Trip to Japan

[Leonishiki 49]

Hi everybody,

I decided to write this message because I'm thinking about to travel to Japan. The main reason for this is because an spanish editorial have told me about to write a book about sumo in spanish, the first in this language about sumo. Of course I said yes and I began to write it. I can write a lot of things about sumo here in my home because I have some english books about it and I always can use internet to find more information. But I was thinking that the best way to learn more about sumo is to travel to Japan and to visit the Kokugikan, visit a heya, talk with some rikishi and so on.

I'm thinking about to travel for about 15 days to Tokyo maybe during next Natsu Basho, but I want to ask all of you some things that I'm not sure about. For example:

- Is it possible to arrange some interviews with some rikishi by the net? I mean to arrange it while I'm in Spain so when I travel to Japan I won't have to waste time trying to arrange it personally.

- May I have to arrange some permission to visit a heya or can I visit it anyday anytime?

- Do you know of any rikishi who speaks english (or spanish)? I'm afraid my japanese is very basic and I cannot afford a translator. :-)

- Is it possible to get some press card to enter free to the Kokugikan? I would like to spend there as much time as I can but the tickets are a bit expensives for taking one every day. Maybe I could talk with a local newspaper to help me with this.

- Of course I'll need a place to live, and I was thinking about a ryokan, because I would like not only to learn about sumo but to learn about japanese culture too. Food, living, free time, job... way of life in general. Anybody knows about this kind of places near Ryogoku?

Well, by the moment these are my main worries, so any help of you will be very appreciated, not only for all of you who lives in Japan (thanks amanogawa-zeki for you help) but for all of you who traveled to Japan to see sumo.

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

Good luck in your book project! I and another Finnish sumo fan (guess who) approached about thirty Finnish publishers in 2002 asking about their possible interest in a Finnish sumo book. Most did not answer at all and those few who answered wrote between lines that we're idiots thinking anyone would buy such a book...

Unfortunately I can't answer in any of your actual questions. :-) BTW, I just heard my brother will soon go to Tokyo for a business trip. (Applauding...)

[Naganoyama 6,034]

Hi everybody,

I decided to write this message because I'm thinking about to travel to Japan. The main reason for this is because an spanish editorial have told me about to write a book about sumo in spanish, the first in this language about sumo.

Good luck with your project.

Good luck in your book project! I and another Finnish sumo fan (guess who) approached about thirty Finnish publishers in 2002 asking about their possible interest in a Finnish sumo book. Most did not answer at all and those few who answered wrote between lines that we're idiots thinking anyone would buy such a book...

Unfortunately I can't answer in any of your actual questions. :-) BTW, I just heard my brother will soon go to Tokyo for a business trip. (Applauding...)

Don't be put off. I am sure there is a market for a decent Sumo book in English. (Laughing...)

[Zenjimoto 40]

I think perhaps it may be a good idea to contact some of the NHK-English folk and the semi-insiders who live in Japan off the SML. I think it is not uncommon for them to meet with international fans who go over there, and need some guidance. Some of them are very well connected, and may well be able to help you out with all your questions, perhaps even accompany you to a heya or two, or be able to arrange for an interview (I am guessing here)...

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

I am sure there is a market for a decent Sumo book in English. :-D

But I don't know English well enough to write a proper book. (In a state of confusion...)

[Takanobaka 0]

One suggestion might be to talk to Sentoryu over the internet. Yes, he's recently retired, but he's recent enough that he should be ok. I presume he's more accessible than most rikishi, or at least those who I know speak English for sure. He has a website with a message board that he responds to fairly regularly (although not much lately because of Danpatsu, which was yesterday I believe). Maybe you would be able to set up an IM interview through there, and possibly even get a connection into getting an extended stay at Tomozuna.

The link there is http://www.sentoryu.com/sunbbs/index.html

My impression about visiting Heya is that it depends on the Oyakata and usually you're relegated to being a silent spectator. You would probably need some kind of special invitation to be able to interview the rikishi there, or to stay for much longer than just keiko. If he still visits the forum once in a while, ANR might be a good guy to contact on that front.

