( o Y o )
3rd September 2006, 12:41 PM
Real quick translation...from Sportsnavi
http://ca1n.c.yimg.jp/sports/sn2006090109452200044391m/sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/pict/200609/im00044391.jpg
Have either of you fought, or had any sort of relationship before this joint interview?
S: No, we have only ever really spoken anything more than greetings.
H: Thatfs right.
So just saying hello at the press conferences etc?
S: Yeah, and one other time, After a RISE event and at a post fight event we met..
So, this is your first time together so tell me, is there any gap in what your first impression previously was of each other, or since speaking with one another?
S: I have always heard HAYATO is a good person (laughs)
H: (Laughs)
S: (still laughing) I always hear gThat Hayato is a really nice guyh and today I got to speak with him and thought so too (laughs)
What about you Hayato?
H: The few times I met him at events I thought he was a cool guy, and now I think that was correct. He is easy to talk too and a good guy (both laugh).
It is a kinda hard question to answer in front of one another, but what is your impression of each others kickboxing?
S: The first time I saw hayato was in a magazine, g4-0, The next Masatoh was written down so I thought he sounds like a great fighter. On a IKUSA video I saw his fight and thought he was a well balanced kick boxer. Also, in the February JAPAN GP I thought his punches suddenly had become much stronger.
H: I think the first fight I saw of Satofs was against Chalumsak (2002, April) I believe, and it was a real battle I thought.
Sato has experience as a headliner overseas, and Hayato had some fights in Thailandc..so even though you didn`t communicate during those times did you get motivation from the other Japanese fighters overseas trying their hardest?
S: When I was overseas I was concentrating on only myself so I didn`t have a chance to see any other fighters. But I always kept in mind the other Japanese fighters fighting at the same weight. So I always knew who was doing well, who won and who lost etc. Not only with Hayato, but it was natural I knew about all those my weightc..I don`t know when I might have to fight them. Who Hayato fought and the results of these fights I always heard.
How did you watch Satofs fights overseas?
H: I couldn`t see his fights on TV, but read about them in magazines. (To Sato) There was not one to oppose you in Japan right?
S: Thatfs truec..
H: I really admire him going overseas just to find guys to fight.
(Sato quote) gI`m not trying to stand out. If I am the strongest, that is enoughh
Now you are both fighting in the same MAX ring and obviously don`t want to lose to each other. Also Shishido Hiroki will be fighting at the next event, and youfll both want to make an impression. At the September 4th MAX, what sort of thing about you do you want to really stand out?
S: I don`t want to stand out the most at all. I think if I am the strongest its enough.
H: Yeah, Met toocI am not thinking about standing out. My priority is to win.
I want to ask this to Hayato, last time at the World GP Buakaw threw punches and fought like never before. What did you think of that event?
H: He is a really high level. Since the start of MAX the 70kg divisions level has really improved. All the strongest fighters are there. I think it is the worldfs number one stage.
What did you think of the fight between Buakaw and Sato?
S: I guess it will be a bit hard for him to answer in front of me (laughs)
H: (smiles) I thought Buakaw was a brilliant fighter.
Sato, sorry for that question.
S: (laughing) No problems. It`s OK.
I thought it being you, youfd not let it annoy you. I`ve been reading your blog and it seems that way.
S: Hahahac.slick escapecc
I guess the loss to Buakaw really shocked you. While you were in hospital and since then when you have some off time, how have you refreshed your mind?
S: Right now, I enjoy watching goldfish.
Ha? Goldfish? Since when have you been doing that?
S: Since about 5 years ago. While my cat is on my lap, I enjoy relaxing watching my goldfish.
So does that mean they have lived for 5 years?
S: Yeah. In fact, they should not live that long though. They are a really weak bread, but they lived 5 years. 1 of them died this year though, so I replaced it with a different breed.
But if they lived five years, how big are the surviving ones? About 30cm?
S: They have become huge, but about 20cm. The breed don`t get very big.
Hayato, do you have something like Satofs goldfish to help you relax?
H: HmmmmccI don`t have anything particular.
Hayatofs manager: Sato and Hayato are opposite characters. One likes indoors, the other ourdoors. Hayato is the type to suddenly go out.
So that means you are not really ever at home?
H: Thatfs right. I go out shopping and stuff. If I stay home I end up getting tired.
This is a bit rude, but I can tell the difference of you guys by your skin colour.
S: Even if I go to a tanning saloon I am always like this. I have been to the beach twice this year, so I should be pretty tanned. If I hadn`t been anywhere I would REALLY be white. I don`t mind though (laughs).
