Akinomaki 40,703 Posted October 5, 2015 (edited) An overseas sumo exhibition tournament (kaigai koen) is planned for next summer to be held - like so many sports events - in Qatar. It would be the first in the Middle East. Already several Japanese and international companies have indicated their support.The main force behind it is the new general incorporated association "Qatar Work Communications", which started on the 1st this month, for economical, sports and cultural exchange between Japan and Qatar. The last such event was in August 2013 in Jakarta.http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/10/05/kiji/K20151005011261960.htmlJakarta Edited October 5, 2015 by Akinomaki 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Washuyama 641 Posted October 5, 2015 The weather won't be too pleasant. Qatar in the summer is 125 F (51 C) with 75% humidity. Nice shopping malls though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
orandashoho 720 Posted October 5, 2015 Terrible timing to do this in summer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d_golem 213 Posted October 5, 2015 Jakarta??? 2013??? Why haven't the sumo bug bit me then??? Whyyyy????? I shall write to the NSK requesting one such event again here in Jakarta! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
orandashoho 720 Posted October 5, 2015 Europe please! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,634 Posted October 5, 2015 Terrible timing to do this in summer. They are not the first to have such a brilliant idea... ;-) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,281 Posted October 5, 2015 Well sumo will most definitely be held indoors so I'm sure they'll condition the hell out of the air in whereever they're holding it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hakushin 4 Posted October 8, 2015 Does anyone knows about the exact time and place for the event ? Any information is very appreciated Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
torquato 1,075 Posted October 9, 2015 I'm very sure details aren't decided yet. You'll have to wait. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Usagi 36 Posted October 9, 2015 It seems, the NSK is avoiding a trip to Europe. Raising the interest in watching sumo outside - okay, but it seems, they don't want to fire the interest of Europeans to actually practise sumo and to participate in Ozumo sooner or later, setting the chances of any japanese sumotori to nearly zero, to ever win a Honbasho again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,594 Posted October 9, 2015 It seems, the NSK is avoiding a trip to Europe. Raising the interest in watching sumo outside - okay, but it seems, they don't want to fire the interest of Europeans to actually practise sumo and to participate in Ozumo sooner or later, setting the chances of any japanese sumotori to nearly zero, to ever win a Honbasho again.An early contender for dumbest comment of the month. Here's an idea: Raise the money needed to organize an international event and I'm quite sure the Kyokai will listen to your proposal to come to Europe again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 40,703 Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) The main force behind it is the new general incorporated association "Qatar Work Communications", which started on the 1st this month Does anyone knows about the exact time and place for the event ? Not exact yet, but getting a bit more precise: Now June is considered as the time, of course the place is the capital Doha. Qatar Work Communications has announced the plan, maybe the interview will turn up on the net. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/10/09/kiji/K20151009011285130.html Edited October 9, 2015 by Akinomaki 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shikona 168 Posted October 10, 2015 It seems, the NSK is avoiding a trip to Europe. Raising the interest in watching sumo outside - okay, but it seems, they don't want to fire the interest of Europeans to actually practise sumo and to participate in Ozumo sooner or later, setting the chances of any japanese sumotori to nearly zero, to ever win a Honbasho again. Of course the preponderance of European Yokozuna makes this quite likely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Usagi 36 Posted October 12, 2015 It is rather a vague impression than a true believe, but considering the number of participating Europeans, 2 Ozeki by now is a lot. Mongolia has only 3 Million inhabitants, Europe about 750 Million. If Northern Americans, Polynesians, Europeans, Africans would start participating in Ozumo, hardly any Japanese sekitori would remain. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,037 Posted October 12, 2015 Going strictly by numbers doesn't work here because with only one slot available per heya the recruited foreigners are the cream of the crop, in contrast to Japanese deshi. And that one-per-heya rule isn't likely to change anytime soon, so another jungyo in Europe wouldn't "hurt" the banzuke any more than it already is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
orandashoho 720 Posted October 13, 2015 There are a lot of barriers to cross before coming to a heya, not just the "one foreigner per heya" rule. The difference in culture, and language. The impossibility for any young person to get to know enough about sumo to get in at the gound floor -- recruits are by necessity older and come from other sports. Not many would want to start at the bottom rung of the ladder in a heya under those circumstances. Sumo is not a serious career option to anyone in the West, you'd have to be exceptionally talented from the start to even consider it. An exhibition basho in an European country does not change that. I don't think that sumo outside Japan could be in any way comparable to sumo in Japan. Stripped of its traditions and hierarchies it may be called a sport, it may share kimarites, but off the dohyo it is not a way of life. Do kids even know that sumo exists, let alone dream of becoming a yokozuna, or have sekitori heroes? Instead, people smirk at a big man in a mawashi rather than respect him. That is really one of the reasons that sumo must travel, to enlighten the ignorant. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
