Kyushu Basho 2018 Discussion [SPOILERS]

[Benihana 1,901]

The, to me, weirdest part here is, that the parents needed to buy tickets. Putting myself in a similar - but no sumo - situation, i'd organized free entrance for them. But that possibly is just another case of cultural differences.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

39 minutes ago, Benevolance said:

I seem to recall that the zabuton in the box seats were connected together with sturdy fabric strips, which makes the set of 4 cushions a bit like a single, flimsy 4' x 4' cushion that is seriously lacking aerodynamics. You would have to get everyone to stand up at the same time (difficult, after an afternoon of drinking!) and somehow throw an object more akin to a floppy sun hat than a discus. You'd probably only be able to lob it as far as the people sitting in directly front of you. And they'd have a pretty good idea who did it. And you'd be forced to abase yourself for twenty minutes while the spokes guy from the box in front of you rubbed the back of his head and tersely dismissed your apologies with "nnnn, soooo" and the occasional sharp inhalation through his teeth. Meanwhile, he's holding what is clearly your pillow, because your box is the only box with all its pillows missing. And when he looks pointedly at your empty floor, you'd quickly make some excuse about having sent your pillow out for dry cleaning earlier in the match, which makes you obviously cringe and its lameness, and so you'd actually be relieved when Shikoroyama oyakata arrives flanked by two security guards to inform you of a lifetime ban from...wait. I didn't mean for this to sound quite so incriminating.

Curious to know the setting of this pseudo confessional.  

On my visits to the Kokugikan in Tokyo (I have no experience in Osaka, Nagoya, or Fukuoka) most recently in 2015, the zabuton were not connected "with sturdy fabric strips".  They were typically stacked in piles until the ticket holders arrived and arranged the four allotted zabuton as they wished.

Upon checking photos from last year's Kyushu basho, I discovered that there were no musubi no ichiban bouts (i.e., the final bouts when most zabuton throwing occurs as the result of an upset) with zabuton on the ring.  

I am starting to reconsider.  Perhaps the Fukuoka Kokusai Center is unique in its use of fabric strips, and has thus successfully curtailed the throwing of zabuton within its walls for some time now.  

That thought fills me with hope that I will still get to witness Japanese sumo fans expressing their displeasure as only Japanese sumo fans can.

Edited November 28, 2018 by Amamaniac

[Asojima 2,870]

17 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Perhaps the Fukuoka Kokusai Center is unique in its use of fabric strips,

Fukuoka was the first to take measures to limit the throwing of futons.  That happened a couple years ago.  I do not recall reading of other venues taking similar actions.

[Benevolance 2,478]

Yes, this was at the Fukuoka tournament; I've never been able to get box seat tickets in Tokyo. 

Edited November 29, 2018 by Benevolance

[Akinomaki 39,790]

On 26/11/2018 at 21:45, Amamaniac said:

On 26/11/2018 at 13:43, Akinomaki said:

the family spent up to 300 000 yen a month on food

Any details on how large his family is?  I found it strange that his mother was not present at the Kokugikan for his first championship.  And ¥300,000 is enough for some prime wagyu beef...

On 26/11/2018 at 22:19, Akinomaki said:

His mother was in the shitaku-beya for a family photo shoot with the cup - I had no time today to add the new pics. No mention of brothers or sisters on the wide shows

- and there are none: http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2018/11/26/kiji/20181126s00005000121000c.html

12 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

She lined up in the morning to get tickets of the day and sat in the last row - he sat in a masu seat in reach of the standard NHK cameras - 4 days in the first half, day 14 and 15. http://www.zakzak.co.jp/spo/news/181128/spo1811280012-n1.html

and she told that she prefers to sit in seats rather than in the masu seat boxes - much easier to get in and out, especially in that you can keep your shoes on. And like dad she rather refrained from watching live, because then her son mostly lost.

