Celebrity File Japan by Lint


		重要語句
■ The announcement on January 20, 2003 that yokozuna Takanohana was retiring sent ripples and disappointment through the sport of sumo wrestling. The winner of 22 sumo tournaments said he had no regrets and was thankful to have had such a "wonderful career."		ripple 波紋 regret 後悔
■■ The 30-year-old retires at a young age, but doing things early in life was how Takanohana defined his career. In fact, the term "youngest wrestler" is almost synonymous with the name Takanohana. At 16, Takanohana was the youngest wrestler to win the makushita title, the youngest to reach the makuuchi division, the youngest to defeat a yokuzuna, and at 19 years of age at the New Year tournament in 1992, the youngest to win the Emperor's Cup.		define …を明示する synonymous with ... …と同義の
■■■ In the mid-1990s, Takanohana was the dominant force in sumo. He won four of the six tournaments in 1995, four straight in 1996, and three in 1997. But it was during this incredible stretch that Takanohana began to suffer the injuries that ultimately led to his early retirement. Although a back injury forced him to compete in sometimes excruciating pain, he won two more tournaments in 1998. He suffered other injuries and in May of 2001, with torn ligaments in his right knee, threw down the mighty Musashimaru to win his 22nd and final championship. When he retired, he was fourth on the all-time championships list.		dominant 群を抜いて高い stretch 期間 ultimately 結局 excruciating 激しい苦痛を与える ligament じん帯 mighty ひじょうに大きな all-time 空前の
■■■■ Takanohana was born into a sumo family. His uncle was one of the great yokozunas and his father, Futagoyama, is a former ozeki and now a stable master. Takanohana and his elder brother Wakanohana (also a former yokozuna) created the great "Waka-Taka" excitement in sumo in the 1990s. Their popularity reversed declining interest in sumo.		former 元の stable master 親方 reverse …を完全に変える declining 下降する
■■■■■ Outside the ring, Takanohana's family resembles a television soap opera. In 1992 Takanohana broke off a two-month engagement to actress Rie Miyazawa. In 1998 his brother, Wakanohana, publicly criticized him for being "brainwashed" by a chiropractor and in 2000 it was revealed that his mother, ex-actress Noriko Hanada, had had an affair. His parents later divorced.		resemble …に似ている soap opera 連続メロドラマ break off ... …を解消する brainwash …を洗脳する chiropractor 整体師
■■■■■■ Now, sumo wrestling finds itself in serious need of a superstar in order to attract the number of fans Takanohana and his brother once commanded. Takanohana was the last Japanese yokozuna and the sport faces an uncertain future without him.		find oneself 自分が…だと分かる in need of ...　…を必要として command …〈関心〉を引き付ける

－written by Brock Spore

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