"No Blondes Allowed"?

[madorosumaru 7]

Summarized from Nikkan Sports:

A new controversy has come up for the Kyokai. With the promotion of Baruto to juryo, sumo is faced with the emergence of the first blond, blue-eyed sekitori. There have been other foreign sekitori, but whether they were from Hawaii, Mongolia or more recently from Europe, they were all dark-haired.

So, there is no precedent for a golden ooicho. Granted, there is no regulation regarding hair color in the official rule books, as there is one of "no blond hair" in some Japanese schools. It is just that sumo is the national sport with all its traditions. Fortunately for the Kyokai, Baruto's success has outpaced his hair growth. His hair has been long enough for a mage only since Haru Basho and he probably won't be able to wear an ooicho until next spring. The rijicho wants to procrastinate: "We'll first apply some [hair] oil and see what it looks like. If it still isn't dark enough, we may have to consider hair-coloring."

A positive note: With the daily application of bintsuke oil, Baruto's hair has gotten darker from the goldren hues of when he arrived in Japan to the current dirty blond. Deputy Shinpan Director Mihogaseki Oyakata is hopeful, " The oil is making it much darker. I think it should be okay." However, Yamanashi Oyakata disagrees, "Unlike the chonmage, where the hair is bundled, ooicho is spread thinly. Depending on the lighting, it may not appear darker and, instead, emphasize the blondness even further. Once his hair has grown longer, we should all take a look and then decide."

Meanwhile, Baruto is oblivious to all the controversy surrounding him. He is just pleasantly surprised by his quick promotion. "I thought, for sure, I wouldn't be [promoted this basho to juryo], he said in kata-koto Japanese, "I'm happy." As for how many bouts he wants to win in Aki, he replied confidently, "All."

Edited July 28, 2005 by madorosumaru

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

The Japanese friend who attended one day of the Nagoya basho with me commented on Takanoyama's (the Czech rikishi) mage - both the color was too light, and the mage didn't suit his foreign face, apparently. I haven't heard this friend comment on the other foreign rikishi's hair, so I wonder if the blondness is the main factor...although his hair appears somewhat darker than Baruto's. Hakurozan has lighter hair than Roho, and thinner too.

When barbers offer to color my hair, I just say I don't care so much what color it is, just so long as I got some (I was stupid...)

Edited July 28, 2005 by Otokonoyama

[Torideyama 32]

Summarized from Nikkan Sports:

A new controversy has come up for the Kyokai.  With the promotion of Baruto to juryo, sumo is faced with the emergence of the first blond, blue-eyed sekitori.  There have been other foreign sekitori, but whether they were from Hawaii, Mongolia or more recently from Europe, they were all dark-haired.

So, there is no precedent for a golden ooicho. Granted, there is no regulation regarding hair color in the official rule books, as there is one of "no blond hair" in some Japanese schools.  It is just that sumo is the national sport with all its traditions.  Fortunately for the Kyokai, Baruto's success has outpaced his hair growth.  His hair has been long enough for a mage only since Haru Basho and he probably won't be able to wear an ooicho until next spring.  The rijicho wants to procrastinate: "We'll first apply some [hair] oil and see what it looks like.  If it still isn't dark enough, we may have to consider hair-coloring."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I must admit that I am all for tradition in sumo, but this is bordering on absurd! You make a guy go through extra machinations just because his hair is too light! That is ridiculous. This is the kind of thinking that will doom the NSK. Treating Baruto like some kind of freak is wrong, on all counts.

Sorry for sounding soapboxy, but this just gets my goat!

Torideyama

[Senpai 0]

At least Baruto himself isn't bothered with this problem and is concentrated to sumo. And glad to hear him say that he is willing to win in juryo and not being affraid of old sekitori to hope for only a KK.

[Jakusotsu 6,052]

What's the big deal about colouring his hair? Millions of people all over the world - especially those in the spotlight - do it everyday. Tradition "forces" him into his hairstyle already (remember Asa's ponytail rumpus?), so some colour wouldn't hurt any more. It's not like having silicon implants or other freaky stuff from the past.

He surely wouldn't look worse than now. What do the ladies say?

[aderechelsea 125]

oh come on ..... this is stupid ....

let the guy be the blondest guy ever in Sekitori ranks i say !!!!!!

[Manekineko 200]

He surely wouldn't look worse than now. What do the ladies say?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That black hair and blue eyes are a killer combination. (I was stupid...)

'though I'd really like to see "golden oicho"...

[Higashimori 0]

please tell me this is an April Fools story 3 months late (or 9 months early)....I mean, gimme a (Censored) break. It's bad enough he's a "big bad gaijin", but even worse he was born with blond hair and blue eyes. "I bet his (Censored) is bigger than ours' too!" Unless they can get a grip on their inferiority complexes, just establish a no-blonds allowed policy from the get-go already, or better yet, send all foreigners home....

[Jakusotsu 6,052]

That black hair and blue eyes are a killer combination.  (Laughing...)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hehe, God bless my parents then. B-)

[Asashosakari 19,691]

I agree that this is the kind of pointless micro-managing that organizations really shouldn't be concerned with during difficult times, but I honestly can't work up much of an outrage over this either. Uniformity of appearance (see also: kensho-taking, right hand) is obviously something that the Kyokai puts a lot of emphasis on for cultural reasons, so this is really just more of the same.

[Naganoyama 5,949]

well living here everyday with the insidious racism that is prevailant i can work up an outrage.

how about if nakata was told to "fix those slanty eyes" before he joined perugia?

"it looks wrong" is the thin edge of the wedge when it comes to things like this.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I rather agree.

