Asa's great

[Asashosakari]

i still think a rikishi on track to break records is good for the popularity. he exemplifies great sumo. while everyone complains about one dimentional fighters, Asa is about the only guy who you dont know what he will do next.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The problem is, with Asashoryu so far ahead of everyone else, sumo as a whole has become one-dimensional. (I've reached the point where I care a lot more about Makushita, Juryo and the lower Maegashira ranks than I do about sanyaku and the yusho race, sad to say.) I dare say your opinion is a minority position...most people watch sports because of the competition, not because they find it interesting to watch an extremely dominant athlete tear up the record books.

To put it a bit differently...I'm sure people will pay more attention once Asa gets to, say, 28 yusho, and becomes a credible threat to Taiho's record, but I seriously doubt that there's much additional interest in his yushos 13 to 27, because that's simply more of the same, not anything special.

Edited June 5, 2005 by Asashosakari

[Zentoryu]

why not? whats wrong with having a 30 Yusho Yokozuna in today's Sumo? given the respect Asa is getting from the former greats like Tahio and Kitanoumi, why would this not help Sumo? they need something to draw fans.

i still think a rikishi on track to break records is good for the popularity. he exemplifies great sumo. while everyone complains about one dimentional fighters, Asa is about the only guy who you dont know what he will do next.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Then why has Sumo's popularity been in decline for years now? Why isn't the Kokugikan sold out everyday? Why has the Kyokai been forced to cancel more and more jungyo tours due to lack of sponser and fan interest?

For every fan who thinks a dominant Yokozuna is a good thing for sumo, there are just as many people who want a little variety, who crave a good yusho race, something that we've been denied so far this year by Asa's absolute dominance.

Now I have the greatest respect for Asashoryu and his abilities, but only Asashoryu fans could possibly enjoy him winning every single basho.

The last time Sumo enjoyed a surge in popularity was during the Waka/Taka boom period of the early to mid-nineties. This wasn't just because Taka was dominating, it was also because Taka had strong rivals in Akebono and Musashimaru. Fans flocked out to see the Hanada brothers battle the foreign born Yokozuna and Ozeki. There were a lot of Yusho races that came down to final day battles between Taka/Ake/Maru/Waka that entertained and drew in the fans.

For the moment, there is no such rivalry to capture the fans imagination, its all Asashoryu right now.

Sumo's popularity will probably continue to stay in this current state until either a rival to Asa's throne emerges from the crowd of upstart rikishi curently coming up and starts making the Yusho races interesting again, or something else happens to bring the fans back. Yusho races where the winner is decided before the final day, as has happened several times recently, and is always the same guy, isn't going to do it.

Thats why one guy dominating, no matter how brilliant he may be, isn't always a good thing.

Edited June 5, 2005 by Zentoryu

[_the_mind_]

Then why has Sumo's popularity been in decline for years now? Why isn't the Kokugikan sold out everyday? Why has the Kyokai been forced to cancel more and more jungyo tours due to lack of sponser and fan interest?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

um, you tell me. if there was a solid answer to these questions im sure the sumo counsel has a job open for you.

lack of japanes Yakozuna i guess.

all i know is sumo was very popular when Taiho was winning, it was popular when kitanoumi was winning, it was popular when Chiyonofuji was winning, and it was popular when Takanohana was winning. i dont see how it cant be popular when Asashoryu is winning. or is the fact he isnt japanese that serious? and while i am aware that all of those people had other Yokozuna's to rival them, not all of them always had a Yokozuna who could contend for a Yusho everytime as you are suggesting has to happen for interest. there could easily be Japanese Yokozuna right now if any of the 3 ozeki's would do what they are capeable of. if the elders are so worried about the lack of Yokozuna then they need to get a fire lit under the ozeki's. Kaio had his chance in the last few basho's but blew it. thats his fault, not Asa's fault. i dont see the reason for all the negativity twords Asa just because no one can compete with him. blame him, im sure its his fault that they dont sell out everyday. its his fault Kaio and others wont take the chance when they have it.

i know i personally am going to be flying 2000 miles to see Sumo in october at great expense. i cant speak for why the people who only have to go a couple of hundred miles or only a couple of miles dont want to go.

Asashosakari-zeki your comment of no one being interested between yusho 13-27 is understood. i see what your saying.

Edited June 5, 2005 by _the_mind_

[_the_mind_]

if anything this current situation proves against the Youcho(SP?) theory as if they are so worried about outcomes they would have allowed Kaio to make Yokozuna. but they didnt. im glad there is still some standard of what it takes to be a yokozuna. one will not just be made yokozuna to have a supposed rival to a dominent Yokozuna.

(dont get me wrong i like Kaio ALOT, but if this youcho really happens then i think we wouldnt be sitting here having this arguement over lack of rivals and lack of ticket sales and lack of general interest in sumo in japan)

[Kintamayama]

i know i personally am going to be flying 2000 miles to see Sumo in october at great expense.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hope you'll be staying till November as well, otherwise..

