Ms. Uchidate-Alive and kicking

[Kintamayama 42,292]

Ms. Uchidate had some things to say about the current happenings in the sumo world at the Mainichi Shinbun yearly sports award yesterday, where she was handing out awards. "I think it's wrong not to allow people to watch from empty seats that are not their own like it always used to be. Booooring!! Spoils the mood of sumo! So, everything goes in the name of 'cleaning up sumo'?? Don't they realize the number of fans is decreasing?? And another thing- not allowing zabuton throwing?? Hakuhou's rensho was stopped and not one zabuton was thrown. In Kyushu, they stuck four zabuton together to make it impossible to throw them. Zabuton-throwing is one of the cultural aspects of sumo. If it's dangerous, make them from polyurethane. The kyokai has to seriously consider what to get rid of and what to keep.. If this goes on, they're going to lose all their fans", she said.

Edited December 15, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Umigame 82]

Hate to say I agree with her, but I agree with her on both points.

[Manekineko 200]

I always had some sympathy for the Dragon Lady, and now it has grown. (Yusho winner...)

[Fay 1,676]

Zabuton throwing isn't allowed for years, it's not a recent constraint. And nobody cares at least in Tokyo, where they are not stuck together. It's not really the main attraction of sumo and I can't imagine a single fan who stays at home because he is not allowed to throw some cushions.

[Kintamayama 42,292]

Zabuton throwing isn't allowed for years, it's not a recent constraint. And nobody cares at least in Tokyo, where they are not stuck together. It's not really the main attraction of sumo and I can't imagine a single fan who stays at home because he is not allowed to throw some cushions.

The point is not that it's allowed per se, but that it was always possible and many people enjoyed it for many years, and a zabuton rainstorm was an inherent (and some may say cool) sideshow of a Yokozuna losing. Now, it has been made impossible. Additionally, sitting somewhere other than your designated seat is usually "not allowed", but we all did that and it was another inherent part of the Sumo Experience.

Uchidate rocks.

[Fay 1,676]

Zabuton throwing isn't allowed for years, it's not a recent constraint. And nobody cares at least in Tokyo, where they are not stuck together. It's not really the main attraction of sumo and I can't imagine a single fan who stays at home because he is not allowed to throw some cushions.

The point is not that it's allowed per se, but that it was always possible and many people enjoyed it for many years, and a zabuton rainstorm was an inherent (and some may say cool) sideshow of a Yokozuna losing. Now, it has been made impossible. Additionally, sitting somewhere other than your designated seat is usually "not allowed", but we all did that and it was another inherent part of the Sumo Experience.

Uchidate rocks.

Didn't say anything about the seat problem ...

Zabuton throwing is still possible in Tokyo. The masu-seats in Kyushu are stuck together for over one year now, but you could still throw tamari cushions. The point in Kyushu is rather that nobody cares enough if someone wins aganst Hakuho when it's not Kaio, Homasho, Kotoshogiku or Yoshikaze, cause they are nearly solely interested in the rikishi of their own region. If Kaio would have won you can be sure that even the 4-stucked-zabutons were thrown.

[Kotoviki 16]

Wow!! I never cared for her before but she gets serious (Showing respect...) (Showing respect...) from me!!

It is boring not to be able to sit in the empty seats. boring for the fans and boring for the boys! The ojisan I always sit with said that if they are restricted again at Tokyo basho they will not bother to come to May basho! The boys would like to see fans sitting nearby especially their parents and siblings!!

As for zabuton throwing I'm against it personally! I never had a desire to throw them. However my special ojisan Hama-chan is all for it! For one time in my life in Nagoya in 2009 when he was not there due to his stroke I threw a zabuton on his behalf, broke a nail and called him after I did it! That was the first and last time!

Those old men want to throw them and many others do. Maybe they want to do it because it is against the rules!

Maybe if anyone in Kyushu really thought Hakuho would lose they might have brought a zabuton from home!!! LOL

[Harry 67]

First can I say, wow can't a professional photographer get their white balance correct anymore? Could those two photos look any more different, from deathly pale to overlay tanned looking skin tones, yuck...

