Vancouver BC Sumo Fan

I went looking through my collection of various papers, brochures, tickets, etc. from the trip today and found my Chiyonofuji coasters, postcard, and business card given to me by Kumiko (Chiyonofuji's widow), as well as a greeting paper (left) and a stamp (right) from the Kokugikan. Japan loves having these public stamp things all over. I do, too. The back of the business card has their Insta handle: @chiyonofuji_chanko. Their Insta also links to their online shop with many Chiyonofuji items for sale that can be shipped abroad using the associated service they advertise when foreigners go on the site. The coaster is fun because if you put your glass in the right spot it looks like Chiyonofuji is holding your glass up. The staff thought it was amusing and I did, too.

Someone buy this guy a 6 pack. Stellar work!

My friend ...I work in publishing and see a lot of data. If I told you how much of the internet was bots, you'd ...henka.

My first full year of sumo all summed up ...except for all the lower divisions. Bloody hell that was a fun year! Let's do it again!

Welcome, fellow hoser! How's it goin', eh?

If you followed me over on the My Sumo Adventures in Japan! thread, you'll know my partner did a drawing of the guys that we gave to Okami-san as a printed poster, and to each rikishi as a digital file. Well, here's the file! Download and print it off all you want! 100% go for it. Join the fan club here at the $20 rate and get an official stamped Banzuke sent right to your door! https://tatsunamibeya.club/ Yes, I am just a fan and not an employee. Yes, I still talk to my friend there. Yes, that was that me in the video where the guys sing happy birthday to a fan. Yes, this is the official fan club they advertise on their YouTube. Was I the first official member of the Tatsunami International Fan Club? Also yes. 😀

I also wanted to add this photo of myself at Chiyonofuji's grave. What a moment. It was raining and yet still hot in the beginning of a Tokyo August. We had been walking the area for an hour or so at this point... I knew where I was going but wanted to take my time, build anticipation. I cried. I don't feel bad about that. I told him I admire him and wished he was still with us.

I meant to share this a month ago or longer. I found footage of Chiyonofuji wearing the pattern you see on my yukata! He wore this to the September 1981 basho, his first as yokozuna! Yes, he was injured that basho. You can see it in the video below at the 9:55 mark:

Ah, ok, I understand. We'll see then. I think he'd try to get a few more bashos in with his salary. I just don't wanna see the old guy retire.

Wait, whoa, is there a rumour Sadanoumi may retire?

Went under the knife. Back surgery.

Furuta also looked like he blew an ACL or MCL in is injury. It looked bad.

I said what I said. I like Hiro. You guys have your laugh if that's what you need though. I'm cool.

I'm a little late to the party here as I couldn't finish watching until last night, but my comments are... I loved every moment of it. Every. Moment. I have zero complaints about anything. I didn't believe the marketing and knew this would be like jungyo. I'm 100% fine with that. I would gladly pay money dollars to have Hiro do 9 hours of commentary on sumo match days--literally almost anything would be better than listening to frickin Leo Dickinson, the only stream that meets my needs of being on youtube, helping with new names, and being available to watch afterwards--and enjoyed his sense of fun. I also did indeed by that same SUMO jacket when I visited the Kokugikan. Had a good "ME TOO!!!" laugh when I saw him wearing it. The real joy here for me though was seeing the rikishi in and around London, a city I once called home, and one I'm sure many people from the west have visited and know better than, say Nagoya (which is an alright city). Seeing the guys in a whole new context for them that was so familiar was ...just the best time. Thank you to everyone who shared photos. <3

I imagine Ura is the regular in Hoshoryu's dohyo-iri due to Mei Sei not being in London due to injury.

Sorry, Heather. I haven't heard or asked. Does sound more like a tourist/visiting athlete event. An actual rikishi, even a new one, wearing boxers under the mawashi? Never.

YES THAT IS ME IN THE TATSUNAMI VIDEO WHEN THEY SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SOME GUY!!!! Yes, that is my girlfriend's drawing in the video, too! I can't believe it...I'm, like, forever part of the Tatsunami lore! Yep. Fan for life! Wow...just... I'm a professional writer and I'm without any further words. Here's the link to the video I'm in! It is the latest one.

He looked very proud of himself to get the job! I recall he said previously he wants to buy a knife with his first paycheck to help Kokuryunami more in the kitchen. Such a good kid wanting to buy something with his first paycheck that'll help him do an even better job and help others around him.

I got to meet him when I visited Tatsunami. Very polite and patient young man. I also kinda yelled when I saw him ringside on Abema on day 2 or 3 of the Aki basho! "Yo! That's my dude Seia! What's he doing there?!?" Hahaha. I've been thinking of sending him a congratulatory gift for his promotion ...though I'm not sure how that goes over with him a gyoji and not a rikishi. I also wanted to thank you for the post above with the gyoji costumes. I did not know they carried an inro. I'm very interested in them. I nearly bought an antique one this summer in Kyoto but bought an antique sword and an antique woodblock print instead. I've seen so many of them that are total works of art and I'm also kinda obsessed with samurai (the sword should give that away though. Hahah).

FUCK YAAAAAA!!! My first banzuke from Tatsunami beya arrived today! My guy Tee was worried it may not work on this first try, but it's on my coffee table right now! What a way to have a connection to sumo show up at literally my damn door. It's here if you're thinking about it: https://tatsunamibeya.club/

Last one! The staff shirt worn by members of the Chiyonofuji restaurant, purchased there and given to me by Kumiko, Chiyonofuji's wife. The members-only t-shirt given to me by Tatsunami Okami-san. My partner has the pencil case at work. And last, the Terunofuji shirt and Mei Sei keychain purchased at the Kokugikan! All I want is to go back and get more stuff! The NBA and MLB aren't getting a dollar out of me for a while. I need more sumo merch! Oh ya, I might post a video of my complete set of sumo trading cards tomorrow.

The paper on the left wrapped the Onosato towel. Looked dope. Have another that's kinda purple from the rikishi towel. Kotozakura, Hoshoryu and Mei Sei flags for me. Hoshoryu magnet and stickers. Midorifuji keychain and Asakoryu flag for friends. All purchased at the Kokugikan.

Alright, Onosato fan towel and buncha rikishi fan towel. Not sure what to do with these, honestly. I don't want to actually rub Onosato all over my wet body. Hang it? I dunno. Very cool. The tegata are Hoshoryu and Onosato, they are printed replicas. All these were purchased at the Kokugikan. The bottom is the placemat and tea cups given to me by Kumiko, Chiyonofuji's wife, at Chanko Nabe Chiyonofuji restaurant. I couldn't find the coasters given to me. Didn't take a pic of the banzuke as you know what that looks like.

Reversible jacket, even the zipper switches sides. Both sides are loud...one is LOUDER. Haha. Purchased at the Kokugikan.

I decided I don't want to post my face ...anywhere on the Internet, at all anymore. However, behold; my stuff! This is my Chiyonofuji yukata. I bought it from a vintage kimono seller.