New to sumo and questions about tv broadcasts. Options

[alpineviolet]

Hi everyone,

I just got into watching sumo (along with some friends) this past July tournament when we found it on TV Japan on Day 2. We followed it every day from then on. Right now I'm just reading and learning what I can, and hoping to get a book soon so I can get familiar with the rules and such. Whenever I read a forum post here I usually have to do a search on names or terms in the post. I'm having fun, even though it seems like I am getting into sumo at sort of weird time (what with the scandals and so forth).

I do have a question about the NHK broadcasts. I'm aware that there's usually a live broadcast with English commentary, and I think I understand why that didn't happen this tournament, but I'm wondering, is there any way to encourage NHK to bring the live broadcasts (with English) back? Would writing a letter help? My knowledge of Japanese is still pretty slim; would it do any good to write TV Japan and hope they pass it on? Having an English commentary would help so much! As it was, we kept having to look things up on the internet, and while that was sort of fun, I kind of think it will lose it's charm after awhile. I'd also like to be able to see the matches that aren't in the digest version.

I'm very glad to be here! I'll try to follow along as best I can. :)

[Harry]

Welcome!

I sure hope they bring it all back for akibasho in September but we'll see... only NHK knows for sure.

Think of the Japanese broadcasts as homework for your Japanese

[alpineviolet]

Well, I could use the practice. :) But what I'd really like is to be able to see matches in the lower divisions. I was reading a post about "adopting" a rikishi earlier, and it sounds like a really fun thing to do, but it seems like it would be difficult to choose one and be supportive if I couldn't watch any of the matches. Is there another way to watch the lower divisions, like online maybe? The only Japanese television I have access to where I live is TV Japan.

Thanks for the reply. :)

EDIT: I found the streaming videos on the goo Sumo site (or where they would be if there was a tournament happening now.)

This post has been edited by alpineviolet: Jul 28, 2010, 06:01

[Jonosuke]

You won't get to see lower division bouts on TV Japan even if NHK brings back live broadcast but bringing back the coverage with English audio provided by a long time sumo observer like Doreen, it will not hurt to write to TV Japan now as NHK has not decided to cover the Aki Basho. Hearing from a whole lot of people outside Japan like U.S. and Brazil will help tip the scale for NHK to lean on the Yea side.

If NHK decides to bring back the BS-2 (their satellite channel) Ozumo broadcast, it will start from 1 PM Japan time, so you will get to quite a bit of lower division bouts as well as some Forum regulars sitting in the Tamari as there aren't that many people around early afternoon. If you are really desperate on watching this, there is at least a service that can provide NHK BS along with other channels with a monthly fee (rather steep though, let's say twice as much as TV Japan).

Other than that, you need pretty much go to Japan and showing up at the venue on 9 AM to join the fanatics (in a good sense) like Kotoviki and Fay san here.

[Kotoviki]

Other than that, you need pretty much go to Japan and showing up at the venue on 9 AM to join the fanatics (in a good sense) like Kotoviki and Fay san here.

Make that 8:20 am

[Otokonoyama]

If NHK decides to bring back the BS-2 (their satellite channel) Ozumo broadcast, it will start from 1 PM Japan time, so you will get to quite a bit of lower division bouts as well as some Forum regulars sitting in the Tamari as there aren't that many people around early afternoon. If you are really desperate on watching this, there is at least a service that can provide NHK BS along with other channels with a monthly fee (rather steep though, let's say twice as much as TV Japan).

Unfortunately, BS-2 more-often-than-not starts from anywhere between 3:30 p.m. and 4:20 p.m. the last couple of years. On lucky days one can watch the last couple makushita bouts, or most of juryo. Rather more often, it starts from/after the yokozuna dohyo-iri. It is not much of a longer broadcast than the general NHK channel anymore.

This post has been edited by Otokonoyama: Jul 28, 2010, 16:25

[alpineviolet]

Thanks for the answers. It's good to know what my options are. The first thing I'm going to do is write TV Japan, just in case it might help.

Other than that, you need pretty much go to Japan and showing up at the venue on 9 AM to join the fanatics (in a good sense) like Kotoviki and Fay san here.

This sounds like so much fun! Unfortunately for me, it's probably a long way away... but I suppose you never know.

[Harry]

Other than that, you need pretty much go to Japan and showing up at the venue on 9 AM to join the fanatics (in a good sense) like Kotoviki and Fay san here.

Make that 8:20 am

8:20am... IIRC it was usually a bit later than that

[Asojima]

In case you haven't picked up on this elsewhere, another viewing opportunity is the NSK internet video stream. It gives you live coverage of the Juryo, and sometimes the Makushita, matches through the end of Makuuchi. No commentary, but very good video and an open mike audio. See here for info on it. The coverage was vastly upgraded during the Nagoya basho including a new URL and improved image quality, so read thru the thread to get the new link and coverage data.

For the language impaired among us, a printout of the days matches from either the forum or the NSK goo site can be used as a program guide.

[alpineviolet]

Thanks for pointing me to that thread. It's helpful to see how the stream works and tips for VLC. :)

[Kotoviki]

Other than that, you need pretty much go to Japan and showing up at the venue on 9 AM to join the fanatics (in a good sense) like Kotoviki and Fay san here.

Make that 8:20 am

8:20am... IIRC it was usually a bit later than that

Unfortunately Tokyo is always a bit earlier than Nagoya though this year Nagoya was always 0840 which was nice!!!