I read somewhere that in Japan blue eyes are considered devilish. Fear of the unknown I suppose (or racism as you say).

I am hoping Baruto won't be forced to dye his hair - or be made to wear dark contact lenses. (Bleh!)

[ilovesumo 12]

(Annoyed...) What's wrong with a blond guy? (Annoyed...) bald is better than blond or what? Will he have to use colored contact lenses also? B-) A blond Sekiwake or what ever could be a real eye catcher. (Laughing...)

Sumo should be natural!

Blond is good. Point.

Edited July 28, 2005 by ilovesumo

[sumofan 6]

A blond Sekiwake or what ever could be a real eye catcher. (Laughing...)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

personally i have a thing for red haired women, which i think the most beautiful on earth. B-) . touched by fire...

but i'm going off topic...

[Taizeniki 0]

well living here everyday with the insidious racism that is prevailant i can work up an outrage.

how about if nakata was told to "fix those slanty eyes" before he joined perugia?

"it looks wrong" is the thin edge of the wedge when it comes to things like this.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I rather agree.

I read somewhere that in Japan blue eyes are considered devilish. Fear of the unknown I suppose (or racism as you say).

I am hoping Baruto won't be forced to dye his hair - or be made to wear dark contact lenses. (Bleh!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here, here! I too want to agree with the condemnation of the Kyokai

[_the_mind_ 0]

i wonder if they allowed baruto to stay "blonde-ish" would that draw more people?

[Fukurou 534]

What do the ladies say?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That the NSK is being more racist than usual, and should have a lot more important things to worry about than the color of some guy's hair or eyes.

Edited July 29, 2005 by Fukurou

[Yaezakura 0]

He surely wouldn't look worse than now. What do the ladies say?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It shouldn't be a matter of whether he would look any better or worse or the same. Why does his hair color matter at all? The only reason he should color his hair is if he wants to color it. It seems like a minor thing for people to worry about.

[hoshidango 0]

Yeah rather childish.

I feel there are some who would agree with us in the Kyokai as well as that are against. Also perhaps those who are against are panicking with the thought of light hair colored Yokozuna.

But I have not read anything about anyone in Kyokai trying to restrict light eye colored people from sumo entry as implied by some here...

[Kintamayama 45,565]

The word "racist" is being used too lightly on this forum, I fear. Racist against which "race" exactly? The "foreign" race? The Kyokai is not racist. It is xenophobic at worst, bewildered at best. They are faced with new situations daily-balding 23 year olds with an attitude, giant blue-eyed blondes scampering up the ranks, and successful high ranking foreigners in droves, as opposed to drops of "hope" from the locals. All this, in their National sport, their sport sanctuary of sanctuaries.

To compare the NSK to the rest of the Japanese and how they treat foreigners is wrong. On the one hand , everyone is complaining how the gaijin wrestlers don't "uphold the tradition of the sport", but when the NSK try to do exactly that (although it may seem absurd to most of us..) they are racist?

Edited July 29, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,565]

The temporary "Charges des Affaires" of the Estonian Embassy was elated when told of Baruto's promotion. Upon hearing the "Blondes have more fun" problem, he exclaimed," Maybe Baruto should eat a lot of nori... It's really great that he will be the first in some area.. He is surely the most famous Estonian in Japan!". Well, as there are only 50 registered Estonians in ALL of Japan, (20 of them living in the Tokyo area) it's not such a tremendous feat.. Baruto did attend the Estonian Independence Day function half a year ago, and plans to visit the Embassy around Aki.

The TCDA (looks like Sharas) reading an article on Baruto's promotion:

[Burainoan 0]

I thought i heard somewhere - on here - that Akebono dyed his hair while in sumo, or at least while in the upper ranks...?

that said, i tend to think they should just treat him normally and let it look how it looks. i don't know that i'd call it racism per se, but xenophobia, yes, at least a bit.

[Kintamayama 45,565]

I thought i heard somewhere - on here - that Akebono dyed his hair while in sumo, or at least while in the upper ranks...?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He dyed it when he left for K-1. And got a tatoo. And lost a lot.

Edited July 29, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Doitsuyama 1,194]

The TCDA (looks like Sharas) reading an article on Baruto's promotion:

Indeed...

[Manekineko 200]

OTOH, Akebono had to have his hair straightened so tokoyama could mould it into an oicho... right?

Maybe Baruto's tokoyama will add some secret darkening ingredient to bintsuke to make his hair a bit more brownish... but I think some Japanese would like to see a golden-haired sekitori as well. It's exotic, after all!

In the end, my guess is that this is a storm in a glass of water, post-basho lack of news etc. We'll see how the oicho looks in... Kyushu? When will he have enough hair for it?

[Guest gounoiwa]

It could be said that

"Ozumo has a tradition that rikishi do not dye their hair."

They could uphold that tradition.

Particularly since children in Japanese schools (at least in my area) are told by their teachers not to dye their hair because the chemicals damage it. If the Kyokai says that it is OK to dye hair, they will be sending a contrary message to the children of Japan. Think of the children!

The fact is there is no *tradition* that rikishi have dark hair, because it has not come up until now. What is really being debated is not whether to uphold a tradition or not, but rather whether to create a tradition or not.

The fact that some people would *choose* to create a tradition that hides blonde hair as opposed to say, a tradition of non-dyeing, or a tradition that people who weigh more than 150kg should not become rijicho, is an indication of discrimination with regard to hair color.

This discrimination with regard to hair color may or may not have its roots in good old fashioned racism. Though I bet it does.

btw, Has there ever been a rijicho fatter than Kitanoumi?