Sumo on Majide

[kaiguma]

OK, not even sure why I am posting this except no one esle has mentioned it. And I guess for the most part we are totally obsessed so it is my duty to write about any "news" involving real Ozumo heya or rikishi, right? Mods, feel free to move this to Off-Topic if you deem it so.

I Survived a Japanese Game Show Week 6

Well this is a very smart, dumb reality show. Very smart because it doesn't take itself seriously, making it enjoyable, and for the cost of one production or maybe 1.5 productions they get 2 whole shows. Of course they still need 2 separate post-productions, but anyway...

Rome Kanda and Judge Bob are utterly hirarious so it's enough to get me through the "reality" portion involving these American contestants who have been whisked away to Japan to be humiliated in challenges and then rewarded or punished with "experiences" of "Japanese culture." So yes, here is our entry point: Ozumo.

Take the above link to about 22:45 for the express bus (you still have to wait through a commercial or two) or after 2nd commercial break to understand exactly what was their physical challenge and why this dumb show can be entertaining and kind of addictive. After 3rd commercial break for super express to skip the gameshow portion altogether.

Winning team visits Shibatayama, proclaimed by the narrator to be "Tokyo's most prestigious Sumo school." Wait, they have like one former sekitori right? Daiyubu? Well anyway, you do get to see a bit of I think Daiyubu in keiko action and he helps one of the contestants put on a mawashi. As you can imagine there are a hundred reasons why it is utter garbage. One contestant beams: "It is such an honor, like, people are not allowed to go and see this." Hmm right, at least they are polite and I'm sure the TV producers are feeding them this crap so they act more dramatic on camera.

The other team is waking up so very bright and early to receive their punishment at ... 6am. So while they found the punishment to be brutal and offensive, arriving to a heya to start cooking/cleaning at 7:30 is really lame and they didn't even have to do shiko, or get kawaigari... Nishikido (moto Mitoizumi) says he wants them to experience how hard a rikishi's life is but you know, they had to make it safe for American Television. That must be why they censored the buttocks, WTF? Gotta be joking right? No. And I thought the Japanese were big on censorship. actually my opinion: this is a case of reverse censorship. Putting the fuzzy butt-blockers on the screen makes the nakedness seem more scandalous, ne?

All in all, you may find the biggest value in seeing these stables portrayed this way, is we all get to make fun of the misinformation. Or you might watch the whole show and get hooked like me. Sorry about that...

[Mariomaru]

Viewable only within USA.

[Washuyama]

Viewable only within USA.

I had no problems watching it from outside the US.

[yamaneko]

i tried out for that show, but obviously didnt make it. I dont think they wanted anyone with any kind of knowledge of japan or japanese culture.

[Asashosakari]

I had no problems watching it from outside the US.

If you're on base in Yokota you're probably accessing it from US-registered IP space. Otherwise I have no idea.

[kaiguma]

I had no problems watching it from outside the US.

If you're on base in Yokota you're probably accessing it from US-registered IP space. Otherwise I have no idea.

I had no idea Hulu is only accessible through American IP. Kinda sad but I have never really understood licensing in general.

Sorry for those who can't see it. You really aren't missing that much.