Corona and sumo

[WAKATAKE]

Tokyo Governor Koike has come out in what appears to be support for the NSK and it's holding the Hatsu basho, asking that they continue to work hard for helping out with maintaining Covid prevention such as washing hands and wearing masks per the anti-Corona campaign put out by the Metropolitan government. "I would appreciate their help with making sure that we will one day be able to view sumo with everyone not having to worry about this situation any longer."

https://www.nikkansports.com/general/nikkan/news/202101090000772.html

Former NPB player and TV commentator Isao Harimoto however has come out to criticize the NSK for holding the basho. "They're really holding it? Are they serious? They should just stop. There is no reason for doing this and it's dangerous. Instead of 'ozumo' it's going to become 'kozumo' (small sumo). Both yokozuna are kyujo. If they're going to stop the basho when more more infections turn up, then they shouldn't be holding it in the first place." 

His take on Kotokantetsu retiring: "He was scared because he felt his life was on the line. If he got it because he took unnecessary risks, that would be on him. Anyone who gets it can pass onto family members and friends close to you."

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202101100000109.html

[sumojoann]

We now have an "official" name for what we are about to watch.  KOZUMO BASHO!!  (Small sumo).

Edited January 10, 2021 by sumojoann

[Kaninoyama]

2 hours ago, sumojoann said:

We now have an "official" name for what we are about to watch.  KOZUMO BASHO!!  (Small sumo).

Or COVID sumo. 

[Shinobi Steve]

We should probably rename the discussion thread to the 2021 Kozumo Covid Basho. 

[Seiyashi]

2 hours ago, Shinobi Steve said:

We should probably rename the discussion thread to the 2021 Kozumo Covid Basho. 

I'll leave out the COVID in the name, but the thread has been renamed to the Kozumo Hatsu Basho. 

Anyone else not looking forward to watching this basho? With the number of cases and absent rikishi, it feels like the basho is a car crash waiting to happen. 

Edited January 10, 2021 by Seiyashi

[rhyen]

14 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

He stated he was afraid of the travel.to Ryogoku, so I don't think the fact that all participants in the bouts were negative is relevant.  And it's certainly Miyata, not Takada-I shall fix this immediately. 

So the kyokai no longer makes arrangement for lower ranked rikishi to travel by car anymore (since Osaka last year)?

Sadogatake deshi probably travel quite a long way from their heya to the kokugikan, needing 1 transfer at the train stations?

Edited January 10, 2021 by rhyen

[Churaumi]

7 hours ago, rhyen said:

So the kyokai no longer makes arrangement for lower ranked rikishi to travel by car anymore (since Osaka last year)?

Sadogatake deshi probably travel quite a long way from their heya to the kokugikan, needing 1 transfer at the train stations?

I don't know about the car situation, but I read it to mean he didn't want to go to Ryogoku because there are a lot of people there and he didn't want to expose himself to strange people and a place he rarely goes to. It defeats the purpose of quarantine and social distance to go places you can't control.

[Kintamayama]

14 hours ago, Shinobi Steve said:

We should probably rename the discussion thread to the 2021 Kozumo Covid Basho. 

After Kozumo Kramer, the guy from Sainferudo??

[Kintamayama]

Kotokanketsu didn't wait too long before appearing on ex-Takatouriki's YouTube channel. It looks like the guy is off on a Kyokai bashing quest and I wouldn't be surprised if some juicy stories started appearing on some media outlets that pay highly for this sort of thing.  "I entered the sumo world totally healthy in  2013, " he said. After three years, he underwent heart surgery so that puts him at high risk of possibly aggravating his problem if he contracts the virus.  "I think whether someone is afraid of the virus or doesn't care too much about it depends on that person's situation. I am terrified of it. At my present situation it's a huge risk for me to contract it,"  he added. He asked his Oyakata to let him go kyujo. "I asked him if my request was refused, would I have to retire?  He just said 'I guess so..'  I was totally in shock when he said that. I was filled with despair and frustration . In the past when I asked him for some help there were many times when he did nothing. Nevertheless, I was relying on my Oyakata and my heya and continued to believe in them. More than the fact that I won't be doing sumo anymore, the fact that the Kyokai and my Oyakata and nobody else was willing to help me reminded me again of the harsh reality, and that brought about my intai," he said, his voice breaking.

Edited January 10, 2021 by Kintamayama

[Shatsume]

1 hour ago, Kintamayama said:

After Kozumo Kramer, the guy from Sainferudo??

More like after Kozumo de' Medici I reckon... 

[sumojoann]

14 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

I'll leave out the COVID in the name, but the thread has been renamed to the Kozumo Hatsu Basho. 

 

Great new name!!  I hope the next basho won't be called the Kozumo Haru Basho, and the one after that the Kozumo Natsu Basho, and so on ............

[mt fuji]

I feel really bad for Kotokanketsu and I'm glad he's getting a chance to speak out about what he went through. I can't imagine that he's the only wrestler at high risk for a bad outcome, or the only wrestler questioning their participation in the tournament. Hope he has a smooth transition back to the real world.

[WAKATAKE]

2 hours ago, mt fuji said:

I feel really bad for Kotokanketsu and I'm glad he's getting a chance to speak out about what he went through. I can't imagine that he's the only wrestler at high risk for a bad outcome, or the only wrestler questioning their participation in the tournament. Hope he has a smooth transition back to the real world.

Just I predicted, Chris Gould has gotten on the bash the NSK train by essentially recycling Takatoriki's material

[sumojoann]

I don't know if this is the right thread to ask this but does anyone know how Hakuho is doing?  Last I heard, he was in the hospital with COVID-19.  He had lost his sense of smell.

