Sumo and the Olympics

[Seiyashi 4,068]

For those who are curious, I came across the dohyo-iri at the Nagano 1988 1998 Winter Olympics (while looking for footage of Kitanofuji's kanreki dohyo-iri, which at least does not exist on Youtube). This might be what Hakuho has in mind himself.

Musashimaru and Wakanohana III led the makuuchi wrestlers in soroibumi, before Akebono (in lieu of Takanohana), preceded by tsuyuharai Terao and tachimochi Kitakachidoki, entered the dohyo. Then-Emperor Akihito entered, after which Akebono performed the yokozuna dohyo-iri.

 

Edited March 29, 2021 by Seiyashi
thanks @Yamanashi

[Morning 73]

Something like that is also what I had been hoping for.

[ViscountessNivlac 24]

I just don’t know how well it could work with modern event coordination. Sumo’s all rather slow.

I wonder if the rikishi could be coerced into jogging out...

[Seiyashi 4,068]

3 hours ago, ViscountessNivlac said:

I just don’t know how well it could work with modern event coordination. Sumo’s all rather slow.

I wonder if the rikishi could be coerced into jogging out...

Slow's not bad for some gravitas, although I do wish if they did makuuchi soroibumi they'd rehearse and coordinate a little better. 

[Yamanashi 3,689]

That would be 1998 Winter Olympics, yes?

A great shot of a young Kyokutenho!

[Seiyashi 4,068]

12 minutes ago, Yamanashi said:

That would be 1998 Winter Olympics, yes?

A great shot of a young Kyokutenho!

Thanks for the spot; corrected accordingly.

For those interested, the corresponding banzuke is: Hatsu 1998 Banzuke (sumogames.de)

That was actually Kyokutenho's makuuchi debut too. Just behind him is Mainoumi, who was in the second stretch of his career (after his juryo drop).

[Morning 73]

14 hours ago, ViscountessNivlac said:

I just don’t know how well it could work with modern event coordination. Sumo’s all rather slow.

I wonder if the rikishi could be coerced into jogging out...

I suspect they'd just wheel a complete ring/shrine in with the wrestlers already on it to be revealed in a dramatic fashion. 

[Yamanashi 3,689]

6 minutes ago, Morning said:

I suspect they'd just wheel a complete ring/shrine in with the wrestlers already on it to be revealed in a dramatic fashion. 

I'm not asking for a Poll or anything, just pondering what each man would choose for his walk-up music.

[Akinomaki 39,551]

On 09/03/2021 at 15:47, Akinomaki said:

Hakuho has a tough schedule: the torch relay in Sumida ward is on July 19th, the day after day 15 of the July basho, which is planned to be in Nagoya http://www.sumo.or.jp/Admission/isolate/606/. The 2nd part has the kokugikan as the goal, planned arrival at the kokugikan 16:01h JST, logically Hakuho should be running as the last to be the one there. https://gtimg.tokyo2020.org/image/upload/production/lxwifuxxyoqkvommhxqb.pdf

There are several requirements for the celebrity runners https://tokyo2020.org/ja/torch/about/secure-and-safe - and if Hakuho just arrives from Nagoya, he maybe won't meet the conditions.

Looks like the basho really will be in Nagoya, and Hakuho with that knee may hardly finish the basho - but so far he has not declared he won't run. Today he started rehabilitation in the heya by walking around the keiko ground - the time to start shiko stamping again will be carefully chosen. o

NHK streams the torch relay run live and the videos remain (VPN for Japan needed) https://sports.nhk.or.jp/olympic/torch/

Izutsu is the first of interest here, on April 19th he runs at home in Sukumo, which is the goal for that day, as one of 17 runners for the city, in between 18:57h-19:40h JST - maybe he's in the celebration as well. https://gtimg.tokyo2020.org/image/upload/production/phzwj2zndj9g61ecgkc1.pdf

[yorikiried by fate 1,987]

On 29/03/2021 at 07:38, Seiyashi said:

For those interested, the corresponding banzuke is: Hatsu 1998 Banzuke (sumogames.de)

It is very interesting (and symbolic) that no exchange happened between Makuuchi and Juryo from Hatsu to Haru 1998. Which is pretty rare AFAIK. That means that the same rikishi competed before and after the Olympics for the Makuuchi yusho. Frame, pillars, whathaveyou...

