The English commentators- views

[sumojoann 1,256]

5 hours ago, Kaminariyuki said:

Such a great question by Yamanashi, and I appreciated this response. I'd love to hear an example, or two, of Kitanofuji's zingers. Even better, maybe a thread during the basho where those of you who are fluent or conversational in Japanese can keep us lowly Japanese language students up-to-date?

Here ya go, Kaminariyuki, although I must say I don't know what "taking the piss" means!

 

Edited June 23, 2021 by sumojoann

[sumojoann 1,256]

3 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

You can of course also record the broadcasts with a DVR and watch them at a time of your leisure. That's what I used to do when I still lived in the States. 

I tried doing that a couple of times but didn't enjoy it nearly as much as watching the live broadcast.  I love that feeling of immediacy, knowing that at the very moment I'm sitting in my chair breathing the night air, the basho is taking place in real time.  If I close my eyes, I can transport myself to the Kokugikan and once again be part of the audience.  I like that feeling of not knowing what's going to happen next, who's going to win and who's going to lose.  If I record it and watch it later, by then it's old news.  It's anticlimactic. 

[sumojoann 1,256]

5 hours ago, Kaminariyuki said:

Such a great question by Yamanashi, and I appreciated this response. I'd love to hear an example, or two, of Kitanofuji's zingers. Even better, maybe a thread during the basho where those of you who are fluent or conversational in Japanese can keep us lowly Japanese language students up-to-date?

Posted March 17 (edited)

Kitanofuji-san TV commentator on Chiyotairyuu: "He doesn't look healthy.  Looking closer, without the sideburns, he's become cute.. He doesn't look threatening.." On no Yokozunae: "BOOOORING!! Nothing we can do about it.. Looks like Terunofuji will be pulling everyone after him.." On Shoudai, before his bout, which he lost: "He should be very careful today. His tachiai is very high this basho and can be easily pushed around. " He was right. "See?? I don't want to boast but he does look nervous.." On Hokutofuji and the blood: "He's used to getting cut.."   On the NHK broadcast twitter: "Man, I'm tired! I was sleeping while listening to rakugo on the radio and when I awoke it was three thirty.. I kept listening to programs and sleeping and then I woke up at 6 am. I got up earlier than the roosters.." A character he is, this guy.

**NOTE**  Above was taken from the thread "Actually not so concise rikishi talk".  I'm not sure if these are quotes from his TV commentator gig or from an interview.

[sumojoann 1,256]

Posted January 25 (edited)

Sanspo has been featuring gems uttered by our favorite commentator Kitanofuji on radio and on TV on a daily basis.  On senshuraku the camera focused on Daieishou from the back in the hanamichi as he prepared to enter the dohyo area. "Well, he looks good from the back as well. His buttocks stick out, huh? He's got a good ass.. Seriously good ass.." When Sanbe announcer tried to correct him gently by saying "You mean buttocks.." he answered "He has a good buttocks.."

After the broadcast- "Haaa,, aaah, it's over, huh? I've got absolutely nothing to do till the next basho.. A lot of spare time again.." When someone said "We're looking forward to seeing you next basho" he answered: "Oh, if I'm still alive.."

"I'd like to thank the fans for coming during these cold and trying times. If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't want to come.." "Oh no, don't say that.." said a flushed Sanbe announcer.

**NOTE**  Above are further comments by Kitanofuji on TV.  This was taken from the "2021 Kozumo Hatsu Basho discussion thread."

Edited June 23, 2021 by sumojoann

[sumojoann 1,256]

Here is a bitter clash between Kitanofuji and Mainoumi during a live broadcast.  This was posted March 23 in the thread "Haru 2020 Basho Discussion (Spoilers)" ---------

Posted March 23, 2020

The relations between the two NHK commentators Kitanofuji and Mainoumi have been strained for quite some time, as Kitanofuji has been having a go at Mainoumi recently. Senshuraku was no different. On the Ozeki promotion criteria this time: "We've had rikishi promoted with 28 wins in three bashos who later went on to become Yokozuna, like Mr. Kitanofuji. I'd like the powers that be to treat Asanoyama in this manner," said Mainoumi, asking to disregard the '33 wins over three bashos" thingy. "If you say stuff like that, we're done!!" snapped Kitanofuji on air. "Maybe it's better you don't say things like that," added Osaka announcer, the NHK guy. Good thing I wasn't there.

