiromi (who lives out here near me) and I drove back the long drive to Saitama outside of Tokyo. Hiromi slept.. how jealous I was!! It wasn't bad and I was on a high from such a great day!

Chris became one of my best friends that day! He's really wonderful and a professional Sumo writer who has just moved to Tokyo from England. Seems working in Tokyo teaching English and writing part time is probably better for someone who loves Sumo so much than living in England and traveling to Tokyo 4-6 times or more a year for Sumo and staying in a hotel, etc. I'm very lucky to have met Chris and have spent so much time with him since the Soken day. I feel like I've known him forever! My friends Hiromi, Kazuko & Tomomi have spent days with him and we all just love him! *Chris we want you to know you are special and we really do love you!! And thanks for putting up with all our crazy talk during Sumo days!!!*

A few days after Soken started the Japanese long weekend of Golden Week Holidays. During that time Chris and I went to watch the morning practice at Kihaku's stable and then Kitazakura's stable. Those early mornings can kill you but it was really worth it. We again spent time with some of the guys around those two stables (located on the same street just one minute walk of each other and Hakurozan is at one and his older brother Roho is at the other so they are really like one stable separated! They do a lot together).

Since it was the holiday there was also a festival going on at the Kokugikan (the sumo stadium) nearby. On the first morning of the practice we went to we saw Kitazakura. I had left him some sweets at his stable on the Soken day. He saw me come in to the practice area and motioned to me and mouthed a thank you! It made my entire morning! He remembered me and that was all that counted!!!! He left early out the back door to go back to his own stable for some alone training so we didn't talk to him then. Later after practice was over we went over to his stable to talk to some of the guys and he was in the shower at that time. I was busy talking to Hakurozan (actually teaching him some English) up on the 3rd floor and Chris was downstairs on the 1st floor. When I came downstairs he said "I talked to Kitazakura.." I was gutted. He had gone home (he doesn't live there since he's married and has a family) and I hadn't talked to him. The good news was that he invited us to come see his beadwork booth at the festival! He is a Sumo wrestler who makes tiny beadwork jewelry and accessories. They are gorgeous too! So we went and had some lunch then went to see him at 1pm at the time he said he'd be there. There were a million people, we were way at the back trying to see. Suddenly he looked up and he said to his wife "that's Viki who gave me the sweets!" and she came around the front of the booth and took us to the back to watch from behind!!! We talked to her a bit then she asked if we could wait to meet their daughter. She studies English and would like to meet us. So we hung around for a couple hours and his daughter came later and then we all went to dinner!!! Yes, Kitazakura took me and Chris to dinner with his family. That was the single most exciting time of my entire life I believe! At one point we were eating (Shabu Shabu where you cook the meat and vegetables in a big boiling pot at the table) and I realized that I was sitting next to Kitazakura and he was cooking and he was serving me.. I was so overwhelmed that I started crying. Everyone worried if I was ok. I tried to explain I was just too happy!!!
We had the best time of our lives and both Chris and I decided that if we died that day we'd die happy! If we never met another Rikishi we'd die happy! Life was complete! I forgot to mention that on the drive to dinner Kitazakura rode in MY car with me and I talked his ear off. Chris rode with his wife in their car with their daughter. He even signed my dashboard in Gold! It is fantastic and I almost cry every time I see it!

After the dinner I took Chris to the station and I went to my hotel. Life couldn't get better.. we promised Kitazakura to come to the morning practice the next day. We both overslept but somehow we made it! It was a wonderful practice session and afterwards we spent a long time talking to Kitazakura and his tsukebito (helpers) who are younger ranked guys in his stable. I got a wonderful Tegata (signed hand print) from Kitazakura before leaving and he gave me one for Kazuko as she was sick that week and couldn't come!

Finally we left, had some lunch and drove around a bit more and I got on my way home back to Saitama. An exhausting couple of days!!! Exhausting and wonderful!!!

