Canadian trying to join the Tatsunami Stable Supporters Association

[Vancouver BC Sumo Fan 4]

Hey all, new user, first post. I'm a big fan of Hoshoryu. I've written to Tatsunami stable twice asking to join their stable as a paid supporter using their form. I've even translated my messages into Japanese to make sure I was understood, but I have not heard back.

Have any other people on this board living outside Japan been able to join any stable in this way, or Tatsunami specifically? I'm not even sure if it's possible.

I'll be visiting Japan in August and when I visit the stable and I want to feel more like a part of it than just another foreigner prying my head inside, you know? I also really like Hoshoryu's story and want to be a little part of it.

Edited February 21 by Vancouver BC Sumo Fan
typo

[Yarimotsu 595]

Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry to say I don't have any particular insight on Tatsunami. That form is very clearly aimed only at people living in Japan, so perhaps they simply won't consider a foreign member as they can't offer the supporters' club benefits in return due to shipping costs. It certainly wouldn't be a unique approach - even the sumo association's own fan club requires a Japanese address (although you can simply input any address and the sign-up is through an automated web portal).

I know one or two fans who have contact with Ikazuchi stable through the okamisan, and I've heard of similar cases at other stables. Unfortunately for us, Japan is a land of personal connections and generally an introduction is recommended / required for a lot of these things. I'd actually suggest that if it has to be Tatsunami for you and you can't reach them from here but you are able to visit the stable, that you ask someone who can translate for you in person to explain at the stable that you want to join the supporters' club. Not sure if they would accept, but at least this way you can ensure that your intention has been heard. You're not the first person I've heard of trying to join these fan clubs from overseas, and letting the stables know about it is the first step.

[Vancouver BC Sumo Fan 4]

Hey, thanks for your reply! There was a spot on their form that said something like "Unsure" and I thought that was maybe my opportunity to get in. I even wrote in my message to them that I'd gladly pay more to cover the additional shipping.

I've also been interested in Sadogatake stable, since I'm also a big Kotozakura fan, but they can only be contacted my mail!

Interesting thought on the personal connection angle. I'm a bit of a ...well, I'm completely unafraid of tracking people down and contacting them online. Hahaha. Maybe I do go looking for the okamisan, or another high-level supporter of the stable...they also have that new YouTube channel. Looks like it's gonna be work, but if anyone comes across this thread and has an angle, please hit me up! Yoisho!

[Vancouver BC Sumo Fan 4]

The Youtube channel has an email...let's try this. tatsunami.stable@gmail.com

[Gaijingai 1,599]

I have a story a little different, about a sumo wrestler, rather than a heya. It was back in 2001 that I visted Tokisukaze-Beya and noticed a skinny, hard-working wrestler. At the time, the folks on the old sumo listserve were adopting wrestlers, so I adopted him. Through someone else on the listserve, I was introduced to a woman who was a big sumo fan. She had the official yearly sumo book and sent me the pictures of all the heya wrestlers. I picked out his picture and she told me his name was Okinoumi, a guy way down in the lower divisions. She also gave me the heya address. After each basho, I would send Okinoumi a postcard in Romanji...hoping he could read it..., yet never heard back from him. A couple years later I was in Tokyo for a business meeting with Paramount Pictures and contacted Doreen Simmons. She graciously agreed to take me to Tokitsukaze-Beya for morning keiko and introduce me to Okinoumi. I got to watch him practice and afterwards Doreen and I went around out back, where he was doing some clean-up work. She introduced me to him and was my interpreter as he told me that my postcards were an inspiration to him. It was a thrill to meet him personanly and talk with him, even briefly. Doreen even took our photo together!

[Vancouver BC Sumo Fan 4]

Thanks for the story, Gaijingai! I'd really like to have that type of meeting myself. Sending those postcards was cool. I'm thinking about 3D printing and painting a model of Hoshoryu to give to the yokozuna himself.

I have made progress with this. I contacted the email above and heard back from Tesshi. He says he runs the Tatsunami YouTube and he will ask " the owner of Tasunami stable" about this, and I can only assume he is going to talk to Asahiyutaka himself.

[rhyen 1,846]

For most sumo heya, koenkai membership and correspondence begins after paying the membership fee and having a valid Japanese mailing address (for heya bulletins mail).

I used my regular hotel address as my heya correspondence address, and all the letters are sent there. 
I hope you are not too disappointed that most heya don’t do foreign correspondence, the increase in manpower and language skills to handled such correspondence has yet to be introduced for most heya. 

[Vancouver BC Sumo Fan 4]

Hm, good point. Perhaps I should let them know I am 100% ok with getting everything in Japanese and do not request any special treatment.

[Ryoshishokunin 325]

Airmail is already special treatment--so a Japanese forwarding address might help.  Unclear how to set that up while overseas, though.

[Vancouver BC Sumo Fan 4]

I've also told them I'll pay all additional fees related to mailing me stuff. We'll see. They're not going to get back to me until mid-April. Everyone is taking a break post-basho and then they wanna get settled in.