Retirement ceremony bouts.

[Newfan 1]

Hello all,

I am interested in attending the Kakizoe retirement event on the 1st of June whilst I am in Tokyo.

I am unfamiliar with the format of these events. Does anyone know approximately how many bouts are likely to occur and if the likes of Hakuho are likely to take part?

Also, are the bouts taken seriously or are they largely ceremonial?

Many thanks for any information,

Newfan.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Newfan

[kawika 123]

here is a great post of what you can expect to see.

http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10422&hl=hanazumo

[Newfan 1]

Thanks for the reply and link to the informative post.

It's a shame to read that the bouts are largely predetermined and not competitive.

Still sounds a fun and interesting event for someone who can't attend the main tournament.

[aderechelsea 125]

i would recommend you went to watch a training session. Far more interesting than a danpatsu-shiki ceremony unless you are a fan of the guy getting the haircut.

it's easy to do and it's free (i am greek .. this things matter) :-P

[Orion 431]

I've tried twice to reply to this but I seem to get signed out!

Most foreign visitors in the Ryogoku area seem to get turned away from the heya I keep an eye on, and my impression is that it's getting worse not better. How long is it since you got in to watch training, and were you with anybody who could help?

Orion

[Orion 431]

Going back to the original suggestion, I would advise you strongly to go to a retirement ceremony. It is well worth going to, even though it's not the same as a hon-basho -- regular tournament. In addition to the juryo and makunouchi bouts (which are not choreographed, just a shorter warm-up time and only two judges instead of five; and they are real bouts, but since nothing depends on them the men will naturally not go all-out if there is a risk of injury. In addition, interspersed with the real sumo you can enjoy all the extras that are normally done only on outside-Tokyo tours: comic sumo, sumo songs, demonstration of dressing the hair, ditto of putting on the yokozuna's tsuna. Just remember that the timing is 11:00 -- 4:00 -- I've never forgotten the look on the faces of one party of foreigners who, it turned out, had been assured by their know-nothing Japanese friends that nothing really happens till around four; so they arrived in what would have been good time for the top-level bouts in a hon-basho, but unfortunately everybody was just coming away from the hana-zumo!

Orion

(third time I'm trying to reply; again I got signed out!)

[Newfan 1]

Many thanks for the information. Ideally I will attend the retirement ceremony and a stable.

Does anyone have an opinion as to whether its better to sit in Box C or Arena A?

Also are there some specific stables worth trying to enter which are more open to visitors than others?

Many thanks.

[kawika 123]

i prefer sitting on the 1f. the Box seats 4 people, ranging A, B, C. the 2f seats are nice for those who cannot sit on the floor, but the 1f has a neat kind of picnic atmosphere to it.

an easy stable to visit is Fujishima beya. it is not the closest to Ryogoku. but they have a relative open door policy about visits, and even have some rules in English, posted outside of the training area, to help you with your visit.

otherwise, the secret to visiting most stables, IMHO, is writing a letter beforehand. it does not have to be perfect Japanese, you can cut and paste from Google translate. include a phone number, they will usually call and tell you yes or no.

[Newfan 1]

i prefer sitting on the 1f. the Box seats 4 people, ranging A, B, C. the 2f seats are nice for those who cannot sit on the floor, but the 1f has a neat kind of picnic atmosphere to it.

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking perhaps the Arena A are closer to the action than the Box C but I also like the idea of sitting in the traditional seating. Perhaps taking a 1st floor ticket will also give me the opportunity to observe the action from close up early in the day before everyone arrives.

Interesting to hear that writing a letter helps. May have to try that.

[Orion 431]

i prefer sitting on the 1f. the Box seats 4 people, ranging A, B, C. the 2f seats are nice for those who cannot sit on the floor, but the 1f has a neat kind of picnic atmosphere to it.

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking perhaps the Arena A are closer to the action than the Box C but I also like the idea of sitting in the traditional seating. Perhaps taking a 1st floor ticket will also give me the opportunity to observe the action from close up early in the day before everyone arrives.

Interesting to hear that writing a letter helps. May have to try that.

Again, this is retirement sumo we are talking about, and the times are 11:00 a.m. (when just about everybody arrives) to around 4:00 p.m. (when it's all over). Don't fall into the trap of equating it with regular sumo..

Orion

[Newfan 1]

Again, this is retirement sumo we are talking about, and the times are 11:00 a.m. (when just about everybody arrives) to around 4:00 p.m. (when it's all over). Don't fall into the trap of equating it with regular sumo..

Orion

Okay I understand its completely different to regular sumo but didn't know everyone will come right at the start for the full 5 hours. Thanks for that useful information. Gives me a better idea what it will be like.

Any personal preference between box C and arena A?