The Kyokai Strikes Back against Zabuton Throwers

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

...and I saw an oyaji sitting in the super-duper posh seats almost explode with rage when he and his wife were hit after Asashoryu's first loss in September. Twas ugly.

I have a strong suspicion that this new cushion design has been done specifically for these fans. They'll happily risk getting run down by 175 kg rikishi flying off the dohyo, but have an absurd blow-up over a flying zabuton. The Joji six-packs out there are under-appreciated.

Edited October 18, 2008 by Otokonoyama

[Jejima 1,080]

I have a feeling that the new zabutons may not completely stop the 'problem'.

By the time it comes to the musubi-no-ichiban, most of the punters have been sat for at least 2 hours (in a small, confined area), and a good number of those have been quaffing beer and sake (it's their day out!). So, if there is a big upset in the final match, and they are used to throwing zabutons, and they feel they need to 'release their emotions' somehow will they....

a) calmly leave the stadium

b) merely give a round of applause to the victorious rikishi

c) find something else to throw

d) do something else

I have a feeling that a new tradition may begin amongst the audience after upsets (it may take many bashos before this becomes a 'tradition'.)

[Treblemaker 254]

I have a feeling that the new zabutons may not completely stop the 'problem'.

By the time it comes to the musubi-no-ichiban, most of the punters have been sat for at least 2 hours (in a small, confined area), and a good number of those have been quaffing beer and sake (it's their day out!). So, if there is a big upset in the final match, and they are used to throwing zabutons, and they feel they need to 'release their emotions' somehow will they....

a) calmly leave the stadium

b) merely give a round of applause to the victorious rikishi

c) find something else to throw

d) do something else

I have a feeling that a new tradition may begin amongst the audience after upsets (it may take many bashos before this becomes a 'tradition'.)

Well, it wasn't so many years ago that displeased opera-lovers in Italy would throw programs and ripe veggies onstage... and soccer fans have been known to throw almost anything that isn't nailed down onto the pitch... During the premier performance of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring in 1918 at the Paris Opera, someone threw a CAT onstage...

Ok, so why not just make up mini-zabutons - say, the size of a small beanbag and filled with cotton - and give them out as souvenirs... ?

[Kotoviki 16]

My friend is totally against the zabuton throwing and even chose to make an enemy of another one of my friends because she threw a zabuton....

(Neener, neener...)

Personally I don't do it because it is a pain in the arse for the workers. I know a lot of those guys and it makes their job harder. However I do not sever friendships with those who do...

Anyway the friend who does despise the throwing came up with the idea of a deposit system.. like the radios. Of course she says it would be too troublesome but on the other hand it might solve all the problems. I suppose many people wouldn't throw out 2,000 yen or something... they may want to get their deposit back. I wonder if the kyokai has thought of this one..

[Orion 431]

My friend is totally against the zabuton throwing and even chose to make an enemy of another one of my friends because she threw a Anyway the friend who does despise the throwing came up with the idea of a deposit system.. like the radios. Of course she says it would be too troublesome but on the other hand it might solve all the problems. I suppose many people wouldn't throw out 2,000 yen or something... they may want to get their deposit back. I wonder if the kyokai has thought of this one..

It sounds like a good idea -- except that it would be yet another an extra job for the sewanin who already have a lot to do, handing out radios and collecting them back and handing back deposits at the end. If you go to the Tokyo basho and see a small foreign woman accompanying the jinku in the main hall on the way out, while at the same time untangling the earphones to help her sewanin buddies, that's probably me.

The problem with the zabuton throwing (to get back to the main point) it that, instead of an audience reaction to the defeat of a yokozuna in the musubi no ichiban, a lot of rowdies have started heaving the things no matter what the result of the final bout. It makes life uncomfortable for the tate-gyoji (remember the time one got his hat knocked off?) and the bow-twirler, not to mention the yobidashi and dekata trying to retrieve the things. It's the custom that's changed, and, as always, the Kyokai is changing to meet the changing times. It always has, which makes nonsense of the oft-repeated claim by would-be sumo reporters, that it is a monolithic fossil going back to goodness knows when.

Orion

[Jonosuke 28]

The problem with the zabuton throwing (to get back to the main point) it that, instead of an audience reaction to the defeat of a yokozuna in the musubi no ichiban, a lot of rowdies have started heaving the things no matter what the result of the final bout. It makes life uncomfortable for the tate-gyoji (remember the time one got his hat knocked off?) and the bow-twirler, not to mention the yobidashi and dekata trying to retrieve the things. It's the custom that's changed, and, as always, the Kyokai is changing to meet the changing times. It always has, which makes nonsense of the oft-repeated claim by would-be sumo reporters, that it is a monolithic fossil going back to goodness knows when.

(Neener, neener...) No one has said it better.

Some days it looks like some people are just coming to see sumo so they can just throw a zabuton no matter what. I've seen people throwing it even Asashoryu won decisively. Pretty silly. It's unfortunate that the Kyokai must react this way but they are doing the right thing. I hope they come up with the same in other basho too.

