S&S REPORTER GARCIA HAS HIS HANDS FULL. Asashio Doesn't Seem Concerned About the Opposition.	OUCH! OIKAWA CRASHES TO THE SAND IN WORKOUT AGAINST THE GRAND CHAMPION. Asashio Is Clearly the Master at Pre-Tournament Training Camp.

    TOKYO - The Tokyo Meteorological Office has been passing out some faulty information for years.
    These earth tremors you might feel on occasion during the mid-morning hours are NOT seismic in nature. Their true origin was uncovered by a Stars and Stripes crew the other morning.
    We visited the birthplace of many temblors. It's called the Takasago Sumo Camp in Tokyo and a gargantuan grand champion by the name of Asashio is the epicenter of many of the disturbances that rock the city of Tokyo.
    Arriving at the camp was no problem, even without a map. Our driver merely followed the quaking streets toward the center of the disturbance and there we found the Hairy One methodically tossing his journeyman camp-mates around the rink like a farmer sowing seed.
    We sat enthralled at the ridiculous ease and grace of movement of this mighty man as he took on no less than 12 novices.
    Most of them he disposed of in less than five seconds. One enterprising lad managed to stay on his feet and in the ring for 18 seconds before the genial giant sent him flying like a Nike missile.
    After a brief rest and a quick gulp of water, Asashio then took on two of his higher-ranking camp mates, Atagoyama and Oikawa. He worked with the former for about five or six bouts, rested for a minute or two and then faced Oikawa, who ranks as Maegashira.
    Certain of the novices assume the duties of a sort of trainer, showering the Grand Champion with attention between each bout. They groom him with towels, much the same as Ben Jones would rub down "Whirlaway" in the Calumet stable, and with just as much care and respect.
    Oikawa gave a good account of himself, making only one tactical blunder - he shoved the Yokozuna out of the ring with a pretty violent shove.
    Asashio lay on the ground for about five seconds, apparently lost in contemplation.
    Then he slowly and laboriously lumbered to his feet and with a peculiar tight-lipped smile said something in Japanese, sort of sotto voice. Our translator gave it to us as: "You shouldn't have dared to do that. Come on, now I'll teach you a few lessons about real sumo."
    An air of tension filled the practice room, giving us a sort of "High Noon" feeling. Then the slaughter started.
    For the ensuing seven and a half minutes, Asashio alternately slapped, cuffed, bludgeoned, buffeted, twisted, tossed, hammered and slammed his staggering and panting opponent all over the room, inside and outside the ring.
    Each time Oikawa would collapse in a suffering heap on the floor of the ring, the Hairy One would prod him to his feet or lift him bodily and start in again. And being tossed out of the ring offered no respite for the Maegashira, either.
    The moment he came flying out, his camp mates standing around the ring would give him no asylum, shoving him back to the slaughter. At one point Asashio shoved him with such tremendous force that he flew headlong into a wall, shattering the one-inch boards.
    It was a little hard for an uninitiated observer to tell for sure whether Asashio was actually annoyed or just being playful in a violent way.
    But one thing was certain, Oikawa learned quite a few ways to fall. Apparently there was no anger behind Asashio's assault, because when he finally decided the workout was over, Oikawa staggered over to the water bucket and offered a dipperful to Asashio. Sort of a peace pipe, we assumed.
    Then the kodiak bear that walks like a man came over to talk to us. Immediately we were amazed at the complete change in the man out of the ring. Quiet, gentle and soft-spoken, are three words that pretty well-describe the 30-year-old Yokozuna.
    Asashio started in sumo at the age of 19. His uncle was a former champion who recognized a good prospect when he saw one. When he learned of the young giant in Kagoshima, he lost no time in having Asashio introduced into the sumo association.
    As an early example of his natural ability, Asashio was entered into a tournament immediately after joining the Takasago camp. Most novices train for quite a while before being entered in a tourney.
    Early in his career he developed a liking for the long-range hitting and pushing attack, in preference to the style preferred other sumoists like Wakanohana, who grab the belt and use arm and leg leverage for their throws.
    Asashio's career has been somewhat plagued by injuries. For many years he has suffered from spinal trouble and only recently has had trouble with one of his hips. However, he says he's in pretty good shape right now for the Tokyo tournament opening on the 10th. His only concern is the fact that he hasn't been able to get in as much training as he feels he should have.
    We asked him about American-style pro wrestling and whether he had ever considered going into it a la Rikidozan. His answer was most emphatic. He is completely tied up with sumo and intends to stay active as long as he can continue to make a good showing at the tournaments. The lure of fabulous pro-wrestling offers leave him cold.
    Anyone who has watched Asashio in action on television must have been impressed with the utter composure and lack of emotion on his face just before coming to grips with a major opponent. We asked him if he really felt that way inside.
    "The feeling you have in the ring just before a match is very difficult to explain, the Grand Champion said. "When you first start out in sumo of course you feel very nervous before a match. But after some experience the nervousness disappears and you feel nothing but confidence. Each match you fully expect to win and the thought of losing never enters your mind. So why shouldn't you look composed?"
    As we thanked the Yokozuna and wished him continued success, we made a tactical blunder that was almost as bad as Oikawa's. We held out our hand in American fashion.
    Ever try to write a story with your left hand?