Kaminariyuki

The hand gesture he's making in the larger photo looks like he's asking for permission to pass through.

I wrote Saya an email and pointed her at the forum, in case there is interest. LOL, you don't need anyone more "experienced" to write, though. You're a fabulous communicator. I should know.

I agree with Joann. Brava! Nicely done. It's so rare to hear a new voice on this subject that's not riddled with errors, or that expresses some of the emotion, some of the heart of the sport.

OK, I'll have to figure out how to stream Rakuten on my tv later this year. If anyone hears a release date, please let us know on the forum. Not sure if it belongs on this thread exactly, but thanks for the heads up.

Not to generate conspiracy theory income for anyone (I don't think I've ever seen advertising on SF, so I don't get that argument landing here), but John Gunning has a recent article in the Japan Times where he states about sumo, "The sport even has its own version of the Flat Earth Society — a subset of fans who have been tricked into believing the raised ring is a major cause of injury despite the fact that the data and anecdotal evidence show otherwise." There's been a bit of discussion on the thread about articles by forum members and in a couple of other threads over the years, but since we're between bashos, we almost need something for a little mental tachiai. So, maybe I am one of those folks. I've certainly espoused the position that a dohyo level with the floor around it "seems" like it would be safer. My position stems not so much from misinformation or manipulation from nefarious sources, as from what looks like about half a meter of additional potential energy that gets turned into kinetic energy on a fairly regular basis. Data is, seemingly, the answer, but I rather feel that if the rikishi want the raised dohyo to stay then certainly it should. Sumo is a sport where tradition runs deep, but I suspect we all only want to see our rikishi stay as healthy as possible while competing in a sport where injury will never be eliminated.

I am torn hourly, going back and forth between hope and despair...

I really wish I'd discovered sumo at an age where I still might have given it a go (just for funsies, not joining a heya), but every English account I've read has noted how incredibly hard the packed clay surface is to land on. Sounds and looks pretty brutal.

Science uses both inductive and deductive reasoning. I can see that they could both apply to this question.

On reflection, it could seem I was picking on you to bring this up here. If it seemed that way to you, I apologize. I actually thought the selection of the term was amusing, simply because the folks who clung to the notion of a flat Earth were not the folks proposing a wild new approach or view. They were the ones clinging to a traditionally held view with not much to back it up. I understand not being able to share the data for the reasons you give, but your statement rather implied that the readers should be aware of it, which is apparently impossible. How about the anecdotal evidence? I have learned through many years of science that just because something seems like a given result should be obtained, that does not mean that a well-designed experiment will reveal that it is so. The raised dohyo truly may not be a problem at all, but since it was in the Japan Times I thought we might kick it around a bit. I really am interested in hearing knowledgeable views, if not solid data.

Apples vs. oranges.

While I'm no sumo expert, on the science side (data) we have an old expression, "apples to apples, oranges to oranges." As a fan and a scientist, I'd lean toward Ryafuji's argument, but would be delighted to see John's data.

The Hak That match was so awesomely entertaining. My favorite part was Hakuho getting up with this wonderful smirk on his face, that almost read "I taught him that."

Guilty, as charged... I had meant to include in that post that this has been discussed on a couple of threads before. So, not an original thought. I don't recall much argument against it, so I don't quite understand why it hasn't been done. We can't be the only proponents.

The closely related topic of the raised dohyo also needs to be addressed, IMO. I don't recall which rikishi, but on one of the last two days of this tournament, one of the guys went off the dohyo and landed with his chin first on the edge of the raised platform. He also looked to have seriously had his bell rung, and from my non-medical view, looked like he could have easily received a head and neck injury. All of the practice dohyos at the heyas that I've seen are flush with the ground, and I do not see any reason this could not be adopted for the bashos, as well. I'm not suggesting this would be a panacea for head injuries, as the tachiai also is a good place to try to make some safety revisions. It is inherently a dangerous sport, but as a fan, I think some movement in the interest of our rikishi seems warranted. The dohyo being level with the ground is a pretty easy no-brainer, IMO.

I'm sure this was addressed earlier but did the folks who were forced to sit out the basho for quarantine reasons, like the Miyagino beya boys, all get 0-0-15 and 0-0-7 records?

To be honest, I thought so, as well, but apparently the two shinpan were dozing.

Midorifuji - zensho yusho? Stranger things have already happened in 2021... The yokozuna run begins!

OK, the big Mongolian kid is now gone zensho yusho in his first two tournaments and is now 5-0 in sandamne. Taking one basho and a yusho at each division as he climbs the pyramid (some will say to be hitting the wall soon, I suspect). He has Denuma tomorrow, also 5-0. To be frank, his sumo looks solid and he looks strong, but just doesn't look quick enough to have this record to me. I'm probably missing something... The kid is up to 19-0 now. I've seen it here on SF before, but what's the record for consecutive wins on entering professional sumo?

I won't be surprised if they cancel spectators, as they did back in March. Seems like a reasonable approach since all the personnel and rikishi are being tested this week, right?

Exactly the bit of info I came to the forum to find. Since I can't find a word of that in any of the English reports I've seen on Hakuho. Many thanks, Kinta. Please post updates, all of you folks who can actually read and speak Japanese. Get well Hakuho!!!

Hey, does anyone know if the Pierre Herme giant macaron is still being presented in 2021? Also, does anyone know if it's a real or a plastic macaron? The author of this foodbeast article suggests that it's real, but I'm somewhat dubious. LOL, if for no reason than the lack of proper Japanese packaging... https://www.foodbeast.com/news/first-place-prize-for-sumo-wrestlers-is-a-humongous-macaron/

What a totally awesome thread. Thanks to everyone participating, particularly Cal, Joann and Houmanumi. I've run out of Thanks and Likes, but had to say thank you somewhere! Awesome stuff. If I'd done more professional creative writing, I'd offer to help Cal out. I will certainly read it if it ever makes it to press.

Yes, I suspect you are correct, but since I got to see him in asakeiko before he went maezumo, I'm pulling for the kid...

Do we know whether the macaron tradition will continue in 2021? Not a terribly important point, and nobody may know, but I confess I'm finishing up the writing of a story I've written about my experiences with sumo. I'll post a link to the book, when I finally get it published, on the Articles by Forum members thread.

OK,sumojoann, Rabid John and Benihana are all of one mind, I think I must agree. I was quite entertained by all of your replies, BTW.