"I Lived in a Sumo House for a Day" Youtube video

[sumojoann 1,254]

I don't see this posted elsewhere on SF so decided to post it here.  Mods, if it needs to be moved to a different category, not a problem.

What started out as a typical "ho hum, here's a bunch of wide-eyed gaijin invading the 'secret, closed' world of the gentle sumo giants" took an amazing turn when one of the group (of Swedes) named Steffan boldly asked the Oyakata at the heya if he could spend the night at the heya with the rikishi!!  After seeing surprised looks all around, he was told the Okamisan would have to approve it which she did 30 minutes later!!  Not much was shown after he settled in for the night but you cam imagine how --- pinch me! --- exciting that experience would have been.  The video shows the group of Swedes play-training with the lower-ranked rikishi, as you might expect, but amazingly enough, Steffan also got to train with Onosho, who didn't play-train.  I didn't expect to see Onosho interact with the Swedes, whose behavior towards the rikishi veered between goofiness and extreme sincerity.  The rikishi seemed to enjoy the visitors, especially Steffan, with most of them wanting to be his Instagram friend.  Steffan was given the Shikona Masurao, the name of a previous owner of the heya.

I looked up Onosho and found he is with Onomatsu-beya.  This video was filmed between Dec 2022 and Feb 2023 just before the Osaka honbasho.  During the video, Steffan meets a new Mongolian rikishi.  I looked him up and he is Batjargal Choijirsuren, a Student Yokozuna who was allowed to enter ozumo under the Makushita Tsukidashi system at the rank of Makushita 15.

This video was uploaded only 3 weeks ago and already has over 1.4 Million views.

 

[Yarimotsu 515]

I posted it here but if a few more people get to see this post, that's good too. I thought it was unexpectedly good.

[Kaminariyuki 497]

I'll definitely want to watch this, but I do not want to sleep over with the rikishi, LOL. Although I confess to being curious about what's for breakfast.

Among my favorite things about Japan, gaijin just simply get away with so much. We are rotten to the core. Well, OK, I'll speak for myself. I am rotten to the core.

[sumojoann 1,254]

2 hours ago, Yarimotsu said:

I posted it here but if a few more people get to see this post, that's good too. I thought it was unexpectedly good.

I'm sorry I didn't see your post first but I agree.  If a few more people get to see it, no harm done.

[code_number3 694]

7 minutes ago, Kaminariyuki said:

Although I confess to being curious about what's for breakfast.

I think rikishis skip breakfast. They wake up early in the morning, hard keiko, big lunch, then nice afternoon nap (as I'd seen on many sumo-related documentaries)

Edited May 7, 2023 by code_number3

[Jejima 1,303]

I was fortunate enough to eat 'chanko-nabe' at Kokonoe-beya many years ago, alongside the former Oyakata (the former Yokozuna Chiyonofuji) after asa-geiko (morning training). I recall that it was served late morning (11am?) and so, like a brunch.  The lower ranked rikishi of the heya had to serve the oyakata, the guests and the higher ranked rikishi before they got to eat later....

[Kaminariyuki 497]

OK, that was really cute, and somewhat imformative. ALthough Steffan was Swedish, his gaijin buddies sounded American. Like me, they didn't need to sleep at the heya. It was a fun video for lunch, though, for sure.  Thanks for sharing it here!

[Kaminariyuki 497]

1 hour ago, Jejima said:

I was fortunate enough to eat 'chanko-nabe' at Kokonoe-beya many years ago, alongside the former Oyakata (the former Yokozuna Chiyonofuji) after asa-geiko (morning training). I recall that it was served late morning (11am?) and so, like a brunch.  The lower ranked rikishi of the heya had to serve the oyakata, the guests and the higher ranked rikishi before they got to eat later....

THat was pretty much my experience at Myagino beya, as well, when I got to eat chanko-nabe with Hakuho. I didn't kn ow they did not eat breakfast before practice, though. That will work up an appetite!

ANd, I'm glad I did not put on a mawashi and go a few rounds. At age 62, that shp had sailed.

[Yamanashi 3,689]

Can someone clear up something for me?  The heya would have to be Onomatsu, because Onosho was living there.  However, the shot of the front of the heya (3:03) almost had to be Naruto, with the Skytree in the background.

[sumojoann 1,254]

@Kaminariyuki is correct.  The group, Yes Theory,  that created this video, is not made up entirely of Swedes.  It's a multinational group whose members all have very interesting backgrounds.  Steffan, the member featured in this video, is a newer member of the group and is Swedish. 

Here is the group's official website --- https://yestheory.com/

They have an interesting philosophy of life.

[sumojoann 1,254]

I'm not sure if we as members of SF are actually discouraged from discussing what goes on at tachiai.org or if that's just my impression.  In any event, there is an interesting review of "I Lived in a Sumo House for a Day" by Andy dated April 15, 2023 on that site.  I enjoyed reading the comments as well. 

https://tachiai.org/2023/04/15/refreshingly-aloof-glimpse-at-onomatsu-beya/

[Reonito 1,306]

1 hour ago, sumojoann said:

I'm not sure if we as members of SF are actually discouraged from discussing what goes on at tachiai.org or if that's just my impression.

Certainly not by anyone at tachiai