Corona and sumo

[Tsuchinoninjin]

Tatsunami-beya was evacuated to a hotel while COVID disinfection efforts took place. Disinfection is complete and everyone has returned back to the heya.

It also seems some members were at the (are at) the hospital, I guess for testing but its not clear.

Picture of disinfecting guy at the heya.

[Kintamayama]

The number of spectators allowed for Hatsu at the KKan will be limited to 5000 until day 2 (January 11th, inclusive), as per the request of the authorities. They then will decide how to go on and notify the Kyokai. For now, large venues that can seat more than 10000 people are limited to 5000. The kyokai announced prior to this that they will let 5300 in. "We're not sold out on the first two days so we will adjust ourselves. We had plans to stop at 5000 anyway, "explained Oguruma Oyakata, in charge of the Tokyo bashos.

Edited December 24, 2020 by Kintamayama

[robnplunder]

On 24/12/2020 at 04:58, Kintamayama said:

The number of spectators allowed for Hatsu at the KKan will be limited to 5000 until day 2 (January 11th, inclusive), as per the request of the authorities. They then will decide how to go on and notify the Kyokai. For now, large venues that can seat more than 10000 people are limited to 5000. The kyokai announced prior to this that they will let 5300 in. "We're not sold out on the first two days so we will adjust ourselves. We had plans to stop at 5000 anyway, "explained Oguruma Oyakata, in charge of the Tokyo bashos.

Given the current Covid19 situation in Japan, I wonder if the number of spectators will still remain at 5000.   Things are looking dire.

[mt fuji]

Wakatakakage is confirmed positive

[hakutorizakura]

6 hours ago, mt fuji said:

Wakatakakage is confirmed positive

Oh no! Hope things won't get worse.

[Gernobono]

11 hours ago, mt fuji said:

Wakatakakage is confirmed positive

guess, he did even try to henka covid

[rhyen]

Since it was diagnose after the banzuke was announced, automatic kyujo & rank retention?

Arashio beya will be on the tenterhooks for the next few days. 

[Gaijingai]

In English:

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/12/459b1211f598-sumo-top-flight-wrestler-wakatakakage-infected-with-coronavirus.html

[Kaninoyama]

Japan recorded 4,500 new cases yesterday, with about 1400 of those in Tokyo, a new record, drawing speculation that a state of emergency will be instituted. Even then, I don't believe the basho will be canceled other than due to a serious outbreak among the rikishi. 

Edited January 1, 2021 by Kaninoyama

[robnplunder]

3 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

Tokyo recorded 4,500 new cases yesterday, a new record, drawing speculation that a state of emergency will be instituted. Even then, I don't believe the basho will be canceled other than due to a serious outbreak among the rikishi. 

You meant Japan, not Tokyo which reported about 1400 new cases.   Things are not looking good but I am still hoping for successful sumo in Jan.

[Kaninoyama]

43 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

You meant Japan, not Tokyo which reported about 1400 new cases.   Things are not looking good but I am still hoping for successful sumo in Jan.

Thanks. Corrected! Japan is not trending in a positive direction at the moment. I doubt it'll deter Hatsu Basho from going on as planned, but I personally think going the no-spectator route would be prudent. 

Edited January 1, 2021 by Kaninoyama

[robnplunder]

46 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

 I personally think going the no-spectator route would be prudent. 

That'd be common sense with the UK COVID variant and rapid increase in new infections.  But Japan's national COVID policy has been the Economy first.  So, I think it will be held with spectators.

[Kamitsuumi]

All the wrestlers and the oyakata at Arashio stable are confirmed positive.

[WAKATAKE]

13 minutes ago, Kamitsuumi said:

All the wrestlers and the oyakata at Arashio stable are confirmed positive.

Two weeks to go, they aren't competing. Hopefully they do get the Tamanoi treatment. What has become of Tatsunami beya so far?

[Kintamayama]

 "There is talk of  a national state of emergency. We really don't know what will happen, but we'd like to somehow do the basho, even without spectators.." said Shibatayama PR man.

[robnplunder]

33 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

 "There is talk of  a national state of emergency. We really don't know what will happen, but we'd like to somehow do the basho, even without spectators.." said Shibatayama PR man.

Without spectators would be a reasonable compromise.  

[rhyen]

8 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

Two weeks to go, they aren't competing. Hopefully they do get the Tamanoi treatment. What has become of Tatsunami beya so far?

They have been discharged, hopefully no more positive test results until long after the conclusion of the basho. 

[Seiyashi]

16 minutes ago, rhyen said:

They have been discharged, hopefully no more positive test results until long after the conclusion of the basho. 

I think just hopefully no more positive test results, period.

[Kintamayama]

"I said yesterday that we will try to hold the basho even without spectators but we will have to wait and see what the authorities will decide. We will discuss this at a special rijikai. There is no way we can postpone the basho by two weeks. It's going to be a difficult decision to make at this juncture. It can still be held with no fans and there are other ideas as well.. " said Shibatayama. 

[Kintamayama]

TOKYO — The Japanese capital, Tokyo, and three nearby prefectures have asked the national government to declare a state of emergency to curtail the surging spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

“In the name of valuing life, we made this plea together,” said Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike after meeting for three hours on Saturday with the minister in charge of coronavirus measures, along with the governors of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa.

Japan has seen a recent rise in reported cases of COVID-19, especially in urban areas. Tokyo saw a daily record of 1,337 cases on New Year’s Eve.

Worries are growing about hosting the Olympics, set for July, with 11,000 Olympic athletes set to enter Japan, as well as tens of thousands of officials and media.

“Corona knows no calendar,” said Koike, referring to her worries about infection growing during the New Year’s holidays.

“Hospitals are getting packed, affecting medical care for all.”

The minister said both sides agreed the situation was critical, but medical experts will be consulted before action is decided.

Japan has never had a lockdown, attempting to juggle the need to keep the economy going with health risks. The issued warnings carry no penalties.

The government has also been sending conflicting messages with a campaign to encourage travel with discounts, although that has been discontinued.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has come under criticism over what some see as his mishandling of the pandemic. Japan has had more than 3,500 deaths so far related to the coronavirus.

[Eikokurai]

Suga about to declare the state of emergency for Tokyo, which would suggest no spectators for the upcoming basho if it goes ahead. 

https://mobile.twitter.com/NHKWORLD_News/status/1345915585150873601

[robnplunder]

2 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

Suga about to declare the state of emergency for Tokyo, which would suggest no spectators for the upcoming basho if it goes ahead. 

It looks that way now.  I just hope the sumo goes the full 15 days without an incident.  

[Kintamayama]

Makuuchi gyoji Kimura Motoki (Minato-beya) has the virus, it was announced today. He did not have any close interaction with other members of the heya but all heya members will undergo tests tomorrow.  This is the first Gyoji to come down with the virus.

[since_94]

None of this bodes well. 

[dada78641]

I wonder what's going to happen. I'm sure the Kyokai would agree that it's better for a basho to be canceled than for it to go ahead and be a disaster because of infected wrestlers or gyoji appearing on the dohyo. If nothing else happens over the next week I think we're good, but we're really treading the line.