I was hit by some flying zabuton in Nagoya '09 and I must say there is more momentum in then than it would appear! By the time they reach the dohyo there is enough force to knock a camera out of your hand. I had lots of opportunities then but even after a fair bit of Kirin I believe I didn't throw any that I recall... ones I can't recall I take no responsiblity for.

[Harry 67]

And yes, she does rock after hearing those comments. To be honest I thought it might have been a joke at first...

[skycruiser 0]

The point is not that it's allowed per se, but that it was always possible and many people enjoyed it for many years, and a zabuton rainstorm was an inherent (and some may say cool) sideshow of a Yokozuna losing. Now, it has been made impossible. Additionally, sitting somewhere other than your designated seat is usually "not allowed", but we all did that and it was another inherent part of the Sumo Experience.

Uchidate rocks.

FWIW, I went to the Fukuoka Basho last month for 10 days and was able to seat everyday in some masuseki "A" seats, with 2,000 Yen tickets. Although I had to move somewhat, nobody ever asked to see my ticket. I met with several staff of the Fukuoka Kokusai Center and although they knew I was not seating where I was supposed to, they never brought up the subject and let me seat in an empty seat!

Actually, everyday, I noticed several Japanese people doing the same thing, moving from seat to seat.

The only time this was brought up was at the entrance, with the Oyakata checking the tickets, they would mentioned that the seat was on the 3rd floor. No usher looked at my ticket or took me there.

May be it will be different in Tokyo in January!

[Kotoviki 16]

The point is not that it's allowed per se, but that it was always possible and many people enjoyed it for many years, and a zabuton rainstorm was an inherent (and some may say cool) sideshow of a Yokozuna losing. Now, it has been made impossible. Additionally, sitting somewhere other than your designated seat is usually "not allowed", but we all did that and it was another inherent part of the Sumo Experience.

Uchidate rocks.

FWIW, I went to the Fukuoka Basho last month for 10 days and was able to seat everyday in some masuseki "A" seats, with 2,000 Yen tickets. Although I had to move somewhat, nobody ever asked to see my ticket. I met with several staff of the Fukuoka Kokusai Center and although they knew I was not seating where I was supposed to, they never brought up the subject and let me seat in an empty seat!

Actually, everyday, I noticed several Japanese people doing the same thing, moving from seat to seat.

The only time this was brought up was at the entrance, with the Oyakata checking the tickets, they would mentioned that the seat was on the 3rd floor. No usher looked at my ticket or took me there.

May be it will be different in Tokyo in January!

It is because they can't control it in the same way in the away basho! Unfortunately in Tokyo there are two separate entrances for 1st and 2nd floor and it is simple to post staff at each 1st floor entrance door. It makes it so easy to control who goes in! The other thing is the ochaya guard the doors til 1pm but the monbusho employees guarded the doors from 1pm. Again so easy for the monbusho to control it!

I heard that monbusho is planning to continue the restrictions in Tokyo in January but I hope that it turns out differently!! Especially since I only have masu seki for the weekends and the holiday but plan to go another 7 days as well IF the restrictions aren't in place!

The oyakata say the monbusho still has these plans but there are also so many complaints from fans that the kyokai doesn't want this to continue. Some ochaya I know were happy that they didn't have to throw people out of the seats but were not happy that they were tasked to guard the doors from 8 to 1! Other ochaya said that sumo atmosphere wasn't the same with all the empty seats until later in the day!! With sumo popularity down the kyokai knows they can't afford to alienate the fans they have. If I know 10 old men who are thinking of not going to Tokyo basho anymore then there must be other people who feel the same way! While I admit that most of those people are just buying 15 day cheap package tickets or same day tickets which isn't the big money the kyokai needs they are still necessary fans! So many people talked about how empty the seats were when they watched on tv. How unattractive sumo seems to be. Sumo needs to look attractive or the people with money will stop coming! The people with cheap tickets filling the seats on weekdays and on weekends until the rich people come later are the ones who make sumo look attractive on tv!! The kyokai needs all the fans and can't afford to lose any!!!

For me I'm just crossing my fingers that when I go on shonichi I find the doors open and the situation changed!!!!!!!