When the Yokozuna Akinori ASASHORYU raised his fists in triumph on the sumo ring where his victory had been decided, he commented 'I have long had the honor of seeing sumo, but I have never seen such a Yokozuna.'
2009年初場所で横綱朝青龍明徳が優勝の決まった土俵上で見せたガッツポーズについて、「長く相撲を拝見しているが、こんな横綱はいなかった」と発言。