As far as English-speaking rikishi go, I would guess your best bets would be the college yokozuna and possibly the Mongolians. I would imagine that not too many rikishi who enter at the normal age would speak English, but a lot of Japanese study it more at university, especially if they plan for a business career should sumo fail. Somehow I highly doubt that there are too many Spanish speaking rikishi, although you might be able to contact Hoshitango, another recent retiree who I would imagine would be happy to talk with you.

As far as press passes go, a better bet might be to try getting a corporate sponsorship. If you know of any Spanish companies trying to make inroads in Japan, you might be able to convince them that you would make a good 'walking advertisement' while in Japan, and that you would thank them for their support when the book gets published. Alternatively, you could try approaching a local newspaper where you are and see if they would be willing to have you do independent correspondence for their sports section, with a different article each day of the Basho about a different aspect of the sumo lifestyle, and to help bring light to a less popular sport to the Spanish public. With an actual press affiliation, it would be much easier to get a press pass. Finally, send an e-mail to the Kyokai itself asking them what would be required in order to get a press pass and explain your situation. They might be willing just from doing the book, partly because any publicity is good publicity, and partly because an extra butt in the seats looks good when they show the matches on TV. Remind them that between Spain and Latin America, there is a market of 400 million people that could help bring more revenue if there is future internationalization.

To see Japanese culture, I would definately recommend staying in a Ryokan for at least one night. On a tight budget, it might get expensive to stay there the whole time, but you definately get a good sense of Japanese hospitality that way, not to mention that you'll get to experience first-hand everyone leaving the bath as the big hairy gaijin starts to shower up. (Depressed...) Seriously, I think that would be a good way to go about it. Also, to get more of a sense of modern Japanese life, if you know anyone in Japan, try staying with them for a night. The way of normal Japanese home living is probably more different and more similar to western life than one might otherwise think.

Hope some of this gave you some ideas. I obviously haven't done most of this before myself, but I think that's where I would start if I was in your shoes. From there, you might be able to get some more ideas. In any case, stay persistent and good luck!

[Gaijinohana 0]

There are a few good books in English regarding sumo and you might want to search for them on Amazon.com to see how well they are selling since Amazon shows you some sales numbers. Also, check out "The Big Book of Sumo" by Mina Hall. It's a good little intro to sumo book for people that have no experience with Sumo. It also talks about her experiences writing the book and getting in contact with rikishi, etc. I got it for my girlfriend when we were travelling to Tokyo to see a tournament and she said she got a lot of of it. That being said, she had to reread it each time we have gone back for other tournaments.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

I imagine Kintamayama-zeki can enlighten us, given his Japan trip experience including heya and rikishi meetings.

[Chinonofuji 35]

But I don't know English well enough to write a proper book. (In a state of confusion...)

I'm sure you thought of this already, but you need to know English only well enough to convey your meaning to an editor. That editor would need to have an understanding of sumo, of course, but it should be possible. I think you should pursue it! Your english is clearly quite good, good enough to get the point across to a final polisher. Editors excel at just this skill.

All the best.

--C.

[Kintamayama 47,194]

I imagine Kintamayama-zeki can enlighten us, given his Japan trip experience including heya and rikishi meetings.

I got lucky-pure and simple. Lucky to have known some people through the ML who all turned out to be class A acts. In any case, I answered Leonishiki privately on this, since it's a long and winding story..

Edited February 12, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Zentoryu 154]

I am sure there is a market for a decent Sumo book in English. :-)

But I don't know English well enough to write a proper book. (In a state of confusion...)

You could've fooled me. :-D

As mentioned above, your english is quite good, you just need to find the right publisher.

[Naganoyama 6,034]

I am sure there is a market for a decent Sumo book in English. (Dancing of joy...)

But I don't know English well enough to write a proper book. (Applauding...)

You could've fooled me. (Laughing...)

As mentioned above, your english is quite good, you just need to find the right publisher.

You could have fooled me too!

I am sure the comments about good publishers is right, but in case it would improve your chances of getting a publisher to take up your work, I (and I am sure others on this forum) would be happy to proof-read/edit the draft and make your English shine out like a beacon.

I think you have a good deal to offer and should persist with this!

[Leonishiki 49]

I want to thank all of you for all your great ideas. I answered some of you by private email and I'll do it in this weekend with the other.