Zabuton

[Faustonowaka 160]

Why are zabuton tossed around when a yokozuna loses?

Is there a historical reason for this, is it tradition?

Do the zabuton belong to the attendants or do they have to buy it?

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

Why are zabuton tossed around when a yokozuna loses?

Is there a historical reason for this, is it tradition?

Do the zabuton belong to the attendants or do they have to buy it?

Wise men and women may provide a thoroughal answer but I'll give it a shot.

In ancient times crowd used to throw all sorts of things to the dohyo when exciting bout took place. If I am not mistaken, part of the purpose was to give "gifts" to rikishi that way too. At some point someone got injured when some heavy stuff was thrown and it was forbidden for a while.

I guess the habit nowadays may be just a funny tradition. Some people in the audience reach orgastic euforia when they get a chance to ventilate their system and act wildly throwing zabuton all over the place. Zabuton fly sometimes also when yokozuna wins if it has been a good bout and sometimes no matter what happens, audience throws zabuton for the fun of it I suppose.

When I will get to visit KOkugikan I intend to throw zabuton the frisbee style and hope that my throw gives the final coating of sumo atmosphere experience! (Enjoying a beer...)

Whether they cost something, I don't know. Many members here have been to Kokugikan and other sumo venues many times and can give eye witness accounts on all zabuton related behaviour codes and whether they cost and if they are soft and comfortable to sit on. All info appreciated! (Cheers...)

In Finland in some ice hockey venues one can buy "zabuton" with low cost when you enter the venue. The zabuton looks more modest than the ones flying in the air at the time of Asashoryu's final bow of the day but quality comparison is very difficult without tangible buttock contact with the actual sumo zabuton.

[Kintamayama 47,232]

Whether they cost something, I don't know. Many members here have been to Kokugikan and other sumo venues many times and can give eye witness accounts on all zabuton related behaviour codes and whether they cost and if they are soft and comfortable to sit on. All info appreciated! (Enjoying a beer...)

I

Zabutons are part of masu-seki and Sunakaburi.Come with the tickets. Free..Well, these tickets cost so much, so at least the zabutons are free. I doubt the Sunakaburi dwellers throw them, though - they come from the Masu-seki. Nagoya crowds are notorious for overthrowing zabutons.

[Jakusotsu 6,394]

The first day I ever went to the Kokugikan was day 11 of last Natsu Basho. I had a great seat up in the isu-seki front row. At least I thought the seat was great until Kyokutenho decided to carry out the Yokozuna by tsuridashi - flocks of zabuton flying everywhere and I had NOTHING TO THROW! (In a bad mood...)

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

I'm pretty sure alcohol has something to do with it... (Applauding...)

Beer is included with the gifts for many box seats (Blushing...) . Beer, sake, and chu-hi is available from the souvenier stands or from roving staff. It's also no problem to bring your own booze. The moron beside me (the same one who later gave me a piece of the dohyo...see my related post) drank whisky, sake, beer and chu-hi, all before thowing his cushion at the yokozuna as he took the kensho prizes, and running down to tear the dohyo to pieces... (Blushing...)

[Mark Buckton 1]

I'm pretty sure alcohol has something to do with it... (Laughing...)

Beer is included with the gifts for many box seats (Annoyed...) . Beer, sake, and chu-hi is available from the souvenier stands or from roving staff. It's also no problem to bring your own booze. The moron beside me (the same one who later gave me a piece of the dohyo...see my related post) drank whisky, sake, beer and chu-hi, all before thowing his cushion at the yokozuna as he took the kensho prizes, and running down to tear the dohyo to pieces... (Applauding...)

Alcohol is generally included in all forms of bad manners in Japan and is more often than not accepted as the reason making the 'offence' go away.

Consider the police who touch little girls then say because they were drunk a bad spirit entered tham and they couldn't control their actions. (Drunkenness was actually SUCCESSFULLY used in defense of a murder charge as recent as 45 years ago - SUCCESSFULLY!)

The guys in the Aichi PG are just bottom of the barrel and in 'being different' when drunk are actually all acting the same anyway. Aome anthropological opportunities in there probably.

I enjoy a beer or two at the sumo but won't go round being an arse 'because' of the beer - I still have to live with myself the next day. (Blushing...)

The local reaction is often - (Eh?) something happened?

[amgaa99 0]

I think, zabuton is not good thing.

[Takanobaka 0]

Zabuton aren't "free" per se, but they do come with the seat. If you look under the Zabuton, they are numbered so the ushers know where to put the Zabuton back to after the day is over (if they were thrown that day). Also, it's very hinga-nai to throw more than one Zabuton from a box.

[Sasanishiki 57]

In ancient times crowd used to throw all sorts of things to the dohyo when exciting bout took place. If I am not mistaken, part of the purpose was to give "gifts" to rikishi that way too. At some point someone got injured when some heavy stuff was thrown and it was forbidden for a while.

Just going backto Kaikitsune's post. This is what I know about the items thrown as 'prizes'

The items were thrown and the wrestlers or their attendents would gather them and exchange them for money. This worked in two ways. If the goods were identifiable they would be returned to the owner and money, a meal or something else would be exchanged. This was an early form of the patron system and the gift thrown was really a 'calling card' to set up the meeting with the wrestler.

The other, less elaborate way was that the item was exchanged or sold.

[Torideyama 33]

Zabuton aren't "free" per se, but they do come with the seat.  If you look under the Zabuton, they are numbered so the ushers know where to put the Zabuton back to after the day is over (if they were thrown that day).  Also, it's very hinga-nai to throw more than one Zabuton from a box.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And this is the reason that my good friend Barbara encouraged me 'NOT' to throw my zabutan, as she is friends with some of the ushers, and knows how much extra work it is for them to sort out and return them to their proper places.