[dada78641 884]

On 09/03/2021 at 15:47, Akinomaki said:

Hakuho has a tough schedule: the torch relay in Sumida ward is on July 19th, the day after day 15 of the July basho, which is planned to be in Nagoya http://www.sumo.or.jp/Admission/isolate/606/. The 2nd part has the kokugikan as the goal, planned arrival at the kokugikan 16:01h JST, logically Hakuho should be running as the last to be the one there. https://gtimg.tokyo2020.org/image/upload/production/lxwifuxxyoqkvommhxqb.pdf

There are several requirements for the celebrity runners https://tokyo2020.org/ja/torch/about/secure-and-safe - and if Hakuho just arrives from Nagoya, he maybe won't meet the conditions.

I'm thinking it's possible Hakuho will participate in Natsu, try his utmost best to have a good performance, and then sit out Nagoya. A problem, however, is that the NSK doesn't like it when wrestlers go kyujo and then do public events. Maybe he'll come to an understanding with them: "I'm retiring, just let me do these last few things as yokozuna to end my career on a high note."

Either way, I think they'll have to find some sort of agreement on how to best arrange all of this because Hakuho is on his last legs, and the NSK probably doesn't want to get in a position where they'd need to recommend retirement before the olympics happen.

I'm getting my vaccine in May and I really hope I can be back in Sumida at some point (I used to live there). I'd love to be there to witness the last part of the GOAT's career, although realistically I'm not expecting to be able to.

[Seiyashi 4,068]

7 minutes ago, dada78641 said:

I'm thinking it's possible Hakuho will participate in Natsu, try his utmost best to have a good performance, and then sit out Nagoya. A problem, however, is that the NSK doesn't like it when wrestlers go kyujo and then do public events. Maybe he'll come to an understanding with them: "I'm retiring, just let me do these last few things as yokozuna to end my career on a high note."

Either way, I think they'll have to find some sort of agreement on how to best arrange all of this because Hakuho is on his last legs, and the NSK probably doesn't want to get in a position where they'd need to recommend retirement before the olympics happen.

I'm getting my vaccine in May and I really hope I can be back in Sumida at some point (I used to live there). I'd love to be there to witness the last part of the GOAT's career, although realistically I'm not expecting to be able to.

I don't think he'll be ready for Natsu. He needs to be able to last the 15 days and not end with a howler result. Between the Nagoya basho, the torch run, and the Olympics dohyo-iri, I think he'll sac the torch run because the basho is his ticket to the Olympics dohyo-iri, and that is precisely what he has pulled out multiple stops repeatedly to try and make happen. 

Edited April 6, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Wakaebala 151]

On 02/10/2019 at 16:52, Akinomaki said:

Yesterday the Olympic count down board was installed at the kokugikan - the Olympic boxing arena.

Unveiled by Hakkaku and Meguro ward mayor Yamamoto

Hm... interesting. If the Kokugikan is in Sumida, why the Meguro ward mayor was the one who took part in the inauguration ceremony? 

[Sue 475]

Washington Post story suggests the possibility of cancellation.  Has any such thing surfaced in the Japanese media (or social media) at all?

[Kaminariyuki 497]

On 28/03/2021 at 23:06, Seiyashi said:

Slow's not bad for some gravitas, although I do wish if they did makuuchi soroibumi they'd rehearse and coordinate a little better. 

LOL,I thought the same thing, ...but it's not synchronized swimming, after all.

[Seiyashi 4,068]

2 hours ago, Kaminariyuki said:

On 29/03/2021 at 13:06, Seiyashi said:

Slow's not bad for some gravitas, although I do wish if they did makuuchi soroibumi they'd rehearse and coordinate a little better. 

LOL,I thought the same thing, ...but it's not synchronized swimming, after all.

I mean, they don't have to be getting 10s from a synchronised swimming panel, but if everyone stomped at the same time it would look at least somewhat impressive like the haka or something.

That is, unless they were advised to stagger shiko to avoid resonance destroying the stage. 

[Kaminariyuki 497]

2 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

I mean, they don't have to be getting 10s from a synchronised swimming panel, but if everyone stomped at the same time it would look at least somewhat impressive like the haka or something.

That is, unless they were advised to stagger shiko to avoid resonance destroying the stage. 

Even though I was really impressed with some of the rikishis' abilities to stretch and perform subtle moves during asageiko, I think a lot of these guys are never going to be dancers. I could be underestimating them, though, I suppose. If rugby players can learn to perform, why not sumo wrestlers, eh? 