Sato is from Nagoya, Hayato is from Tokyo, so I guess you wonft have many chances to meet again. Sato, do you have anywhere youfd like Hayato to take you?
S: Yeah, I want to go to somewhere in Shibuya with lots of cute girls for a party.
H: Hahahahah
Hayato, I guess you are popular with the ladies, do you know any girls for Sato?
H: Hahahac.maybe once we have retired from fighting.
I guess if you both find a girl you likec.and it is the same one, there will be trouble.
S: I would be a violent fightc.me with knees and elbows.
H: Hahahahac..
So, after you retire you will go to Shibuya together. Back to the topicc.in prep for this MAX did you change anything about your training?
S:Kick and Max is totally different so my manager was thinking about what the quickest way to win was. I`ve kept winning so far, but in my last fight I realized this style wont work against the number 1. So, I am practicing throwing more hard strikes. I don`t think it will show so quickly, but from here, little by little it will. Also this time I plan to fight very calmly. I`ll continue my own style.
H: Me tooc.instead of usual combinations, I have practiced making each shot count. Throwing lots of punches and not knocking him down is meaningless. I want punches that will work.
For the final question, heading into your fight, how do you look at it?
S: I just recently lost, and cannot continue this. I want to win. I think at some stage I will face Hayato and I don`t want to hold backcbut use everything I have.
H: Winning is my bottom line. I want to win in a good fight. For Japanese it is tough to win the GP. We will both win and make things exciting (and in a tiny voice) after 30 lets have that party.
S: hahahcdid you hear that?
Sorry, I couldn`t hear.
S: He said after we are thirty we will have the party. Hehehe
Seems like Hayato is the one who really wants to go.
H: Hahahaha
S: Hahahahaha
http://ca1n.c.yimg.jp/sports/sn2006090109452500044392m/sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/pict/200609/im00044392.jpg
http://ca1n.c.yimg.jp/sports/sn2006090109452800044393m/sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/pict/200609/im00044393.jpg
http://ca1n.c.yimg.jp/sports/sn2006090109453300044395m/sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/pict/200609/im00044395.jpg
http://ca1n.c.yimg.jp/sports/sn2006090109453100044394m/sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/pict/200609/im00044394.jpg
http://ca1n.c.yimg.jp/sports/sn2006090109452200044391m/sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/pict/200609/im00044391.jpg
Have either of you fought, or had any sort of relationship before this joint interview?
S: No, we have only ever really spoken anything more than greetings.
H: Thatfs right.
So just saying hello at the press conferences etc?
S: Yeah, and one other time, After a RISE event and at a post fight event we met..
So, this is your first time together so tell me, is there any gap in what your first impression previously was of each other, or since speaking with one another?
S: I have always heard HAYATO is a good person (laughs)
H: (Laughs)
S: (still laughing) I always hear gThat Hayato is a really nice guyh and today I got to speak with him and thought so too (laughs)
What about you Hayato?
H: The few times I met him at events I thought he was a cool guy, and now I think that was correct. He is easy to talk too and a good guy (both laugh).
It is a kinda hard question to answer in front of one another, but what is your impression of each others kickboxing?
S: The first time I saw hayato was in a magazine, g4-0, The next Masatoh was written down so I thought he sounds like a great fighter. On a IKUSA video I saw his fight and thought he was a well balanced kick boxer. Also, in the February JAPAN GP I thought his punches suddenly had become much stronger.
H: I think the first fight I saw of Satofs was against Chalumsak (2002, April) I believe, and it was a real battle I thought.
Sato has experience as a headliner overseas, and Hayato had some fights in Thailandc..so even though you didn`t communicate during those times did you get motivation from the other Japanese fighters overseas trying their hardest?
S: When I was overseas I was concentrating on only myself so I didn`t have a chance to see any other fighters. But I always kept in mind the other Japanese fighters fighting at the same weight. So I always knew who was doing well, who won and who lost etc. Not only with Hayato, but it was natural I knew about all those my weightc..I don`t know when I might have to fight them. Who Hayato fought and the results of these fights I always heard.
How did you watch Satofs fights overseas?
H: I couldn`t see his fights on TV, but read about them in magazines. (To Sato) There was not one to oppose you in Japan right?
S: Thatfs truec..
H: I really admire him going overseas just to find guys to fight.