Then just a week later the May Summer tournament started in Tokyo and we'd be busy with Sumo again. It ended today May 25th and I really can use the rest!!! I attended at the Kokugikan with Chris and other friends three times this tournament. It was fantastic and since we had spent so much time at some of the stables during the Soken and the Golden Week we met many young guys we wanted to see. So we had to get to the stadium to watch before 9am.
The way it goes is the lowest ranked guys start at about 8:30am. The upper ranks of Juryo start about 2:30pm and the upper division Makuuchi starts from 4pm. Many people do not show up till 4pm, others show up at 2:30 or 3pm but almost nobody is there from the early morning. It is very exciting though and seeing young sumo is almost more exciting than the upper division later! How exciting it was to cheer our favorite 16 year old guy Aiyama who is from Kitazakura's stable. During the basho I also got to meet another wrestler from Brazil who I wanted to meet in January. His name is Kaisei, he's in the Makushita division with awhile to go till he moves up to Juryo. I saw him twice during the January tournament but I was nervous to talk to him. I also saw him on the first day of the May tournament but I could only say "Congratulations" before I got too nervous (the Baruto/Petter situation all over again!) Kaisei is cute and exciting and I just couldn't figure out what to say to him. The following weekend I ran into him purely by accident. Chris actually asked him if he'd take pictures with us. He was so patient holding kids and taking pictures with fans. You know how kids can be and you may need three or four shots before they look at the camera but he was very kind and patient and I really respected him for being cheerful and easy going about it with the other people. Then he took pics with us. So that night after it was all over I decided to go with Kazuko and drop off some cookies (had brought more treats for bringing around to whoever we would run into that weekend) and we went to his stable. When we got there a young rikishi came out and took the cookies, asked my name and said that Kaisei was busy eating. I was fine with that just happy to drop them off. Explained that I had met him earlier in the day... and we walked over to my car. We were checking this sumo book to see what the young boys name was to take note.. when I looked in my rear view mirror and Kaisei was there.. he had run out to see if we were still there! I really respected him even more then. He didn't have to do that, I didn't expect it. I got so nervous that I almost broke my ankle getting my shoes back on and getting out of the car. I was so nervous then that I couldn't talk. The young boy went back inside and Kaisei stayed outside talking to us for might have been an hour or more. At one point another boy came out and asked him "what should we do with your dinner..?" Kazuko was freaked out then, she said "Oh you were eating..? we should go!" but he didn't let us, we actually stayed and talked some more. He told the other boy he'd eat it later! Kaisei... our new young hero!!! We decided to support him like we do Kitazakura forever after that night!
We took some pictures with him and left and Chris called while we were there (he was out with someone else and meeting up with us to see Kihaku later) and I told Kaisei about Chris. Mentioned he would want to do an interview with him. He was interested to hear that. So... the next day on Sunday unfortunately Kaisei wouldn't go to the Kokugikan, he had no matches. (the lower divisions only have matches half the days) So I boldy brought Chris by to meet him after it was over. (great excuse to see him again..) and I had talked about him all day to Tomomi who went with me Sunday and she wanted to meet him too! First thing she told him if I remember was something about hearing his name from 9am to 6pm so she had to meet him!
All in all we were there again about an hour I guess. Also got to know two younger guys, one Rikishi: Kainofuji who is from Saitama! He's really a cutie also 16 years old! We also met Yusuke, one of the Yobidashi (announcers/ushers) who is also a real cutie. He just turned 19 last Tuesday! Everyone was nice and we had a great time. We went a bit later and confirmed dinner was over this time before keeping him! Finally took more pictures.. then ran over to Kihaku's stable to introduce Tomomi (she hadn't met him yet) stayed only 5 minutes and then Chris, Tomomi & I went to eat dinner. We were exhausted, could barely stay awake.

It had been a wonderful weekend!!! I stayed in the Ryogoku Pearl Hotel which is across the street from the Kokugikan. As in one minute across the street due to having to wait for crosswalk signal! It was small but it was nice and clean. Many Mongolian fans stayed there and talked to me.

I also saw my sweetie Ama four times in that weekend. Twice when he arrived and twice when he left. He now knows my name and even thanked me using my name. I always see him every time I go to a tournament. It is a kind of fate. Coming in and going I always run into him. I've figured out which door he uses to leave and what time exactly after the tournament is over so in fact the end of day is planned by me..
Well on the Soken day I dropped off some Birthday goodies for him. I had given him a card at the jungyo tour and told him I'd bring some sweets by his stable. On the first day I went to the May tournament when he came out the end of the day I asked him if he got the sweets. Then he put me and the sweets together and said "Oh those were from you! Thank you, they were delicious!" We even took some pictures finally (I have never asked him to take a picture, just get my book autographed or shake his hand!). He was so happy that day. The following Saturday I dropped off a few more treats for him and so on Sunday when he came into the stadium he gave me a nice nod (always in a hurry on the way in, no time to chat..) but on the way out he took another picture and thanked me for the sweets and the letter and pictures I gave him.
Kazuko and I really love Ama!!!
*Ama, if you read this, Kazuko and I really love you!... never mind you already know we love you!!!! I wrote it in that letter, twice, didn't I?*

Monday I went back to work... and enjoyed Sumo on TV or through emails from my friends as I am usually working during the matches. Today was the last day, I didn't go this weekend. Money all gone... and too much work to do! From tomorrow there is no Sumo.... what a shame..

I have to go to bed.. it is after 1:20am and I need to get a bit more work done before I can sleep!
I will post pictures of the tournament of these guys I mentioned so you can see who they are tomorrow night and/or Tuesday night after work!

Good night from Japan.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Love,
Viki