rank-and-file wrestlers
大相撲夏場所千秋楽が２０日両国国技館で行われ、西前頭７枚目の旭天鵬が史上初となる平幕同士対決を制して、栃煌山をはたき込みで破り、初優勝を果たしました。３７歳にして初の優勝はお見事でした。
「平幕力士」を英語ではrank-and-file wresterと表現します。この表現は軍隊の隊列（formation）に由来し、rankは横並びを、fileは縦に並ぶことを指します。そこから「兵士たちの集団」のことをこのように呼ぶようになったと言われます。さらにはこの表現、一般にも転移し、「平社員たち、 一般の組合員」、さらには「 庶民、一般大衆」などの意味でも使われるようになりました。
賜杯受けた後のインタビューで、「信じられない。（賜杯は）重かった。ここまできたら、やるしかないと思った。頭が真っ白になった。いろんな人に支えて頂きながら、２０年間相撲をやってきて本当によかったと、つくづく思った」と語っていました。「人々に支えて頂きながら」というくだりは心にしみるものがありました。（UG）
SUMO/ Kyokutenho makes history with first championship at 37
May 20, 2012
It took him 20 years, but Mongolia's No. 7 maegashira Kyokutenho finally won his first tournament with a victory on May 20 over No. 4 maegashira Tochiozan in the finale of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
At 37 years and eight months, Kyokutenho is the oldest wrestler to claim his first championship title.
Kyokutenho burst into tears almost as soon as he was out of the ring after winning the sport's first-ever tie-breaker between two rank-and-file wrestlers. He and Tochiozan went into the match with 12-3 records. Ozeki Kisenosato crashed out of the race when he lost his regulation bout.
The win is the 50th championship for a Mongolian-born wrestler. Kyokutenho has Japanese citizenship, but was born in Mongolia. The last time a Japanese-born wrestler won was six years ago.
"I can't believe it,'' Kyokutenho said. "I drank some sake before going to bed last night, but it didn't hurt my performance any, so I am happy. Since I made it this far I didn't want to let people down.''
