sumojoann

I sent the original poster a message about it. In the meantime, I found a hilarious Korean wrestling video on Youtube. It's title, believe it or not, is "Korean Wrestling Final ... Idol Star Championships!" It is from 2016 and has almost 8 MILLION views!! lol Lots of very handsome pop-star-looking boys with bleached and dyed hair. And the audience!!! Such screaming! Reminds me of when the Beatles first came to the US! Here it is .....

I would love to read the article but after a couple of sentences, the Wall Street Journal won't let me read more unless I subscribe!! Would you be able to somehow override that, so that those of us without subscriptions can read it? The beginning of the article sounds like Korea is trying to add sex appeal to the sport! lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wlY-_h4CpY&t=343s Here is Part 2.

I don't know if these 2 videos have been posted before but I found them to be fascinating. Part 1 is the history of sumo between 1900 and 1960. Part 2 is from 1960-2000. Here is the link to Part 1 (part 2 to follow). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHL9efgqxbw&t=242s

Hi and welcome from Houston, Texas! I'm glad you heard about Sumo Forum. I have learned so much from the sumo "elders" on this forum. My husband and I also have TV Japan. Yes, $25/month is outrageous but worth it. I am a night owl and retired, so in addition to watching the highlights, I like to stay up every night for the 15 nights and watch the live broadcast. Here, as well as in San Antonio, it comes on between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM (or sometimes 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM depending on Daylight Savings Time). The live broadcast covers only the Makuuchi bouts, but I'm thrilled to be able to have that. I have found that no matter how much I learn about sumo wrestling, there is so much more I have yet to learn. I believe it will always be that way but that's part of the appeal. It's so nice to know of another person in Texas who likes sumo. Again, welcome!

Congratulations, Pandaazuma!! Well deserved win! (I did better than I thought I would).

I have to agree. Kotoyuki has always taped his fingers into mittens as long as I have watched him wrestle. It seems to add greater power to his slaps and nodowa, giving him an unfair advantage. I'm surprised it hasn't been stopped.

I have never understood why Kotoyuki gets away with taping his hands like he does. Does anyone know why?

Here's the old post about Takarafuji.

1. A 2. A 3. B 4. B 5. A 6. A 7. A 8. B 9. A 10. B 11. A 12. B 13. A 14. B 15. A 16. A 17. A 18. B 19. B 20. B 21. B

Thank you so much for allowing us to know more about you. You expressed yourself very well. I think it was very interesting that you focused on trying to get past the stone faces and see into the hearts of the Rikishi. I comfort myself knowing that many of the Rikishi in Makuuchi and Juryo have a girlfriend or a wife and even children. They have a life outside of sumo. I really feel for the anonymous Rikishi who toil in the lower ranks year in and year out, with no financial means to leave the heya and no life outside of sumo. I did not feel that you rambled at all. Your post was very interesting.

Welcome!! It's hard not to become addicted to sumo wrestling, isn't it? I love Sum Forum. All are welcome, especially those who are willing to learn, have an open mind and are not know-it-alls. I started watching sumo in March 2013 and became hooked shortly after. But the more I know, the more I realize just how little I do know! There are so many endlessly fascinating aspects to it. Tell us a little more about yourself. Where are you located? How did you first get interested in sumo? It sounds like Ichinojo is your favorite Rikishi. What do you like the most about him? What interests you most about sumo? What does your Shikona mean? I guess these are enough questions for now!! Again, welcome!!

I didn't know that!!! Then he'd better hurry up and choose for himself!!

I seem to recall an interview a couple of years ago where Araiso (then Kisenosato) was asked, "Have you given any thought to getting married?" And he replied, "Nope. Not a thought!" So I'm not going to hold my breath.

I have a friend in Japan who can help you with your request. I will send you his email address privately. He would have to order it from the official gift shop, have it shipped to him (he doesn't live in Tokyo), then he would ship it to you. He charges a 20% commission. He's honest & reliable & uses Paypal so you can order in confidence. He pointed out something shocking to me. He said that the Tegata you are looking at on Ebay is only a PRINT!!!! It is not an original! This is an OUTRAGEOUS PRICE for a print!!! If you read the Ebay seller's description, he says, "Items for sale are printed matter...... it's an image". I got confused when I saw the listing because I thought when it said "print", it meant "hand print", as in "original hand print", but NOWHERE in the listing does it say it's an original. I didn't tell my friend that you wanted an original so when you write to him, be sure to make that clear.

Maybe you could find someone in Japan who would be willing to order it from an official site and ship it to you. I used to have a link to the official gift shop that carried the same items as the Kokugikan but I can't find it at the moment. I have a friend in Japan but he is not an exporter. I might be able to get the link from him. As far as reasonable price, I don't know. The price this ebay seller is asking does include Standard Shipping.

Stunning photos! I am amazed, however, that Musashigawa Oyakata has tattoos! I thought that would be forbidden.

I have a friend in Japan who is a sumo fanatic like me. He is a seller on Ebay and might be able to get 2 of the calendars and list them. His prices are very reasonable. Would you like me to contact him about this? In the past, I was offered a calendar at a ridiculous price by someone else (not a friend but someone who lives in Japan), so be wary of any offers that seem high.

Thundersnow, you probably already know, but Ama was Harumafuji's previous Shikona.

No, he has always been in Miyagino Beya. If you listen closely, the announcer first says he's Mongolian and then says, "Miyagino Beya". It rolls right off his tongue so it's a little hard to understand.

I am just now reading about drinking among the rikishi. I recall this video featuring Hakuho at a party with friends we all know. They might have been drinking beer but if so, it wasn't their first one. I wonder if May 20, 2012, was during the basho! I recall another video showing trash stacked up behind a heya, and there were so many brown beer bottles, it was amazing. And last, on Day 12 of the Aki Basho in 2014, the day I was introduced to Hakuho, I was invited to lunch by our mutual friend. There were only 4 of us --- Hakuho, Hakuho's trainer, the friend and me. Hakuho immediately offered me a "Beeru" (not sure of spelling). He had one himself and it wasn't treated as a big deal. No one seemed surprised. Later that day, he defeated Kisenosato, so I guess the Beeru didn't do any harm!

Back on Sept 14th, I went out on a limb and predicted that Meisei would win the Yusho. I still predict he will, although if Takakeisho's knees hold out, Meisei may not be able to defeat him. Very little is being mentioned about Meisei possibly winning. He may not be exciting to watch but he's solid and consistent. He must be doing something right to be currently tied for first place, although I don't think he's fought the higher-ranked Rikishi yet. I hope he gets to fight the "Big Boys" so we can see what's he's really made of! That would be so cool to see someone at M10 win the Yusho, but it may just be wishful thinking on my part.

Here is Ama at the 2002 Aki Basho. He was in Makushita at the time.

Here's a video of Hakuho at the 2002 Aki Basho. He was in Sandamne at that time!

It's too soon to tell, of course, but I predict that Meisei will win the Yusho. It looks like Kakuryu will go kyujo probably today, Hakuho is out for the count, Okinoumi's nerves are starting to show, Takakeisho is having some bad luck and Ishiura is too small. Meisei's biggest obstacle is Mitakeumi who's looking very good. We'll see......