Changes you'd like to see in sumo in 2024

[John Gunning 3,719]

Hi all.

I'm doing a "changes I'd like to see in sumo in 2024" column for Japan Times and would like to include some opinions from fans of the sport - people who buy tickets, watch sumo from abroad, and spend money on merchandise, and content.

What are one or two things that would improve the experience for you? Anything from tours to your hometown, live streaming of basho, better options in tickets and merch, etc etc.

If there are ideas you haven't seen raised I'd be particularly interested in hearing about them.

Thanks as always

[Ryoshishokunin 335]

Either official highlights packages that include all the bouts, or licensing the footage to third parties to do it.  (I.e. making Kintamayama or Spiffy or whoever "legit".  This has happened in, e.g., cycling.)

From a sporting perspective I'd like to see more strict enforcement of the rules for the tachi-ai.  

I'd also love to see more evidence of modern medicine in the sport.  

[Jakusotsu 6,401]

Women on the dohyo for ceremonies.

[Asapedroryu 243]

Maybe controversial, but I would like to see the pre-bout rituals decreased. Having 5 minutes of throwing salt, squating, go back and forth and so on to then watch a 3 seconds match is not very appealing to modern society/viewers, I believe. 2 minutes would be ideal to me. Maybe then some western TV/Streaming networks would take a bet and buy the rights to show it (more appealing = more people watching = financially viable to buy rights).

On the other hand, people that care more about the tradition, spirituality of sumo, etc will totally disagree with what I'm saying...

[Yarimotsu 645]

Definitely I disagree with some of the above, but to raise something I don't think would have much opposition - the ticket-buying website clearly needs some revision. 

Changes to sumo itself are something I'm not particularly interested in, but definitely they could make it more accessible.

[Reonito 1,789]

5 hours ago, Ryoshishokunin said:

Either official highlights packages that include all the bouts, or licensing the footage to third parties to do it.  (I.e. making Kintamayama or Spiffy or whoever "legit".  This has happened in, e.g., cycling.)

From a sporting perspective I'd like to see more strict enforcement of the rules for the tachi-ai.  

I'd also love to see more evidence of modern medicine in the sport.  

Spot-on.

[Yamanashi 4,085]

Important: Daily coverage of Sekitori matches; at least some highlights from lower divisions. Ideally: free, in English. [Kintamayama should be acknowledged for saving Sumo abroad, instead of being punished for it.]

Important: Presence of EMS personnel in the wings (they don't have to be lurking at the side of the dohyo).

I would agree with putting some limits on the pre-bout face-offs (some of the rikishi seem to head back to the corner just because they feel they have to).  Of course, if I can see just the highlights, they can towel off five times per match for all I care.

I would like to acknowledge the work of Hiro Morita with his Sumo Prime Time program.  This is a big step in the right direction.

 

[Morning 99]

I'd would like an easy option to watch NHK's English commentated live coverage, with VOD due to time difference. Currently we have NHK World's partial live coverage and the highlights, which are very great, and I like that nowadays they don't show the results on the videos unless you to want see those. But to get the rest of the coverage there's that very expensive and hasslesome sounding with dongle and co subscription for NHK outside of Japan. That's a bit too much hassle just to watch Sumo for my taste.

I also remember the app by the NSK but that has just the bouts and lacked the surrounding stuff like the pre-bout rituals and the calling of the fights and co and didn't have the option to watch the fights as part of the whole thing.

I like Hiro Morita's sumo channel, also I usually watch it more for the outside of basho stuff than the tournament coverage.

[Kujo 127]

I'd occasionally like to hear that John Gunning guy as color commentator on the english broadcast  ;-}

[nelimw 80]

Agree with the general sentiment that viewing access for international fans is a big issue. 

For me, if the rules were clarified for the "dead-body" rules, that would be helpful. Or maybe it's just me that doesn't understand when and how this is applied sometimes...

 

[rhyen 1,858]

This is probably more of an business opportunity exploration for NSK, NHK and publishers.

I recall Mook publishing collectible magazines with DVD inserts for famous rikishi (mainly Yokozuna, ozeki and yusho winners).

映像で見る国技大相撲 第16号(昭和59~61年)―DVDマガジン 千代の富士“最強時代” (ベースボール・マガジン社分冊百科シリーズ) |本 | 通販 | Amazon https://www.amazon.co.jp/映像で見る国技大相撲-昭和59-61年-―DVDマガジン-千代の富士“最強時代”-ベースボール・マガジン社分冊百科シリーズ/dp/458361666X

The sumo kyokai is also showing older bashos on a subscriber basis.

 

Would the kyokai and NHK consider selling complete 15 day basho BRs/DVDs for collectors and nostalgic fans? On a made to order basis? Like what Mainichi is now doing with yusho portraits for older bashos. 

[rhyen 1,858]

For the honbasho ticket holders.

I would like to see the return of 15 day packages that used to be sold pre-pandemic.

The changes made to the shops and restaurants inside the kokugikan now focuses much more on merchandising & gacha (perhaps inevitable, perhaps financially driven). The instagrams photo spots are a big hit going by observations.

I would also thank the NSK for making huge strides in making the experience more English friendly since 2023, time to introduce more Japanese contents into foreign languages  

A lot of activities (e.g. oyakata talks are limited to Japanese speakers, information about the talks, the morning timing and listening to the oyakata). Would the NSK consider a foreigners/English session in the afternoon when the tour groups arrive?

what about the post basho events like the danpatsushiki (I am sure that a lot of foreigners will turn out for the upcoming Tochinoshin) and select rikishi tournaments. It would be fun to publicizes them like the Tokyo 2020 special basho (for differently abled people and foreigners) that took place pre-pandemic. 
perhaps also a link to help sell jungyos ticket in English for fans who happen to be in the area?

How much would it cost to subtitle the live basho contents on the NSK YouTube channels?

I do miss the Raiden restaurant that has been converted into a member’s lounge. 

[rhyen 1,858]

The old English radio broadcast inside the sumo kokugikan hosted by Musashimaru is gone.

perhaps a live podcast feed with links to the NHK broadcast English commentary, that in-house attendees can listen in on their phones?

[John Gunning 3,719]

Thanks everyone.

Here's the column.

Happy New Year.

[I am the Yokozuna 222]

Wish they are improvements on the injury treatment in the sport. Japan has some of the finest specialists worldwide and it is a shame they seem not be asked about ideas how to prolong rikishis career. 

I am feeling that commercialization could be further expanded by allowing for example heyas to wear sponsor type of yukata or similar. 

Scouting, as the number of incoming rikishis is going down, could be worked on. As the new rikishis gravitate towards two or three major heyas, and I cannot believe myself that I am saying this, but some randomization via a US-style draft system could be considered, so there are more viable and active heyas. 

 

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,291]

More connections back to heya, highlight different approaches to training in certain heya, maybe heya adopting color schemes?

my wife watches every day and does not even know the heya of her favorite wrestlers or samebeya compatriots 

[Asashosakari 20,287]

35 minutes ago, Tsuchinoninjin said:

... maybe heya adopting color schemes?

Ugh, please no. The last thing ozumo needs is inviting the idiotic tribalism that plagues the fandom of most team sports. If people develop an affinity to certain heya organically, great, but let's not make it any sort of commercial focus.

[Fashiritētā 214]

Just make it available to everyone, (live streaming app).

The money and interest is there.

Add another foreigner spot for the Heyas.

[code_number3 711]

zannen, i cant read john's article due to article limits. 

[I am the Yokozuna 222]

Interestingly, 12ft does not help. It usually does to circumvent paywalls https://12ft.io/