Edited January 12, 2021 by sumojoann

[Benihana]

https://www.zeit.de/sport/2021-01/olympia-tokio-corona-absage-ioc-sumo

German only, but the translate.google.com result is almost perfect. And i have to say the author did a very good job, too.

Edited January 13, 2021 by Benihana

[Karasukurai]

(There is a Sumo point, honest!). Interesting article in the UK Guardian about the Olympics and whether or not it can be held (link below). Ex Japanese Prime Minister and Tokyo Olympic Organising Committee member Yoshiro Mori said that a second postponement would be impossible. While preparations continue and the IOC have measures ready to protect the athletes and officials, a number of polls have overwhelmingly suggested that the Japanese public think the games should not be held in July with 77% saying that they should be cancelled or postponed. As there seems to be little appetite for a second postponement, cancellation is a growing possibility.

So, and I quote, "Speculation is building that a decision on the Games future will have to be made by the end of March" - I wonder what implications this might have for the current Yokozuna, especially Hakuho should that decision be a cancelled Olympics? Who knows, perhaps Hakuho could be saying goodbye after the March tournament if things go the wrong way.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/13/tokyo-2020-head-says-impossible-to-delay-olympics-as-public-opposition-grows

Edit: The same paper carries another article today (or update) with the GB Olympic Team spokesperson saying that they 'are full steam ahead for the Games to take place' and were confident that the stands would be full of spectators despite the current polls.

Edited January 13, 2021 by Karasukurai

[Kintamayama]

Kokonoe Oyakata and 4 Makushita and under rikishi from the heya have been diagnosed with the virus. As the heya is out of the basho anyway, it will have no effect on the ongoing basho. "It's a good thing that we already have the heya in lockdown.." said Shibatayama Oyakata.

Edited January 18, 2021 by Kintamayama

[Seregost]

17 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Kokonoe Oyakata and 4 Makushita and under rikishi from the heya have been diagnosed with the virus. As the heya is out of the basho anyway, it will have no effect on the ongoing basho. "It's a good thing that we already have the heya in lockdown.." said Shibatayama Oyakata.

I'm sure Kokonoe and his pupils will be able to oshidashi the virus out of their bodies and the heya :)  

[Kintamayama]

Kokonoe oyakata is in hospital, as are four of his deshi. It appears that 10 people from the heya were found positive, and four of them are in hospital plus the Oyakata.

[Kintamayama]

On 10/01/2021 at 21:04, Kintamayama said:

Kotokanketsu didn't wait too long before appearing on ex-Takatouriki's YouTube channel.

Ex- Takatouriki got Kotokanketsu a job as a flag waving traffic coordinator at a construction site. "He got me the job and i am working! Working outside still has me worried regarding the virus, but it's a bike ride away so I decided to take the job. I don't know what the future holds for me but I need to earn a living in order to survive somehow and I have to stabilize my life at this point. Till that happens, I need to gambarize.." he said.

[Kintamayama]

On 22/01/2021 at 12:21, John Gunning said:

For some reason Instagram keeps pushing ads for that job on my feed. Pays 800 yen an hour with the opportunity to get a bonus of 10,000 yen after the first three months apparently. 

Money wise, is that the normal fee for jobs like that? Around 8 bucks an hour?

Edited January 27, 2021 by Kintamayama

[pricklypomegranate]

20 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Ex- Takatouriki got Kotokanketsu a job as a flag waving traffic coordinator at a construction site. "He got me the job and i am working! Working outside still has me worried regarding the virus, but it's a bike ride away so I decided to take the job. I don't know what the future holds for me but I need to earn a living in order to survive somehow and I have to stabilize my life at this point. Till that happens, I need to gambarize.." he said.

It's great that he has a job - it's not like he got thrown out into the streets with no home or means. He's only 22 years old and can easily get back to school and better his prospects. It's a shame that he felt he had such a bad experience though. I thought Sadogatake was one of the better oyakata.

1 hour ago, Kintamayama said:

money wise, is that the normal fee for jobs like that? Around 8 bucks an hour?

That's like $10/hour here in Singapore. For waving flags, that's pretty good. Working fast food is like $6/$7/hour here. 

In other news, because of the coronavirus, there are rumours circulating that the Japanese government has "privately conceded" that the Olympics will be cancelled. However, they have since denied this. Do you say no go or yes so to the Olympics? Do you think Hakuho will stay on? They did say that a decision will be made by late March. 

In my opinion, should the Olympics be cancelled, Haru will be Hakuho's last basho and he will win it. Although I do not think that his recent illness is debilitating, it probably weakened him such that 50 yusho is an impossibility. After reaching 45, he has acheived almost every accolade a rikishi could possibly think of and more. I think he'll actually be happy doing his oyakata duties, such as learning the heya management ropes from Miyagino, finally coaching his deshi full time, recruiting more or joining Araiso and the PR crew popularising sumo. Maybe he'll have shimpan duties in 2 or 3 years. 

Edited January 22, 2021 by pricklypomegranate

[I am the Yokozuna]

It is interesting and revealing that there has been no in-basho en masse testing of all wrestlers. From what I have read in the European football leagues, the footballers/team personnel get tested twice a week. If you do not test, you do not detect, if you do not plan testing, you are basically saying we do not believe in the severity and urgency of the current situation. 

[mt fuji]

Yes I'm disappointed they're not testing but it's also not surprising and pretty consistent with the way they've shown what they prioritize. They need to make money and positive tests put that at risk!

[Gaijingai]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/japan-sumo-coronavirus/2021/01/21/fc351ea8-54f2-11eb-acc5-92d2819a1ccb_story.html

excellent story by the Washington Post, with Ross and John interviewed.