Now the only thing is how some of us not turn into a fossil.....

[Skotkotaikai 2]

If people work together they may be able to throw the new zabutons. Especially if they cut the strings which tie the two parts together.

Still, it won't be easy to throw it :D

Maybe people will start throwing underwear, hats, socks etc.

[Yuriyama Ren 1]

If people work together they may be able to throw the new zabutons. Especially if they cut the strings which tie the two parts together.

Still, it won't be easy to throw it :D

Maybe people will start throwing underwear, hats, socks etc.

UNDERWEAR?! Is underwear throwing really such a popular pastime in Japan? To be honest I'd rather get hit with a zabuton than some dude's underwear..

Though on the other hand.. some panties stuck to the end of the bow during the twirling ritual.. Yeah, that would be a way to take a piss on ancient customs...

[Treblemaker 254]

Why don't they just velcro those suckers to the floor with the heavy-duty stuff?

If it's too stuck-down for a spectator to prize it up, maybe it's also too hard for a Kyokai employee to move it? Don't forget these things have to be tidied at the end of every day and dismantled at the end of 15 days.

Orion

Ok, so yeah, I'm a little slow these days, but am I to understand that by "dismantled", this means that the arena seating area is not permanent, like hockey and basketball arenas?

Please forgive my ignorance... I've been watching the bashos for about 2 years via the Internet, but I've always assumed that the seating arrangements were of a permanent sort, and only the zabutons were replaceable/portable.

Also, I am to understand that the dohyo is also dismantled and rebuilt for each basho... are there any good sites that illustrate this process?

[Treblemaker 254]

Why don't they just velcro those suckers to the floor with the heavy-duty stuff?

If it's too stuck-down for a spectator to prize it up, maybe it's also too hard for a Kyokai employee to move it? Don't forget these things have to be tidied at the end of every day and dismantled at the end of 15 days.

Orion

Ok, so yeah, I'm a little slow these days, but am I to understand that by "dismantled", this means that the arena seating area is not permanent, like hockey and basketball arenas?

Please forgive my ignorance... I've been watching the bashos for about 2 years via the Internet, but I've always assumed that the seating arrangements were of a permanent sort, and only the zabutons were replaceable/portable.

Also, I am to understand that the dohyo is also dismantled and rebuilt for each basho... are there any good sites that illustrate this process?

Sorry for the double posting, but this excellent video answered my questions... (in french)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2qoe1_co...on-dohyo_travel

(Also, I had no idea that the seating platforms were completely retractable.)

Sorry for the touristic newbie questions.

[Kintamayama 42,357]

Now, they are saying that anyone caught throwing a zabuton (the new, heavier model..) will be dealt with swiftly and reported to the police.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/200810...0na010000c.html

Currently, the new cushions are only being introduced at the Kyushu tournament and there are no plans to use them for tournaments in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.

Though there have been no reports of injury caused by thrown cushions, which weigh around a kilogram each, the association has already asked spectators not to throw their cushions toward the ring.

The custom dates back to the Edo Period, when spectators would throw their coats (haori) towards their favorite grapplers in the ring. The wrestlers would then return them to their owners in exchange for a tip.

Cushion throwing is now a common sight after an upset match, with yokozuna Asashoryu notoriously kicking a cushion following a defeat last year.

Sumo fans have mixed reception of the new measures. Mitsuru Yaku, a cartoonist and external member of a Japan Sumo Association committee voiced his support. "Cushions are not supposed to be thrown, yet spectators have done so in an unruly manner. Measures have finally been taken," he said.

However, Kunihiro Sugiyama, former announcer for public broadcaster NHK, was not so supportive.

"I don't want to deny cushion throwing 100 percent, it's meant to be a compliment to grapplers by fans delighted by a particularly thrilling bout. It sounds tasteless that cushions will be tied together by strings."

[Kintamayama 42,357]

I have just been informed by a reliable source in Kyushu that the Musubi no Ichiban was not a real match-it was merely a drill to see if the new zabutons are unthrowable.

The drill was a success. The real match will be held at a later date.

[Mark Buckton 1]

Laptops are so cheap in Akihabara.

indeedy - got a 14,980 yen, 1.2kg machine (HP with Vista) last week - marvelous stuff! Some as cheap as 100 yen!!! (no, not a joke)

[Johnofuji 231]

It was tempting to be the first to chuck one today but something that big is bound to take out a few innocent bystanders.A few of the little ones were thrown but no one was arrested.Perhaps I can devise some sort of Wright brothers contraption out of them and fly the zabuton down.All the stands looked brand new. It was only about half full today.

We got interviewed about the zabutons and the days bouts by a TV crew outside.I was so impressed when our baby poked his tongue out at the reporter.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Seems guys like this may have been the impetus for the zabuton change specific to the Kyushu basho.