Chiyonofuji

Adversity and Greatness

2026-07-26 70th ZI Birthday
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2026-07-26 70th ZI Birthday

"The Wolf"

A tribute to a great warrior and legendary hero

 

Who accomplished a great feat in a world of giants. Despite his short stature (179 cm) and light weight (120 kg), he reached the highest level, "Yokozuna," winning 31 tournaments. He achieved 53 consecutive wins in 1988 and 1045 victories in ten years, from 1981 to 1991. He retired due to injuries, but not before fighting until the very end. He retired in May 1991. January 1981: First Title, The Birth of a New Hero.

In my professional life, the date coincides. When I arrived at Kodak, I was studying electronic engineering. I was hired as a service technician. I entered a world of engineers with years of experience in Mexico and the United States. My weapon was my knowledge. I brought the new technologies of the time (digital circuits, microprocessors, high-level programming languages ​​up to machine languages). Another advantage was that I spoke, wrote, and understood English. I devoured the service manuals, quickly becoming the supervisor of the Electronics Area. I went to Rochester for courses on the equipment I serviced, and later to Field Engineering courses (all the equipment related to the Kodak film process). I became part of the company's training center as an instructor. The engineers in Rochester respected me for my knowledge; they were still working with analog electronics.

Over Power

Dynamic Style

Due to injuries, he retired to strengthen himself physically, mentally, and spiritually, turning his weaknesses into strengths and developing "muscles of steel," enabling him to overcome formidable opponents.

I also identify with Yokosuna. In my athletic life, I loved basketball. Despite my short stature (168 cm), I excelled in the world of "heights." I used 2 kg weights on each foot to jump higher and win the ball, even slamming it into the opposing basket.

We won championships for 10 consecutive years; no one could stop us. But in a final, I was pushed while fighting for a ball, fell, and broke my ankle and foot. I recovered, but I was never able to reach that level again.

Once at Kodak, I was able to recover physically, mentally, and spiritually (my son Rashy had already been born). We formed a winning team in the Mexico City industrial league.

Indomitable Spirit

Invincible Warrior

To earn my degree in Computer Systems Engineering, I needed to be full-time. I requested a 12-week leave of absence from Kodak, which was denied, and I had to resign. During the development of my final project, I learned even more, so when I graduated, I received job offers not only in Mexico but also abroad. I took advantage of this to travel as a consultant in France, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Mexico, and around the world. Currently, I thank the people who put obstacles in my way because, thanks to them, I met my beautiful wife, Debbie, who also has a Warrior Spirit. She's a XINGONA!

Live Is Life

2026-07-26 70th ZI Birthday Live Is Life
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2026-07-26 70th ZI Birthday Live Is Life

Life is Life

Giving our best

 

Celebrating Zapata Ironman's (Piloncillo) Anniversary with his inseparable wife, "La Werita Xingona," with great joy and enthusiasm.

This year, the High-Performance Cycling Center and the Flight Simulator were built, Teamwork.
We've both had experiences on the other side of the world, so we know how to appreciate every moment of our existence.
We complement each other in life, learning every day, experiencing with new projects, opening our minds to new cultures (especially those of the East), knowledge (Sumo, gardening, construction, engineering), music through our "Daily Serenades," preserving our identity as human beings, and respecting our world (including people, 100% roof rainwater harvesting system, recycled construction materials), which is deteriorating every day due to humanity.

Werita Xingona

Mi amor ~~

Birthdays are more than just cake and happy songs.

Birthdays are about celebrating life from year one to year seventy and beyond.

I did not know you in your computer whiz kid stage, and you did not know me in my star cowgirl era.

We have joked about how we probably would not have even noticed each other back in those days.

But the Universe had its plan, and we were smart enough to make our connection at the right moment, according to Plan A.

We have shared quite a few birthdays since those first shy days when we were sitting in the jacuzzi and I told you I had just turned 50. You shook my hand and said "Congratulations!"

I can't shake your hand on this 70th birthday of yours, but I can say "Congratulations!"

We do not live a normal life by some people's standards, but there is no true 'normal' life, there is just life.

I am very happy sharing life with you: birthdays, sumo days, travel video days, whining days, tired days, happy days, reading days, loving days and every other type of day we could possibly experience.

You have made them all wonderful.

Thank you for being you.

I love you!!

Besos besos!!

Happy Birthday!!

La Werita at 1206 a.m. on July 26, 2026

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Hi mi amor ~~

Happy Birthday again!!

I hope you were able to start Your Day the way you had wanted to! And however you were able to start the day, I hope it was peaceful and joyous.

I broke my Day Fifteen rule of not looking at YouTube when I clicked to listen to the song you sent. Of course there was a thumbnail on the side that I saw very briefly and I think I know who won the Cup. I wish I had been a little more awake, I would have known more what I was doing. ;-))

But when I realized after that split second, I closed the link immediately without listening to the song. I'm sorry. I will listen properly after NHK confirms or denies the image that I saw.

My own Plan A for the day did not happen. After I finished my sumo notebook last night (I tracked all the way to the end of Juryo level, and left them with a tie between at least three men with 11-4 records) I wrote your birthday message and then tried to do my yoga routine because all the writing for sumo had caught up with my neck yesterday and I had been having trouble.