It would be humorous to see the Black lineup opposing 11 of our guys in mawashi. 

[Akinomaki 39,551]

On 05/04/2021 at 18:05, Akinomaki said:

Izutsu is the first of interest here, on April 19th he runs at home in Sukumo, which is the goal for that day, as one of 17 runners for the city, in between 18:57h-19:40h JST - maybe he's in the celebration as well.

As expected, Izutsu was the final runner today, but he is listed as Toyonoshima

the video is extremely hard to come by so far, they only have a 13h live stream recording which makes the browser freeze, both from the Olympic channel and from NHK https://sports.nhk.or.jp/olympic/torch/events/20210419/

Edit: now a 7m video is on NHK, available with VPN for Japan, more a walk than a run, first a shiko stamping performance - in the end he got to light up the Olympic flame at the goal. Each runner has his own torch, as a Corona measure.

ooo  

Edited April 20, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Morning 73]

Don't they always have their own torch? They can even buy them. 

At least the last few Olympic Games the torch had never been handed over, it was always used to light the next torch.

[Yamanashi 3,689]

7 hours ago, Morning said:

Don't they always have their own torch? They can even buy them. 

At least the last few Olympic Games the torch had never been handed over, it was always used to light the next torch.

My recollection may be faulty, but that's what I remember.  Every participant got a souvenir.

[Akinomaki 39,551]

12 hours ago, Morning said:

Don't they always have their own torch? They can even buy them. 

At least the last few Olympic Games the torch had never been handed over, it was always used to light the next torch.

You can see by this that I hardly ever watch the Olympics - I just saw the details about the torch listed with the Corona safety measures and made up that connection

Edited April 20, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 39,551]

22 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

more a walk than a run, first a shiko stamping performance - in the end he got to light up the Olympic flame at the goal.

ooo  

more pics

o

in the Kyodo digest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKyEihUSTVI&t=6m25s

NHK has an interview with him as the last on the Kochi I page https://sports.nhk.or.jp/olympic/torch/events/20210419/

Edited April 20, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Kaminariyuki 497]

On 15/04/2021 at 10:22, Sue said:

Washington Post story suggests the possibility of cancellation.  Has any such thing surfaced in the Japanese media (or social media) at all?

Japan should certainly get the next, as yet uncommitted, summer Olympics, IMO. Even in the increasingly unlikely event that the games are held this summer, they are not going to be the event that was bargained for in good faith.

And sumo should et at least an exhibition sport status during the games, not just a tournament in between the Olympics and Paralympics.

[Ichimawashi 573]

4 hours ago, Kaminariyuki said:

Japan should certainly get the next, as yet uncommitted, summer Olympics, IMO. Even in the increasingly unlikely event that the games are held this summer, they are not going to be the event that was bargained for in good faith.

And sumo should et at least an exhibition sport status during the games, not just a tournament in between the Olympics and Paralympics.

I agree strongly with the first but the next opening is not until 2032.  Perhaps LA can be persuaded to move from 2028 to 2032 in order to let Tokyo have a proper turn.

Sumo has the same problem as curling did when it was proposed repeatedly in the 1970s and 1980s: until there is at least the chance that the gold medal nation is contested (ah, those were the days, when the only way to upset Canada was when a Canadian coach would reveal the secrets to the Scots or the Swedes and catch us on an off day....), the IOC is not really interested.  The first step would need to be an annual world championship of some sort with considerable participation and success from rikishi outside the top 40 on the banzuke.

[Godango 956]

2 hours ago, Ichimawashi said:

I agree strongly with the first but the next opening is not until 2032.  Perhaps LA can be persuaded to move from 2028 to 2032 in order to let Tokyo have a proper turn.

Sumo has the same problem as curling did when it was proposed repeatedly in the 1970s and 1980s: until there is at least the chance that the gold medal nation is contested (ah, those were the days, when the only way to upset Canada was when a Canadian coach would reveal the secrets to the Scots or the Swedes and catch us on an off day....), the IOC is not really interested.  The first step would need to be an annual world championship of some sort with considerable participation and success from rikishi outside the top 40 on the banzuke.

I'm from Brisbane, QLD, Australia -- apparently we're in prime position as the IOC's 'preferred bidder' for the 2032 games. Personally I agree that yes, Tokyo should get it, and we should be talking about 2036 bids, but from everything that's going on and they way our media and government is talking (especially over the past few days/weeks), it's ours to lose.

Edited April 21, 2021 by Houmanumi