(Sato quote) gI`m not trying to stand out. If I am the strongest, that is enoughh
Now you are both fighting in the same MAX ring and obviously don`t want to lose to each other. Also Shishido Hiroki will be fighting at the next event, and youfll both want to make an impression. At the September 4th MAX, what sort of thing about you do you want to really stand out?
S: I don`t want to stand out the most at all. I think if I am the strongest its enough.
H: Yeah, Met toocI am not thinking about standing out. My priority is to win.
I want to ask this to Hayato, last time at the World GP Buakaw threw punches and fought like never before. What did you think of that event?
H: He is a really high level. Since the start of MAX the 70kg divisions level has really improved. All the strongest fighters are there. I think it is the worldfs number one stage.
What did you think of the fight between Buakaw and Sato?
S: I guess it will be a bit hard for him to answer in front of me (laughs)
H: (smiles) I thought Buakaw was a brilliant fighter.
Sato, sorry for that question.
S: (laughing) No problems. It`s OK.
I thought it being you, youfd not let it annoy you. I`ve been reading your blog and it seems that way.
S: Hahahac.slick escapecc
I guess the loss to Buakaw really shocked you. While you were in hospital and since then when you have some off time, how have you refreshed your mind?
S: Right now, I enjoy watching goldfish.
Ha? Goldfish? Since when have you been doing that?
S: Since about 5 years ago. While my cat is on my lap, I enjoy relaxing watching my goldfish.
So does that mean they have lived for 5 years?
S: Yeah. In fact, they should not live that long though. They are a really weak bread, but they lived 5 years. 1 of them died this year though, so I replaced it with a different breed.
But if they lived five years, how big are the surviving ones? About 30cm?
S: They have become huge, but about 20cm. The breed don`t get very big.
Hayato, do you have something like Satofs goldfish to help you relax?
H: HmmmmccI don`t have anything particular.
Hayatofs manager: Sato and Hayato are opposite characters. One likes indoors, the other ourdoors. Hayato is the type to suddenly go out.
So that means you are not really ever at home?
H: Thatfs right. I go out shopping and stuff. If I stay home I end up getting tired.
This is a bit rude, but I can tell the difference of you guys by your skin colour.
S: Even if I go to a tanning saloon I am always like this. I have been to the beach twice this year, so I should be pretty tanned. If I hadn`t been anywhere I would REALLY be white. I don`t mind though (laughs).
Sato is from Nagoya, Hayato is from Tokyo, so I guess you wonft have many chances to meet again. Sato, do you have anywhere youfd like Hayato to take you?
S: Yeah, I want to go to somewhere in Shibuya with lots of cute girls for a party.
H: Hahahahah
Hayato, I guess you are popular with the ladies, do you know any girls for Sato?
H: Hahahac.maybe once we have retired from fighting.
I guess if you both find a girl you likec.and it is the same one, there will be trouble.
S: I would be a violent fightc.me with knees and elbows.
H: Hahahahac..
So, after you retire you will go to Shibuya together. Back to the topicc.in prep for this MAX did you change anything about your training?
S:Kick and Max is totally different so my manager was thinking about what the quickest way to win was. I`ve kept winning so far, but in my last fight I realized this style wont work against the number 1. So, I am practicing throwing more hard strikes. I don`t think it will show so quickly, but from here, little by little it will. Also this time I plan to fight very calmly. I`ll continue my own style.
H: Me tooc.instead of usual combinations, I have practiced making each shot count. Throwing lots of punches and not knocking him down is meaningless. I want punches that will work.
For the final question, heading into your fight, how do you look at it?
S: I just recently lost, and cannot continue this. I want to win. I think at some stage I will face Hayato and I don`t want to hold backcbut use everything I have.
H: Winning is my bottom line. I want to win in a good fight. For Japanese it is tough to win the GP. We will both win and make things exciting (and in a tiny voice) after 30 lets have that party.
S: hahahcdid you hear that?
Sorry, I couldn`t hear.
S: He said after we are thirty we will have the party. Hehehe
Seems like Hayato is the one who really wants to go.
H: Hahahaha
S: Hahahahaha
http://ca1n.c.yimg.jp/sports/sn2006090109452500044392m/sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/pict/200609/im00044392.jpg
http://ca1n.c.yimg.jp/sports/sn2006090109452800044393m/sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/pict/200609/im00044393.jpg
http://ca1n.c.yimg.jp/sports/sn2006090109453300044395m/sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/pict/200609/im00044395.jpg
http://ca1n.c.yimg.jp/sports/sn2006090109453100044394m/sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/pict/200609/im00044394.jpg