[_the_mind_]

huh? if your talking about the honbasho, im talking about Las Vegas

Edited June 5, 2005 by _the_mind_

[Zentoryu]

Kaio had his chance in the last few basho's but blew it. thats his fault, not Asa's fault. i dont see the reason for all the negativity twords Asa just because no one can compete with him. blame him, im sure its his fault that they dont sell out everyday. its his fault Kaio and others wont take the chance when they have it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not saying it was Asa's fault. Asashoryu certainly can't help the fact that he's that much better than everyone else. (Blinking...)

You will find that a lot of people would rather see a Yusho race go down to the wire on the final day (even if Asa ends up winning in the end) than have complete domination by one guy thereby rendering the Yusho race itself a foregone conclusion.

I completely agree with Asashosakari, Juryo and Makushita have been more interesting than Makuuchi lately due to Asa's domininance at the top. (again, not Asa's fault).

all i know is sumo was very popular when Taiho was winning, it was popular when kitanoumi was winning, it was popular when Chiyonofuji was winning, and it was popular when Takanohana was winning. i dont see how it cant be popular when Asashoryu is winning. or is the fact he isnt japanese that serious? and while i am aware that all of those people had other Yokozuna's to rival them, not all of them always had a Yokozuna who could contend for a Yusho everytime as you are suggesting has to happen for interest.

I simply meant that more exciting Yusho races need to take place once in a while in order for fan interest to increase. (Of course that isn't the be all, end all of increasing fan interest, but it certainly couldn't hurt).

As I recollect, all of the great rikishi you mention had great rivals who challenged for the Yusho once in a while. Taiho had Kashiwado and later Sadanoyama and Kitanofuji. Chiyonofuji had to contend with Kitanoumi and Takanosato early on, and Asashifuji, Onokuni, Futahaguro and a strong group of Ozeki during the latter stages of his reign. Takanohana had Akebono and later Musashimaru with occasional Yusho challenges from his own brother.

Asashoryu doesn't have a true rival right now (Tochiazuma has had his number, but is often too injured to be a factor in the Yusho race). Give him someone whom the fans can believe can beat Asa once and a while, someone who can be strong enough to win the majority of his matches so that the Yusho race isn't a foregone conclusion heading into the final day, and that would help build fan interest more than having one single guy dominating every basho with no true challengers.

Edited June 5, 2005 by Zentoryu

[_the_mind_]

that day will come. but he is lucky in that the people who would have been capeable of challenging him are now getting old, too old to compete for a yusho if he is in it (the ozeki's) and the young tallent is still too young to be a factor. the time WILL come(when he doesnt win everything all the time), its just a matter of how long it takes certain guys like Kotooshu and Hakuho to wake up and do the sumo they are capeable of. i personally am hopeing Kotomitsuki is about to make the final sprint into ozeki and possibly the next step of his career. if people like him dont take that final step in their sumo development but insted go the wakanosato/ miyabiyama way then dont expect the Asa reigne to end or even be challenged any time soon. the competition either doesnt have the ability or the desire to keep up with Asa

[AsaMoe]

I hope you'll be staying till November as well, otherwise..

The 2000 miles should have indicated it. Unless he is in South Korea or in certain parts of China.

The next bashos could be interesting, because

1) Tochiazuma has fought three bashos injured with an average score of 11. If he keeps uninjured, he will be a sound opponent

2) Kotomitsukis Ozeki run, for me the least expectable and the one with the least chance

3) And a couple of youngsters, where it will show, if they can get to the top.

[slt]

Now I have the greatest respect for Asashoryu and his abilities, but only Asashoryu fans could possibly enjoy him winning every single basho.

Just to add to that - I have been a big fan of Asashoryu since his second or third basho in Makuuchi, and even I would like to see him challenged. I think we want to see Asashoryu have to struggle to win, there has to be more tension when decisive bouts arise, which makes it something to celebrate when he wins. At this point, I doubt the many Asashoryu fans are really enjoying his victories.

Every fight is brilliant, yes, but hopes and fears are fundamental in any sport; if the result is almost sure, the excitement goes away, as do the fans.

[AsaMoe]

Every fight is brilliant, yes, but hopes and fears are fundamental in any sport; if the result is almost sure, the excitement goes away, as do the fans.

You are right.

For example, two of the least attractive sports, soccer and formula 1 are only interesting, because there is tension. Female soccer is much more attractive then male soccer, but much more exciting.

[aderechelsea]

since we are talking about what we expect in every basho now that Asa is so dominant ...

Personally i hope every time that Asa wins a zensho in order to witness a record, and that Hakuho snaps out of his slump and is yusho candidate again. I really like him and i respect the way he fights at the age of 20 ....

i also care about Kaiho staying in Makuuchi for years and maybe pulling off a "Haru basho" performance once in a while.

And among all these i keep my eye on new guys trying to make it to the top.