Sign in to follow this  
Obana

Dohyo-iri (and other) photos/videos from 2015-2019

Recommended Posts

In this time of 'sumo uncertainty' (should be one word) and social isolation (the Japanese would abbreviate it 'soshiiso'?), I have been reviewing photographs and videos of recent Tokyo Sumo outings and started to load some of the videos on youTube. For Makunouchi, camera play ends after the opening ceremony as my attention is taken up entirely with sumo and serving myself sake. (The 'A' seat table is a gods sent!).

In the earlier hours, I am enamored with the liturgical announcements of the yobidashi. As the Kokugikan fills up, the prebout declaration of the rikishi on each side becomes inaudible on the second floor over the hubbub of people serving sake to each other. But until the early afternoon, it is possible to hear the melody, cadence and vocal flourishes & ornamentation employed by the lowly dung beetles of Grand Sumo. To me, many of the yobidashi announcements have the feel of the Gregorian Latin Roman Catholic mass as it used to be sung/chanted by the celebrants. There are also the times when a surreptitious glance at a scrap of paper in their non-fan hand is necessary to remember the shikona they are about to announce to the crowd. If not discouraged, I will likely start uploading these soon.

I thought I would start a thread and inform interested parties when I have uploaded new content. (If I am in the wrong section of the forum, I hope someone will swiftly notify me.)

This lot is from 2015 Natsu Basho, when Asahisho was 'Big Salt'. (Although, this is like a light snow in an ukiyo-e print.)

_13%20DSC02974%20salt%20asahisho%20auto%

What happened to the beer lassies? I had hoped for tengu with casks of sake but I ordered a beer just to encourage the activity. Alas, I have not seen them since.

_DSC02987%20beer.JPG


Day 4 Ōsumo Natsu Basho 2015

 

Day 9

 

Day 13

_13%20DSC02975%20auto.jpg

_13%20DSC02976%20auto%201.jpg

 

 

 

  • Like 5
  • Thanks 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This was the very basho, five years ago, when :my mate and I first visited Japan and first watched sumo. We were at a small izakaya in Ueno, but have been to four basho in person since then (thrice to the Kokugikan and once to Fukuoka), and In January 2020 I visited Japan for the 15th time, almost embarrassing actually. Isn't this the tournament that Terunofuji won?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This topic would probably fit nicely in the sumo information pond/sumo information as part of the some more pictures topic or as a standalone topic.  Moderators?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm going to soldier on for now with some photos from the 2016 Natsu Basho.

It was Ura's sekitori debut. (day 3)

_16%2003%201%20DSC04005%20ura.JPG

Juryo West dohyo-iri.

_16%2003%202%20DSC04006%20w%20juryo.JPG

_16%2003%203%20DSC04008%20w%20juryo%20ex

Ura with no knee wraps.

_16%2003%204%20DSC04017%20ura.JPG

_16%2003%205%20ura%20corner.JPG

For comparison, Ura's bout on day 9 of the last basho held before a live crowd (Hatsu 2020).  Major knee bandages/supports.  Followed by Yobidashi Hiromasa's announcement of the next bout (after consulting notes in his free hand).

Day 3 Makunouchi West dohyo-iri.

_16%2003%206%20DSC04034%20w%20maku.JPG

_16%2003%207%20west%20maku%20dhi.JPG

East Makuuchi

_16%2003%208%20DSC04029%20e%20maku.JPG

_16%2003%209%20east%20dohyoiri.JPG

Day 6 Makuuchi dohyo-iri

_16%2006%201%20DSC04146.JPG

Egyptian with Kintaro keshomawashi.

_16%2006%202osuna%20kin.JPG

When I look at Terunofuji's keshomawashi, I am reminded of the Ruler of Ankh-Morpork in Terry Pratchett's Discworld books whose family "coat of arms is a plain, simple sable shield, and therefore does not show up against the black coach in which Lord Vetinari travels – black on black".

_16%2006%203%20vetinari%20-%20Copy.JPG

Day 11

The crowd and red tassle at 11:00 AM.

_16%2011%201%2011AM.JPG

3 PM

_16%2011%202%201500%20jst.JPG

4 PM

_16%2011%203%201600%20JST.JPG

Juryo dohyo-iri

_16%2011%204%20juryo%20dhi%2013.JPG

Makuuchi dohyo iri.

_16%2011%205%20DSC04006%20maku%20dhi%201

_16%2011%206%20maku%20dhi%2011%20w.JPG

Ura.

_16%2011%207%20ura%2011.JPG

I wonder if they all agreed on the color palette?

_16%2011%208%20ura%20shikiri%2011%20tsur

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this