The wide shows displayed their communication via LINE after the loss to Takayasu on day 14: he told her she should come and watch because he would win

Compare this cost situation to what the okamisan of Musashigawa told about what the heya has to spend on food: 400 000 Yen a month - 18 rikishi and a very hungry gyoji - food donations are everything for a heya - at 8-10min in the video

On 26/11/2018 at 21:19, inhashi said:

A continuation of Musashigawa Beya aired today Nov. 26 with a close look into the heya.  The last show centered on Masami okamisan.  This time it is the little son Joey growing-up big! and bilingual. Wakaichiro teaches him a little English :)  
The heya's new recruit, 18 year old Yanagida Koumei? introduced himself as well.  Also, the gyoji Kimura Keitaro and fun clips of oyakata. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6xwawf

[Amamaniac 2,078]

12 hours ago, Benevolance said:

Yes, this was at the Fukuoka tournament; I've never been able to get box seat tickets in Tokyo. 

And by the sound of it, you'll never be able to get box seat tickets again in Fukuoka either...

[Akinomaki 39,790]

This time the YDC members came from Tokyo to watch the basho - rare thing - and Kitamura was asked after day 15 if Takayasu's  runner-up result would somehow lead to a yokozuna run  - and he said they would talk about that at the meeting on Monday. I had relied on that and removed the article from my "to mention later" list, but then nothing came up in the news.

[Yamanashi 3,725]

4 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

This time the YDC members came from Tokyo to watch the basho - rare thing - and Kitamura was asked after day 15 if Takayasu's  runner-up result would somehow lead to a yokozuna run  - and he said they would talk about that at the meeting on Monday. I had relied on that and removed the article from my "to mention later" list, but then nothing came up in the news.

So, there's yer answer.

[808morgan 805]

On 28/11/2018 at 16:24, Benevolance said:

Yes, this was at the Fukuoka tournament; I've never been able to get box seat tickets in Tokyo. 

I've had the box over the halls where the rikishi walk in and out. The 6 zabuton were loose at the kokugikan. Those are my favorite boxes since nobody is in front of you and they walk under you, good visibility. 

Edited December 1, 2018 by 808morgan

[Eikokurai 3,433]

On 29/11/2018 at 07:14, Benihana said:

The, to me, weirdest part here is, that the parents needed to buy tickets. Putting myself in a similar - but no sumo - situation, i'd organized free entrance for them. But that possibly is just another case of cultural differences.

Can rikishi do this? I’ve often wondered. Mitakeumi’s family were sat up in the seats when he won his yusho (I think – I’ve definitely seen them at one tournament or another). 

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

The masu seats are often bought up by companies or koenkai members, and then they'll invite people to sit in or "reserve" the seats for people who may be in need of them for whatever reason.

[robnplunder 974]

I removed (gave up) watching a basho live from ringside seat from my bucket list.   

Speaking of disappointments, this basho had a few for moi:  2 Yoko's MIA,   Kise's going 0-4 before going kyujo,  Satoyama's retiring, Mita's makekosh, Aminishiki's makekosh, ..

[Benihana 1,901]

2 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

Can rikishi do this? I’ve often wondered. Mitakeumi’s family were sat up in the seats when he won his yusho (I think – I’ve definitely seen them at one tournament or another). 

I don't think it's illegal for rikishi to buy tickets. Or ask one of the koenkai if they got one left.

[Naganoyama 5,841]

35 minutes ago, Benihana said:

I don't think it's illegal for rikishi to buy tickets. Or ask one of the koenkai if they got one left.

No, but it's illegal for them to bet on how many tickets are left.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

53 minutes ago, Benihana said:

I don't think it's illegal for rikishi to buy tickets. Or ask one of the koenkai if they got one left.

I meant arrange free entrance. Clearly they can buy tickets.

[Benevolance 2,478]

16 hours ago, 808morgan said:

I've had the box over the halls where the rikishi walk in and out. The 6 zabuton were loose at the kokugikan. Those are my favorite boxes since nobody is in front of you and they walk under you, good visibility. 

That would be absolutely awesome. 

[Otokonoyama 2,735]