[RabidJohn 1,665]

4 hours ago, sumojoann said:

... although I must say I don't know what "taking the piss" means!

Making fun of, mocking, disparaging. Taking the piss - Wikipedia

[sumojoann 1,256]

1 hour ago, RabidJohn said:

Making fun of, mocking, disparaging. Taking the piss - Wikipedia

Thank you.  I looked it up and it said In the US, people would say "f**king with".

[Kintamayama 44,354]

9 hours ago, Kujo said:

But o-mcgoldennuggets-sama (are we still on the Mickey D's theme?) I thought you were the all knowing/all seeing  

I thought so too, but it turns out that no, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[Jejima 1,314]

6 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

Making fun of, mocking, disparaging. Taking the piss - Wikipedia

Reminds me a little of when I was at university, and the Dutch (but American language educated) girlfriend of one of my friends came into the university bar and asked me where her boyfriend was.

I replied that he had been in earlier but had got a little pissed, and so had gone home.

It took a while before she understood that her boyfriend was drunk and not angry....

Which reminds me of another thing.

When I first went to Japan as a JET teacher, we had a big induction for teachers for the whole of Japan. As part of one of the presentations, the speaker gave us this sentence....

"I'm mad about my flat."

- and assured the audience that the Americans and British would understand the meaning to this very differently. Which we did!

[Kaminariyuki 497]

14 hours ago, sumojoann said:

**NOTE**  Above was taken from the thread "Actually not so concise rikishi talk".  I'm not sure if these are quotes from his TV commentator gig or from an interview.

So, is this the thread I should stay tuned to during the basho to get all the in-the-know zingers?

[Yamanashi 3,725]

1 hour ago, Kaminariyuki said:

So, is this the thread I should stay tuned to during the basho to get all the in-the-know zingers?

It will usually have the phrase "rikishi talk" in it, with occasional modifications, depending on his whim.

[themistyseas 226]

On 22/06/2021 at 17:16, Eikokurai said:

I'm fairly sure Murray gave an interview (perhaps in a podcast?) where he said that sumo is far and away the most watched thing on NHK World, which gives them some protection at HQ. I think in the interview they went into it a little bit about the possibility of doing more for sumo and the ratings were mentioned as leverage they could potentially use to do that. I wish I could remember where I saw or heard this. Tachai maybe?

Yes - it was the conversation I had with him a couple years ago. There are 4 pages to the interview so quite a bit of meat in there for people interested in his thoughts on this and more. Bear in mind this is all pre-pandemic so I'm sure priorities at NHK will have changed. This is the portion (the first of the 4) which has the bit you're referring to: https://tachiai.org/2019/10/03/tachiai-interviews-murray-johnson-part-1-if-you-get-that-little-taste-of-sumo-you-get-hooked/

"Getting back to your question in relation to how I’d like to see it expand, now, that’s what I see happening in the short term – but to what degree, I have no say in that. (NHK) are going to cater for an audience that wants more, they’re going to give it to them. And they’ve got a bit of power. Because last year, it was the most watched program at NHK World."

The highlights show? 

"All of it. By a street. So the guys that run the show go: “OK, we had better take notice of this.” They’re expanding the amount of people that work in the program. I’m not going to tell you how much it is to make the Preview show, but it’s a 30 minute show in Edo Noren restaurant near the Kokugikan – it costs a fortune!"

[sumojoann 1,256]

All 4 parts of the conversation with Murray are just fascinating!!  He made some stunning comments about various rikishi.

[rhyen 1,809]

https://a-new-sumo-fan.com/kitanofuji/#2016
 

have fun translating these on air commentaries.