Dangerously close to the third rail...

[Ichimawashi 573]

If this post does not appear to live up to the 'respect for sumo and its ways and traditions' that we all support, I apologize in advance.

It is well-known that Hakuho hopes to be asked to represent sumo in the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan by performing a yokozuna dohyo-iri, and that he may even be extending his career to remain active until that time.  I do not, however, recall any news reports that confirm that the organizing committee has made any such request.  Is it possible that the spectacle could be too controversial for Olympic standards?  I refer -- knowing that this is something that sumo watchers accept and mostly ignore while others who stumble onto live streams tend to mock (and often get rightly banned for it) -- to the level of nudity, or near-nudity among the rikishi involved in the ceremony.  Is it possible that the IOC is going to have a serious problem with this, even if camera angles are carefully chosen?  I recall many strange things from opening ceremonies that even the commentators' explanations did not make terribly clear, but nothing on the level of what one sees when a rikishi, even one in a kesho-mawashi, is viewed from behind.

[Kintamayama 44,354]

12 minutes ago, Ichimawashi said:

If this post does not appear to live up to the 'respect for sumo and its ways and traditions' that we all support, I apologize in advance.

It is well-known that Hakuho hopes to be asked to represent sumo in the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan by performing a yokozuna dohyo-iri, and that he may even be extending his career to remain active until that time.  I do not, however, recall any news reports that confirm that the organizing committee has made any such request.  Is it possible that the spectacle could be too controversial for Olympic standards?  I refer -- knowing that this is something that sumo watchers accept and mostly ignore while others who stumble onto live streams tend to mock (and often get rightly banned for it) -- to the level of nudity, or near-nudity among the rikishi involved in the ceremony.  Is it possible that the IOC is going to have a serious problem with this, even if camera angles are carefully chosen?  I recall many strange things from opening ceremonies that even the commentators' explanations did not make terribly clear, but nothing on the level of what one sees when a rikishi, even one in a kesho-mawashi, is viewed from behind.

Nagano Olympics 1998. Winter, but still the Olympics. Akebono did the dohyo iri, and the delegates were led by rikishi.

[Ichimawashi 573]

Well, I guess that answers that.  Thanks yet again, Moti!  And congrats on the Nagoya ISP win!

[Yamanashi 3,728]

Just off the top of my head, my impression of this:

1) Swimming apparel shows off much more of the human body (though the retort "Yeah, but they're not fat" might get near to the truth here).

2) Let me just put this out there: there are people who wait four years for the next chance to see Olympic Women's Volleyball.  I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

3) It can be argued that boxers wear less clothing than rikishi.

 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

There was a Tongan athlete who became a minor celebrity after entering the stadium oiled up all over his near-naked body, so doubtful they’d have any issues with a bit of Hakuho skin.

[Wakamiyama 11]

Also Sumo under the IFS is a member of ARISF and has full recognition from the IOC so I highly doubt it would be a problem. 

[Benevolance 2,478]

Does anyone know why Akebono was chosen to do the dohyo iri over Takanohana?  I mean, geez - Takanohana had 18 yusho at that point, to Akebono's 9, and he was a solid yokozuna. Was it simply because Takanohana was injured at the end of Hatsu 1998? He annoyed the YDC too much? It always seemed odd to me that Akebono was favoured for the role.

And, you see, with how much the organization has complained about Hakuho's antics recently, I can kind of envision this shit show errupting where, say, newcomer yokozuna Mitakeumi suddenly gets the nod for the Olympics and two days later his body is discovered near a bloody karaoke remote. 

[fwuzzle23 66]

37 minutes ago, Benevolance said:

Does anyone know why Akebono was chosen to do the dohyo iri over Takanohana?  I mean, geez - Takanohana had 18 yusho at that point, to Akebono's 9, and he was a solid yokozuna. Was it simply because Takanohana was injured at the end of Hatsu 1998? He annoyed the YDC too much? It always seemed odd to me that Akebono was favoured for the role.

Takanohana was in the hospital at the time with a high fever. Otherwise, yes, he likely would have been the one doing it instead of Akebono.

[yohcun 393]

Well nudity is part of ancient Olympic history, is it not?

[Stelios 30]

On 07/08/2019 at 06:48, yohcun said:

Well nudity is part of ancient Olympic history, is it not?

The athletes in ancient Greek Olympics were buck naked, as a sign of innocence and proof they had nothing to hide. Nudity was one of the main reasons for the demise of Ancient Olympics, with the advent of Christianity.

[luispereira 383]

"stop fat shaming" as reached sumo..?