Obana 293 Posted April 11, 2020 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.) 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. Day 4 Ōsumo Natsu Basho 2015 Day 9 Day 13 5 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaminariyuki 495 Posted April 12, 2020 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
Asojima 2,855 Posted April 12, 2020 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
Obana 293 Posted April 13, 2020 I'm going to soldier on for now with some photos from the 2016 Natsu Basho. It was Ura's sekitori debut. (day 3) Juryo West dohyo-iri. Ura with no knee wraps. 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. East Makuuchi Day 6 Makuuchi dohyo-iri Egyptian with Kintaro keshomawashi. 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". Day 11 The crowd and red tassle at 11:00 AM. 3 PM 4 PM Juryo dohyo-iri Makuuchi dohyo iri. Ura. I wonder if they all agreed on the color palette? 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites