Hello Nagoya

[Jonosuke]

Now that for all intents and purposes, the Kyokai has given up holding a "regular" hon-basho in May at the Kokugikan and working towards preparing themselves for Nagoya, they will soon have to come up with the concrete and firm steps to hold the Nagoya.

With expected ouster of Yaocho suspected rikishi, they will lose a substantial number of Juryo and Maku rikishi so obviously they will need to come with a new banzuke for Nagoya as their current banzuke will not reflect those who will be competing in Nagoya and at rank they will be competing.

That all means they will need to hold a "mock" basho to gauge the rikishi to make up the banzuke for Nagoya. Since the Kokugikan is already open but with scheduled (and unscheduled) rolling power blackouts on and off, they certainly cannot really plan for all day full regular basho, especially considering other sports activities in Tokyo area are being curtailed (baseball, soccer etc).

I have no doubt there will be no yusho cup or any kensho or etc for this mock basho so they should realize they could not be asking for paying customers. If they open the basho to the general public with free admission, it's fine for Ozumo fans but it means no Chaya to bring food and drinks for service and they will need to plan for crowd control. Perhaps they will simply close the building and provide a streaming with NHK providing a digest of Maku bouts.

Edited March 26, 2011 by Jonosuke

[Kintamayama]

Now that for all intents and purposes, the Kyokai has given up holding a "regular" hon-basho in May at the Kokugikan and working towards preparing themselves for Nagoya, they will soon have to come up with the concrete and firm steps to hold the Nagoya.

Everything I read points to the contrary-Natsu will be held-that's the main reason the new committee has been rushing to wrap up its investigation by the end of March. I am convinced that May is on, unless some problem unrelated to Sumo arises.

Edited March 26, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Kotoviki]

me too, when I was in Ryogoku on Thursday they said that while they are not 100% of anything they are being told to expect May basho and even thinking it will help to lift the spirits of the people.

One boy told me that the rikishi kai are suggesting a free basho to help lift the spirits... I would just be happy to see the spirits lifted if the monbusho would allow people to sit at the first floor again. My ojisan friends don't mind paying just want to sit at the first floor in the morning time!

[Jonosuke]

The committee can rush to wrap up all they want but it won't settle the issue when so many guys are denying the involvement.

It will likely drag on for weeks. Without a more or less firm closure to this, their friends at Ministry of EduSci won't be agreeable for any hon-basho. The May ticket is supposed to go on sale on April 9 and they certainly won't have enough time to get all this pass through to the Ministry folks.

The Kyokai has virtually run out of the time for the regular Natsu Basho aside from holding such a basho when they can experience a rolling power blackout any time during the basho as well as JR Sobu and Oedo Subway lines working, maybe, around a half capacity and could stop their trains from running any time of the day.

[Peterao]

I don't think that the blackouts should be a problem in May, because the weather will be mild and they may have a little more power production back on line (though the blackouts will surely return when the summer heat rolls in)

Regardless, if they must hold a May basho, they should try to do so Osaka, both as a means of conserving Tokyo energy and to quickly apologize to the Osaka folks for the March cancellation.

My ojisan friends don't mind paying just want to sit at the first floor in the morning time!

If they don't mind paying, then why don't they buy a first floor seat?

Now that for all intents and purposes, the Kyokai has given up holding a "regular" hon-basho in May at the Kokugikan and working towards preparing themselves for Nagoya, they will soon have to come up with the concrete and firm steps to hold the Nagoya.

Everything I read points to the contrary-Natsu will be held-that's the main reason the new committee has been rushing to wrap up its investigation by the end of March. I am convinced that May is on, unless some problem unrelated to Sumo arises.

Everything I've read (including in Mainichi; the leaders and best!) leads me to believe that there will be "a" basho, but not necessarily "the" Natsu Basho that we've come to expect.

Edited March 27, 2011 by Peterao

[Kintamayama]

Everything I've read (including in Mainichi; the leaders and best!) leads me to believe that there will be "a" basho, but not necessarily "the" Natsu Basho that we've come to expect.

What Mainichi are saying is that there are voices in the Kyokai saying this may be an inappropriate time to hold a basho as if business is as usual. They are also reporting that these voices are much weaker than the voices saying a basho will be held, although nothing is 100% decided regarding the venue or the "type".

[Peterao]

Everything I've read (including in Mainichi; the leaders and best!) leads me to believe that there will be "a" basho, but not necessarily "the" Natsu Basho that we've come to expect.

What Mainichi are saying is that there are voices in the Kyokai saying this may be an inappropriate time to hold a basho as if business is as usual. They are also reporting that these voices are much weaker than the voices saying a basho will be held, although nothing is 100% decided regarding the venue or the "type".

The voices against the Central League going ahead with the regularly scheduled baseball season also started out weak, but they eventually fell in line with the Pacific League by postponing things a full three weeks.

Given their need to be contrite, I don't think that Ozumo will want to be the first to buck the trend of self-restraint.

[Kintamayama]

OK, I may be wrong as usual. Things have drastically changed in the last couple of hours, if we go by the online press. Jonosuke is correct for the moment. Everything is suddenly moving quickly towards a "special" basho to be held in Tokyo- the torikumi will be as usual, there will be a dohyo iri, but there will be no kenshos or outside prizes and admission will be free. OTOH, all rikishi records WILL COUNT. A special Banzuke will be made.

In short, everything Jonosuke and Peterao said is correct (for now) and I will be having a stern talk with myself for thinking I can know everything from here. (Showing respect...)

[_the_mind_]

and I will be having a stern talk with myself for thinking I can know everything from here. (Showing respect...)

dont be too hard on yourself, but also dont take any back talk from yourself. you will not tolerate any of your shenanigans :-)

[Kotoviki]

My ojisan friends don't mind paying just want to sit at the first floor in the morning time!

If they don't mind paying, then why don't they buy a first floor seat?

well because they are all retired on limited incomes in their 70's and 80's some of them.. they go to all 6 basho a year for 15 days and pay hotel (many stay in capsule hotels of course) and transportation to each basho so they can't afford 11,000 yen a day for tickets as well. They buy general admission and reserved chair tickets for the first and last days. however until last Sept they could sit on the first floor until the people came and then go upstairs.. or as many did go back to their hotels from juryo and watched tv!

[Kotoviki]

OK, I may be wrong as usual. Things have drastically changed in the last couple of hours, if we go by the online press. Jonosuke is correct for the moment. Everything is suddenly moving quickly towards a "special" basho to be held in Tokyo- the torikumi will be as usual, there will be a dohyo iri, but there will be no kenshos or outside prizes and admission will be free. OTOH, all rikishi records WILL COUNT. A special Banzuke will be made.

In short, everything Jonosuke and Peterao said is correct (for now) and I will be having a stern talk with myself for thinking I can know everything from here. (Showing respect...)

it makes sense with what the boys told me at dinner last week, the rikishi themselves wanted to have a free basho to lift spirits of the people!!!

[Kotoviki]

Speaking of the blackouts, the good news is the boys told me Thursday that until then they had no blackouts in that area yet. Though they were scheduled they never happened.

Of course everyone is waiting for summer when the heat rises and people can't help but use the a/c. Blackouts may start at places that have been lucky for now. My students said using no heat is easier than using no a/c but I haven't had a/c in a couple years and it hasn't hurt me! I don't use a heater either and for me it is worse to be cold!! In May though it is still often chilly so a/c should not at all be necessary of course July in Nagoya could be a killer if they ask Kansai area to conserve electricity!

[Peterao]

In May though it is still often chilly so a/c should not at all be necessary of course July in Nagoya could be a killer if they ask Kansai area to conserve electricity!

Kansai electricity uses a different voltage from the Kanto/Tohoku region, so not only are they unaffected by the energy shortage, they can't help alleviate the shortage for others even if they wanted to.

Having spent the better part of the last two weeks in Osaka (on a bullet train back to Tokyo as I type this) I can say that they have no concerns over their own energy needs whatsoever.

And of course "the boys" all want to hold a free basho; they don't have to pay for it! If they volunteer to give up two weeks of salary to offset the cost of a free basho, then I'll be impressed...

[Peterao]

Various members of the YDC have been quoted as saying that the regular paid admission Natsu Basho should be held with all the trimmings, and that NHK should televise it in full. But as every professional sports organization is canceling or postponing events, and NHK is even cutting back on coverage of the popular Senbatsu High School baseball tournament in the interest of saving electricity, to me this does more to make the YDC seem irrelevant and out-of-touch with reality than to provide momentum towards the holding of a regular basho.

[Kotoviki]

In May though it is still often chilly so a/c should not at all be necessary of course July in Nagoya could be a killer if they ask Kansai area to conserve electricity!

Kansai electricity uses a different voltage from the Kanto/Tohoku region, so not only are they unaffected by the energy shortage, they can't help alleviate the shortage for others even if they wanted to.

Having spent the better part of the last two weeks in Osaka (on a bullet train back to Tokyo as I type this) I can say that they have no concerns over their own energy needs whatsoever.

And of course "the boys" all want to hold a free basho; they don't have to pay for it! If they volunteer to give up two weeks of salary to offset the cost of a free basho, then I'll be impressed...

Well if you live here you know that I didn't mean there were blackouts in Nagoya!! It was more of a joke on a sympathy thing you know if all Kanto can't use a/c this summer we shouldn't either!!! Hell, even Tokyo can be unbearable without a/c in mid August!!!

Don't you think that it is harsh to say they they want to hold a free basho but wouldn't want to give up the salaries? FWIW the boys in question were jonidan not sekitori. Why do you say it that way?? "And of course "the boys" all want to hold a free basho; they don't have to pay for it! "

You think that because they are sumo wrestlers they have no concerns about the people around them? Everyone in Japan is feeling pain and want to do things for the people. There are displaced quake people living with family closer to Tokyo, wouldn't it be nice if those people could go to a basho to cheer up? They don't have any anything left, it isn't like they can afford a ticket.

Spirits are not so high even in other areas. People are worried, stress is high and everyone is encouraged to try to get to normalcy to be better on their health.. but with everything going on around us it is hard to be normal!

Also with the sumo world being so bad these days a free basho would be also more of an apologetic gesture. And some people even mentioned that donations could be taken for admission.

I'll be sure to let the boys know what you said...

[Peterao]

Please note that I said nothing at all regarding the merits/demerits of holding a free basho, so kindly refrain from attributing any opinions to me.

What I said was that it is no more the rikishi's place to decide to hold a free basho than it is mine to decide to offer your services as a geisha for free, regardless of whether people's spirits may be picked up by doing so.

[Keishikazawa]

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of a free basho, but how do we go about getting the tickets? Are they still going to be procureable thought the normal outlets? My buddies and I usually head down to Tokyo for the Natsu Basho every year, and the only way we've been able to get good seats on Senshuraku is by buying at a convini the day they go on sale. Hopefully we'll still be able to do this, if the basho is free that is.

[Jonosuke]

Actually I am in favor of holding a basho in May at the Kokugikan, only basic "bouts" only basho, doing all they can to save the electricity like not turning on the bright lights after Juryo bouts, turning down all the lights in the corridors and elsewhere (they can even close off the second floor).

The Kyokai can collect the admission fees if they so choose but they should donate all the proceeds to help the victims of quake and tsunami. Since NHK no longer covers the basho on the BS side, they can simply show perhaps Maku or Juryo only bouts on the Sogo, perhaps starting after 5 PM News. There are folks evacuated in Tokyo area and the Kyokai should distribute the free tickets at these centers and even provide them for transportation from and back to the Kokugikan.

The Kyokai receives a preferential tax treatment from the government and has enough funds reserved for rainy days, so here's the perfect opportunity to earn the goodwill of Japanese people.

[Kotoviki]

Actually I am in favor of holding a basho in May at the Kokugikan, only basic "bouts" only basho, doing all they can to save the electricity like not turning on the bright lights after Juryo bouts, turning down all the lights in the corridors and elsewhere (they can even close off the second floor).

should I say this quietly so the monbusho doesn't hear... I'm afraid they'd rather help conserve electricity by closing off the first floor and opening only the second floor because the yakuza might end up on TV down there still...even now...

someone asked about tickets what the young rikishi said to me was that they suggested that each day would be just go in and donate money to go in at the door. I assume that they have to take count so that when the legal fire department capacity is reached then they stop letting anyone in.

take that lightly as we know the kyokai isn't going to just do what some young members of the rikishi kai have suggested anyway. But it does sound like a good idea!! I think they also feel it will not be totally filled over capacity anyway since so many people are displaced and there is a lot going on. And according to the news there are barely if no foreigners left in Tokyo to go to the basho anyway... but anyway however it is held I think sumo would be a good thing to lift the spirits of some people anyway just as baseball, etc.. even tv has gone back to regular broadcasting finally because we couldn't keep watching the news 24/7 for so long any more!!

[Keishikazawa]

That would be a wonderful idea, if every sumo fan lived in Tokyo. If the kyokai does decide to do a "first come first serve, just make a donation and sit where you like" policy they are going to be screwing their fans from other prefectures/countries.

Me and my buddies live pretty far away from Tokyo and we go down every year for day 14 and senshuraku. So we need to book hotels and restaurants and all that. For us it's probably still OK, but for people who plan to make the trip from father away or from abroad are probably just gonna say "screw it".

Oh, well... you can't please everyone all the time... or in the kyokai's case, most of the time.

[Kintamayama]

On April the 6th, the Kyokai will be deciding when and in what shape the next basho will be held . "I'm not saying if May will be held or not. We'll have to look into this seriously!" said the Rijicho.

[Kotoviki]

That would be a wonderful idea, if every sumo fan lived in Tokyo. If the kyokai does decide to do a "first come first serve, just make a donation and sit where you like" policy they are going to be screwing their fans from other prefectures/countries.

Me and my buddies live pretty far away from Tokyo and we go down every year for day 14 and senshuraku. So we need to book hotels and restaurants and all that. For us it's probably still OK, but for people who plan to make the trip from father away or from abroad are probably just gonna say "screw it".

Oh, well... you can't please everyone all the time... or in the kyokai's case, most of the time.

Well anyone that was coming from abroad as my friends do will easily be in line every morning to get in!! The people who MIGHT have the problem are going to be the businessmen types that always show up at 4 or 5pm.

Free or not people still have to work so I BELIEVE that weekdays will still be fine for anyone coming.

Weekends I think will be the pain in the arse it was for anyone who didn't buy a ticket in advance (which is why I always bought my tickets in advance for weekends) that people MAY have to line up very early.

But if someone is coming from abroad or coming from far off and staying in a hotel it will not be a problem to go there early!!

This is just my opinion... (In a state of confusion...)

[Keishikazawa]

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you. I think i shouldn't be a problem at all... it's not like sumo is really in demand in Japan anyway. All I'm saying is that when people are planning trips in which they are spending several hundred, or thousand dollars, they want to be sure they are not going there for nothing. So those coming from abroad (like rikishi's families or fan clubs, who would usually come on weekends) might tend not to come if they are not sure they can get in.

Edited April 7, 2011 by Keishikazawa

[Kotoviki]

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you. I think i shouldn't be a problem at all... it's not like sumo is really in demand in Japan anyway. All I'm saying is that when people are planning trips in which they are spending several hundred, or thousand dollars, they want to be sure they are not going there for nothing. So those coming from abroad (like rikishi's families or fan clubs, who would usually come on weekends) might tend not to come if they are not sure they can get in.

As for the families/fan clubs actually all the moms, dads & friends of theirs that I know line up to buy tickets in the morning. Well, wait, I am referring to the non sekitori ones because they don't know when their sons have matches. They find out the day before and take an overnight bus or morning shinkansen and then line up whichever day their kid is on.

The problem I see mostly for them is that if they aren't going to announce the torikumi in advance (not even to the heya) then the parents will have no idea if their kid is on or not. I feel this is very sad for them!!! Even the parents who live in Tokyo have to know at least a day earlier to ask for a change in their day off from work in some cases.

As for people I know from overseas who come, they are going to be here for two weeks anyway and they know they can be in line every morning at whatever time needed. Many don't buy tickets in advance as well except maybe senshuraku weekend.

Really anyone who will come and stay will not have a problem. The problem will be people who can't come early in the morning like those who are working!! For me coming 2.5 hours each day on weekdays after work will be risky. I can't afford to show up at 1pm and not be able to get in as it is expensive to get there! So I may not come. On the other hand all my ojisan friends who will be coming from Nagoya and Osaka and Kyushu will be there every morning at 8am and they can call me if it starts getting full I guess. Weekends I will stay in the hotel next door so I can line up at 5 or 6 am should it be necessary.

By the way, a lot of us seem to think the popularity is down and nobody cares anyway but suddenly I got emails from many Japanese friends (NOT The ones I would usually hang out with every day in a basho) who all plan to go to this one because they said "It's free!" So today I was really surprised how many people want to come!

PS If you are planning to come the 2nd week anyway I would suggest making your hotel reservations as usual and then let's see how it goes on the opening day for instance.. if it looks like a frantic circus those of us here can tell you so!! You can still cancel the hotel a few days in advance so you'd have some time to see how this works out. I'm keeping all my hotel reservations for now. Even for me IF I saw it was ridiculous on shonichi maybe I cancel the reservations for later.. (In a state of confusion...)

Let's see how it goes in the start!! :-) And I look forward to meeting you here!!

[Peterao]

Last night, we had an M7.4 earthquake that shook Tokyo pretty well. If they must hold this sorta-fake basho, this is just one more reason why they should have done so in Osaka instead.