I couldn't do the routine as properly as I used to be able to, I still cannot put much pressure on the wrist for the hands and knees moves, but I managed enough to help the neck and then with a few pillow adjustments during the night I at least don't feel like half of my face is frozen this morning. Progress !! jejeje

I didn't wake up until 745 so now I will have tomorrow morning and Tuesday morning to do my detail work out there, and I will probably have to just skip the other stuff I wanted to do. Life is life. jejeje

I put away my dishes, came in here, and will be playing cards until sumo hour.

And chatting with you, of course. I'll go answer your birthday email there, I wanted to do the daily report first.

I love you!!

Happy birthday again again!!

Besos besos!!

La Werita at 822am

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Hi mi amor ~~

Oh, I can listen to the song on the video!

I wish I had seen this email before I saw the one with the YouTube link. jejeje

It's a beautiful song, great choice!

I love you!!

Besos besos!!

La Werita at 826am
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Beautiful pictures. What a great choice for a birthday walk!

Thank you for the quesadilla de tinga. It looks yummy.

I'm a little lost on who the vendor is, though. Help?

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Not the one where the owner later tired to open a place up on the top of the hill by the store but never had good luck there? That one? I remember going in there a lot, but i'm afraid I don't remember the guy very clearly.
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I must have the wrong restaurant in my head, then. I think I am a little too far up the street. I'll dig around and see if I can bring up the right place. jejeje

I went out about 9 to trim the two firethorns by the computer room window. I was restless and needed to move and those are always in the shade in the mornings so it seemed like a good thing to do. One detail off the work list!

I am about to pop waiting for sumo to start. I keep checking to see if they will be early today but they are being cruel and sticking to their schedule.
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Oh, Chiles en nogada for a birthday dinner! Great idea!!
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I'll try to adjust my GPS and see what comes out. thanks!

I heard weird noises outside and went to look. Turned out there were crows in the pine trees across the street in the school and the mockingbirds were all hanging up on them to get them to leave. They finally did, and there were four crows and about a dozen smaller birds. Cool!
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NHK
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2061900/

I won't show clips of the lower levels until after we see NHK. I don't want to see the new
champion's picture on the home page until after I see him win his match.

But I can tell you that Tamawashi won his final day's bout, so he finishes with a 9-6 record. Yay!!

And there was to be at least a three-way playoff for Juryo Champion. Asasuiryu, Toshinofuji, and
Arashifuji all ended with 11-4 records. I won't know the results of this playoff or the Maukushita one
until after NHK is done and I can go to JSA and see the champion's list. I 'watched' until all my boys
were done.

I will also send the Support Group after we see NHK......I don't want to go to YouTube at all until I've
seen the highlights.

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Eternal Lovers

Werita
Good morning, Debbie.
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes.

I am grateful that you believed in me during the most critical moments of my life. I will forever live as your most humble lover.

From those magical moments of our first meeting until now, we have experienced moments of joy, tough times—truly tough times—of pain, of separation, but none of it has been enough to break the love that unites us. Every day it grows stronger, more and more like a love story with an eternal happy ending.

I love you so much, "Werita Xingona"
Sincerely, "Piloncillo"

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Werita
Congratulations on updating Sumo's notebook.
I'm so sorry about your wrist and neck; I'm sending healing energy immediately.
I went to "La Pena" and took some videos of the spots where I used to take your pictures; they'll be ready this afternoon.
On my way back, I passed by the church and there was a quesadilla stand. I bought one mushroom and one tinga (your favorite). It turns out the owner is the man who used to run the restaurant (across from the high school) where we used to eat, and also the young man who helps him at the "boss's" son's chicken shop.
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Werita
Esta de acorde a nuestros momentos dificiles, Debbie
Solo queda decir
"Y lanza tus penas al viento
El viento las borrará"

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Werita
Do you remember when we used to eat at a restaurant across from the Secundaria (where the "El Lobo 2" tacos are later located), where the waiter was very attentive, and the man who prepared the food remembers you very well.

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Werita
It's not him, it might be hard to remember, it's been 16 years. I recognized him but I didn't know where I had seen him, until he asked about you, and mentioned the restaurant. We didn't talk much, because he was in the kitchen.
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Werita
After the Sumo, I want to see if I can find our friend from the "Tlaxcales" - Chiles en Nogada
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Aqui estuvo el restaurant, ahora es la taqueria El Lobo 1, junto a Pollos Guerrero
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Alguien Tiene que vigilar.... jejeje
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Te veo Pronto
Te envia saludos Anis, ella tambien cumple anos hoy
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70th Day Tripper

70th Day Tripper
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70th Day Tripper

 

70th Day Tripper

Celebrating like Zapata Ironman Titanium Version, I climbed to "La Peña," where La Werita Xingona used to go on one of her favorite outings, and we enjoyed the scenery and views of the snow-capped volcanoes.

This is a tribute to those wonderful and happy moments.

2026-07-26 ZI TITANIO

Zapata Ironman
Titanium Series
70+

Titanium Is A Very Hard Metal And Difficult To Break
A New Era Of Challenges In Sports Begins

  1. Cast Your Fate To The Wind Roger Williams 3:03
  2. Lanza Tus Penas al Viento Hermanos Carrión 2:26
  3. Day Tripper Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 3:13
  4. Contigo Germán Valdés "Tin Tan" 2:59