Asameshimae 220 Posted March 24, 2012 I don't care what anybody says (feel free though) the English commentary for sumo is better than the Japanese. I have listened to a lot of both (including a very long period when I had no other option but to listen to the Japanese) and the English is better on many fronts. The English commentators go out of their way to explain things that the Japanese wouldn't. Also, I think the regular commentators in Japanese are pretty good, but they feel the need to defer to their counterpart who is always a retired rikishi who ums and ahs and has very little to say of substance about wrestlers, bouts, tactics etc. most of the time. There are a very few exceptions, like Takanonami and Mainoumi (who is a regular commentator anyway). The English commentators also often talk frankly about what is going on on the dohyo and with the wrestlers when you will get little more than the most oblique references to goings on in sumo and on the dohyo from the Japanese commentators. A lot of this is the Japanese need to keep up appearances I realize, but it makes for commentary about as interesting as watching paint dry. Probably the only thing I would say is sometimes the English commentators need to use less borrowed Japanese terms when they are explaining things for the sake of any new listeners. If nothing else, they could more consistently take a second to repeat what an "uwatenage" for example is when they use such terms. But all in all, a big thumbs up. : ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sotonokuni 8 Posted March 24, 2012 http://www.heartofgould.com/jvb-sumo.html And on the subject of English commentary.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark.Buckton 68 Posted March 24, 2012 (edited) http://www.heartofgo...m/jvb-sumo.html And on the subject of English commentary.... talking of tomorrow, I'll be there, with a few from here I hope. When on air I will be asking that while the NHK show is not censored, not scripted as was so kindly pointed out by Orion, why did I observed the show in the studio when the commentators and 'guest' were told ahead of time what to say and when? Is seeing that as scripting wrong? Plus a few opinions thrown in for good measure. Edited March 25, 2012 by Mark.Buckton Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
