sumojoann

Oh, Jim, I am so glad to hear the good news!! I didn't find out until today that you were leaving the forum, but when I saw "Unintai", my heart skipped a beat. What a relief! I hope my relentless questions about the 21 Kyushu 19 game didn't stress you out or contribute to your initial decision to leave. You do such a great job on the game along with Rolf. I've always enjoyed reading your posts and have learned so much from you. I as well as so many other forum members are so relieved that you have decided not to retire. So happy that your health has improved. I wish you a wonderful New Year and continuing good health!

My Japanese friend finally wrote back. He's traveling right now. He said that very few scalpers operate in person at the sumo venues anymore because it's illegal. He said nowadays, virtually all of the scalpers sell online, some at flea market online sites (which he didn't specify). He said their profit margin is much greater online. He also said that hard-to-get tickets are virtually impossible to get once tickets have officially gone on sale. I don't speak or read Japanese but I poked around the Internet and the only thing I found about getting Masu-seki tickets is the following: (You have to scroll down about halfway, after the last big photo) https://piece-of-japan.com/sightseeing/ryogoku/how-to-buy-sumo-ticket.html It says that you would have to contact the Sumo Information Offices called "Sumo-jaya" or "Sumo-annai". They monopolize almost all the best Masu-seki and most of the Tamari-seki tickets. No further information is supplied. So that looks like your best bet. Have you made any progress in getting tickets?

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It sounds like what you're looking for are ticket scalpers which are illegal in Japan. They are called dafu-ya. I typed --- scalpers --- in the Sumo Forum search bar & it came up with 11 entries. That's where I found the above info. My friend in Japan didn't realize you were looking for tickets for the Jan basho so he just gave me a website (Pia) that sold them online . (They are not resellers). I will send him another email about the resellers but he might not want to tell me anything about illegal transactions. I had heard somewhere that there are a few scalpers who hang around the Kokugikan. It's not like here in America where scalping is common and openly done. I suppose you could go to the Kokugikan and discreetly ask someone out in the front area if they know where to find a dafu-ya. You might be running the risk of getting counterfeit tickets, though. When I went to the Aki Basho in 2014, there were 2 people who had gotten in with no problem and were seated nearby. (This was in the upper level Arena B section). Suddenly, 2 other ticket-holders showed up and found these 2 people sitting in their seats. Both couples had tickets for the same seats, A security guard compared the tickets and apparently determined that the first set was counterfeit. That couple had to leave. Needless to say, you would be losing a LOT of money if that happened to you. Out of curiosity, I looked up Yahoo Auctions Japan (in English) and found the following --- http://yahoo.aleado.com/2084231005-category-leaf.html I don't understand the sumo ticket ads at all. Is this what you were looking at? I will write again to my friend in Japan about resellers and let you know if and when I hear back from him.

I have a friend in Japan (not in Tokyo) who is a sumo fan. I have just sent him an e-mail asking your question and asking if he has any ideas. I hope you don't need these tickets for the 2020 Hatsu (January) basho. The Masu A tickets would undoubtedly be sold out by now.

Here's one more. It shows a lot of the bouts in slow motion so you can really see what they're doing. In this championship, the wrestlers are fighting on top of a LOT of sand! lol There are plenty more videos like this one.

I sent the original poster a message about it. In the meantime, I found a hilarious Korean wrestling video on Youtube. It's title, believe it or not, is "Korean Wrestling Final ... Idol Star Championships!" It is from 2016 and has almost 8 MILLION views!! lol Lots of very handsome pop-star-looking boys with bleached and dyed hair. And the audience!!! Such screaming! Reminds me of when the Beatles first came to the US! Here it is .....

I would love to read the article but after a couple of sentences, the Wall Street Journal won't let me read more unless I subscribe!! Would you be able to somehow override that, so that those of us without subscriptions can read it? The beginning of the article sounds like Korea is trying to add sex appeal to the sport! lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wlY-_h4CpY&t=343s Here is Part 2.

I don't know if these 2 videos have been posted before but I found them to be fascinating. Part 1 is the history of sumo between 1900 and 1960. Part 2 is from 1960-2000. Here is the link to Part 1 (part 2 to follow). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHL9efgqxbw&t=242s

Hi and welcome from Houston, Texas! I'm glad you heard about Sumo Forum. I have learned so much from the sumo "elders" on this forum. My husband and I also have TV Japan. Yes, $25/month is outrageous but worth it. I am a night owl and retired, so in addition to watching the highlights, I like to stay up every night for the 15 nights and watch the live broadcast. Here, as well as in San Antonio, it comes on between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM (or sometimes 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM depending on Daylight Savings Time). The live broadcast covers only the Makuuchi bouts, but I'm thrilled to be able to have that. I have found that no matter how much I learn about sumo wrestling, there is so much more I have yet to learn. I believe it will always be that way but that's part of the appeal. It's so nice to know of another person in Texas who likes sumo. Again, welcome!

Congratulations, Pandaazuma!! Well deserved win! (I did better than I thought I would).

I have to agree. Kotoyuki has always taped his fingers into mittens as long as I have watched him wrestle. It seems to add greater power to his slaps and nodowa, giving him an unfair advantage. I'm surprised it hasn't been stopped.

I have never understood why Kotoyuki gets away with taping his hands like he does. Does anyone know why?

Here's the old post about Takarafuji.