The Kyokai Strikes Back against Zabuton Throwers

[Jonosuke 28]

The Kyokai finally had enough with rampant zabuton (cushion) throwing by some of their spectators. It has been a unique tradition of Ozumo whenever the crowd thought there was an upset, normally after a yokozuna's loss.

However in recent years some were throwing the zabutons indiscriminately despite making an announcement not to throw them. The Kyokai has been considering how to stop the practice for some time and now they came up with an idea which they will institute starting from this Kyushu Basho as they are increasing the size of each Masu seat at the venue.

Instead of having four cushions for the Masu seating, they will be only putting in two and the two are tied by strings. Each zabuton measures 55 cm wide and 135 cm long so it will be rather difficult to even throw one but they are making it more difficult by stringing together the two.

the new Kyushu Basho Zabuton model

"We wanted to have a cushion that cannot be easily thrown out to prevent major accidents," Dewanoumi oyakata (former Sekiwake Washuyama) responsible for the Kyusho Basho operations, said. "We thought about how we could change the shape of zabuton so that it could not be thrown. With this new zabuton, you cannot throw it out even if one person out of the four is sitting there."

Edited October 2, 2008 by Jonosuke

[Shomishuu 0]

Actually I think this is to aid the shimpan. They won't have to worry anymore about whether a mark beside the tawara was made by a heel or by a zabuton. :-)

[Harry 67]

OK, so who's going to be the first one to toss nearly two square meters of zabuton into the dohyo? I'm sure we'll see it. Unless they nail the zabuton down they will still let them fly.

It has gotten silly though. Unless some people were wrong a few flew when Hakuho won in Aki...

[Asashosakari 17,614]

...wrong forum section?

[Jonosuke 28]

Thanks, I moved this to Ozumo Discussions.

[ilovesumo 12]

If that's the biggest problem they have....

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

"We wanted to have a cushion that cannot be easily thrown out to prevent major accidents," Dewanoumi oyakata (former Sekiwake Washuyama) responsible for the Kyusho Basho operations, said."

I'd like to hear of a single example by the right honourable gentleman from Okayama...

[Johnofuji 231]

OK, so who's going to be the first one to toss nearly two square meters of zabuton into the dohyo? I'm sure we'll see it. Unless they nail the zabuton down they will still let them fly.

It has gotten silly though. Unless some people were wrong a few flew when Hakuho won in Aki...

Harry Is that a challenge? I'm going to Kyushu to show the baby to the mother in law so I just had to time the trip with the basho.Who would you like me to aim for- the old lady in the kimono or the ojisan with sake breath and onigiri on the side of his mouth? I hope I don't hit Takanohana or his noggin might come off whats left of his neck.

How long has the sport of Zabuton throwing been around? Would the first recorded instance in Japan be related to a controversial bout perhaps.I first saw it a bullfight in Mexico a long time ago.

[Harry 67]

OK, so who's going to be the first one to toss nearly two square meters of zabuton into the dohyo? I'm sure we'll see it. Unless they nail the zabuton down they will still let them fly...

Harry Is that a challenge? I'm going to Kyushu to show the baby to the mother in law so I just had to time the trip with the basho.Who would you like me to aim for- the old lady in the kimono or the ojisan with sake breath and onigiri on the side of his mouth? I hope I don't hit Takanohana or his noggin might come off whats left of his neck.

How long has the sport of Zabuton throwing been around? Would the first recorded instance in Japan be related to a controversial bout perhaps.I first saw it a bullfight in Mexico a long time ago.

With the strings you can go for a ringer now! Ojisan 10 points, Obasan 25 points, gyoji 50 points, shimpan 100 points, rijicho 1000 points? The new zabuton tossing game...

Have fun in Kyushu.

[Johnofuji 231]

With the strings you can go for a ringer now! Ojisan 10 points, Obasan 25 points, gyoji 50 points, shimpan 100 points, rijicho 1000 points? The new zabuton tossing game...

Have fun in Kyushu.

How many points for a deranged woman clambouring onto the dohyo with pamphlets in her hand?

[Kimyouzan 2]

Good thing I got to throw mine at my first live basho in Osaka this year! Is this really a problem that needs to be dealt with? I mean, it's the only consolation when the Yokozuna loses!

[Sasanishiki 57]

I think theproblem for the Kyokai is when there is more than one yokozuna. If the first yokozuna on the dohyo loses in an upset then they have to clear the way and prepare the janome for the next bout.

I can see the injury issue coming up only if the country was really litigious. It is not, but I guess in the current climate the Kyokai are trying to not to step out of line and cause attention. All that would be needed is another "scandal" where a minor celebrity like YOSHIKI complains about being hit on the head and causes a big stink.

[Harry 67]

With the strings you can go for a ringer now! Ojisan 10 points, Obasan 25 points, gyoji 50 points, shimpan 100 points, rijicho 1000 points? The new zabuton tossing game...

Have fun in Kyushu.

How many points for a deranged woman clambouring onto the dohyo with pamphlets in her hand?

10000 （万） for sure!

Litigation from injuries caused by flying pillows... what will they think of next?

[ilovesumo 12]

Litigation from injuries caused by flying pillows... what will they think of next?

Gaijin fingerprint-check,

no more tea cups- could be thrown...

dresscode..

many ideas.

But those people who got hit by a Zabuton say it hurts badly.

Then better not throwing them.

[Treblemaker 254]

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

[Orion 431]

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

[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

Oh. Ok, I knew that... (Being unsure...)

[Kintamayama 42,736]

And here they are:

[Skotkotaikai 2]

Some people can make money now by selling small zabutons for throwing :) Can people enter with some Zabutons in their luggage?

[Peeter 15]

Some people can make money now by selling small zabutons for throwing :) Can people enter with some Zabutons in their luggage?

Maybe wife of Kasuganishiki & himself? Huge luggages are prohibited! (Sign of approval...)

[James H 0]

But those people who got hit by a Zabuton say it hurts badly.

It isn't painful but it is a pain in the arse. I don't have an aesthetic problem with it (I think it is actually very pretty on TV, like sakura in a typhoon or something) but its not fun to be sitting below a bunch of sozzled yahoos who decide to test Newton's law of universal gravitation by hurling large, heavy cloth objects into the air.

I once almost lost a whole story when one hit my laptop and caused it to crash...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.

[Kintamayama 42,736]

I just read that a zabu-'ton' weighs 1 kilo. Is that possible?? That's heavier than some laptops!

Edited October 17, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Jakusotsu 5,279]

I just read that a zabu-'ton' weighs 1 kilo. Is that possible?? That's heavier than some laptops!

As by personal throwing experience, I'd say somewhere between 0.5 and 1 kg. (the old model, that is) Pretty hard to send it all the way to the dohyo. I guess mine landed on some poor guy's laptop. (Sign of approval...)

[James H 0]

As by personal throwing experience, I'd say somewhere between 0.5 and 1 kg. (the old model, that is) Pretty hard to send it all the way to the dohyo. I guess mine landed on some poor guy's laptop. (Sign of approval...)

I'm just jealous cause since I started this job, I haven't been allowed to drink while watching sumo.

Of course, the new zabutons may have better aerodynamics than the old ones - more surface area so better flight. Add in the extra weight and we may see some gyoji decapitated before the end of the year...

[Barang 0]

Laptops are so cheap in Akihabara. Why not throw them instead of zabutons? Ozumo would get more international publicity. Spectators should use mandatory helmets.

Edited October 17, 2008 by Barang