[cstaylor]

It's all about the sour grapes... I mean, kick out Asashoryu for getting upset at losing, yet Japanese wrestlers like Toki aren't booted for breaking the rules of the Sumo association?

[cstaylor]

Oh, and another thing... you don't hear any (non-nutso) Americans complaining about foreign players like Ichiro taking MVP in the American pastime of baseball... someone who can't even speak directly to the local press.

It's a good way of pointing out the hypocrisy of J-whiners.

[cstaylor]

And finally, the real reason people aren't going to Sumo is that tickets for decent seats (first level, cushion seats) go for around $300-$500 per cushion (depending on location and day of the tournament)... NHK provides excellent coverage of Makuuchi matches for free... so why waste the time and money?

[Steve Bildermann]

And finally, the real reason people aren't going to Sumo is that tickets for decent seats (first level, cushion seats) go for around $300-$500 per cushion (depending on location and day of the tournament)... NHK provides excellent coverage of Makuuchi matches for free... so why waste the time and money?

The Sumo Kyokai knows how to milk a good thing. If the public wants to see (and pay for) local heros (aka Takanohana's kids) then guess who makes Yokozuna and wins big. Sumo is a show and the Sumo Kyokai is the promoter. Just like everywhere else it's the promoter/producer who makes the money.

[ramchop]

Interesting interview in the Shukan Post:

When I was chairman of the council, I urged the Sumo Association to define "hinkaku" in writing, which they did. The contents have not been made public, but specific standards do exist. They are, in a nutshell, 1: enthusiasm toward sumo; 2: a sense of responsibility toward the rank; 3: a sense of responsibility toward society; and 4: a common-sense attitude toward life. Asashoryu might have achieved 1 and 2, but as far as 3 and 4 are concerned, I'd rate him a big zero.

I was especially impressed by Japan Today's time travel abilities that brought us this interview

In an interview in Shukan Post (Sept 5), Kazuo Ichiriki, former chairman...

[cstaylor]

Yeah, I lost my respect for Asashoryu after the last tournament. You forgot to quote the part where the same guy says that Akebono has more hinkaku then most of the Japanese wrestlers.

[ramchop]

You forgot to quote the part where the same guy says that Akebono has more hinkaku then most of the Japanese wrestlers.

That's because he didn't say that :P

[cstaylor]

I stand corrected

I think this the problem clearly concerns Asashoryu. Take stablemaster Azumazeki (Hawaii's Takamiyama): he possesses more Japanese sensibilities than many Japanese, and his star pupil, Akebono, displayed outstanding "hinkaku." So I think the problem lies in Asashoryu's personality and the level of discipline at his stable.

I combined these two on accident. Sorry.

[Kurofune]

[quote="cstaylor"]Oh, and another thing... you don't hear any (non-nutso) Americans complaining about foreign players like Ichiro taking MVP in the American pastime of baseball... someone who can't even speak directly to the local press. ]
I've done just that. A Japanese woman once looked me right in my white face and told me that sumo has gone downhill because of the foreigners. I sympathetically said, "Yeah, most Americans feel the same way about the Japanese guys in MLB" (not true, but she wouldn't know). You should have seen the look of indignation on her face.

[cstaylor]

The other one you can use on Japanese is "There'd be no room for gaijin in Sumo if Japanese had the guts to tough it out at the stable... for every gaijin making it to professional ranks there are 10 Japanese that have joined and quit the profession before even coming close to Juryo".

Another one is, "Well, the stablemasters must know something you don't, because they keep recruiting foreigners into the sport, and those recruits keep winning the top spots."

[Caustic Saint]

Oh, and another thing... you don't hear any (non-nutso) Americans complaining about foreign players like Ichiro taking MVP in the American pastime of baseball... someone who can't even speak directly to the local press. ]
Ichiro did have one good quote, on HBO's "On the Record."

Bob Costas' "On The Record" show on HBO is always good for some laughs and insights, but perhaps nothing has been more hilarious than this week's interview with Seattle Mariners stud Ichiro Suzuki, who normally speaks only through a translator.

At one point, Costas asked Suzuki, "What's your favorite American expression?"

After some thought, Suzuki answered, in English, "August in Kansas City is hotter than two rats in a fucking wool sock!"

After Costas picked himself up off the floor from laughter, Suzuki told him, "I have some very bad teammates who teach me that."

[cstaylor]

Yeah, he's an awesome player too. I bet he's way happier in the Majors...