From a personal point of view, sumo has quickly gone from a sport that I followed enthusiastically, to one that sadly I now pay very little attention to. The treatment and forced resignation of an admittedly controversial but at the same time colourful Grand Champion, and then the far more worrying revelations of match-fixing, have arguably made it a sport in the very loosest sense of the word, as well as one mired in small-mindedness and criminality.
Rather harsh criticism perhaps, but along with the aforementioned issues, and a complete lack of Japanese winners (let alone Yokozuna) for many years, has caused local fans to also turn their back on the sport, with ticket sales down and interest at an all-time low.
Yet despite this, and in 2007 the Japan Sumo Association suffering — for the first time in its history — a total lack of applicants from would-be Japanese wrestlers, there is still hope. Yes, it’ll never be able to compete with baseball and soccer in the coming years, but some youngsters are still interested, and if the passion and commitment of the kids pictured below is anything to go by, then sumo is very much alive and kicking.
Getting ready for their turn in the ring, the young lads in question waited patiently in order.
And although there may have been some nerves, there was also an awful lot of fun to be had while watching the other bouts.
But, when it came down to business, there was no more silliness — none whatsoever.
Instead they fought hard.
And fair.
Until there was a fall.
Making it an event that was competitive, fun and controversy free, as well as a spectacle for all the right reasons. Something those running the sport could do with recapturing – quickly.
Hans ter Horst says
Funny, I must have lost interest in sumo round about the same time and for the same reasons; if the intention of the sumo association was to kill off the sport, they have done an amazing job over the last years. ^_^;;
Great set of photos, BTW, good to see the kids still giving this great sport a chance!
Lee says
Good to know it’s not just me who feels exactly the same way. Such a shame as I really used to enjoy watching it, both on the TV and live. I had some great days out at the Ryogoku Kokugikan…
Thanks, and yeah, it was great to see. They were all extremely sportsmanlike too. No gloating when they won, and more surprising, no sulking (or worse) when they lost.
John says
or un-sportsman like even? Maybe these guys are ‘aiming at the self, not the target’ as in Kyudo.
That’s an uplifting thought?
Lee says
Yeah, should have checked over that…
Despite Sumo’s traditions and is strict adherence to custom, it’s primarily a sport, so although such aims would be commendable, they’d probably be detrimental to a wrestlers advancement — at least competitively.
Andrew Harrison says
I too was a huge fan. I especially loved watching Takanohana fight Akebono – wonderful contrast in style and demeanor. While I admire Hakuho, I agree, the retirement of Asashoryu is a huge loss. Kaio’s gone too, so the Kyushu basho will be half empty. It’s almost as sad as the political situation.
Lovely pictures, though. Let’s hope one of these lads will become a Yokozuna!
Lee says
Cheers Andrew.
Thankfully it’s hard to imagine even sumo ending up in a situation comparable to the current political one, but yeah, it’s in a pretty bad place at the moment. I too admire Hakuho, but he doesn’t have anywhere near the same entertainment value as Asashoryu did. Yes he was a bully, and at times his behavior left a lot to be desired, but every sport needs a bad boy. Regardless of whether people loved him, or loved to hate him, they’d always pay to go and see him. Unfortunately that’s probably not the case with Hakuho. Or perhaps any other wrestler for that matter.
We’ll just have to hope one of these Japanese lads does make it to Yokuzuna before it’s too late…
Lizzy says
It would be a shame to see sumo fade away…. 🙁
Lee says
It certainly would Lizzy. It’s going to take a while to restore people’s trust though, let alone their interest, but hopefully it can be done.
Calissaja says
It’s so great to see the enthusiasm of these kids. I wish it would continue until they’re old enough to join a heya. It’s so sad that it probably won’t.
The loss of Asashoryu was a pity because he was exciting to watch, but his total lack of hinkaku made him a bad example to the guys further down the ranks. They saw that he didn’t have any respect for ozumo so they didn’t either. Of course, yaocho has been going on for as long as sumo has existed, but to be so brazen as to organize it on your keitai…yikes.
I admire Hakuho too, but he’s too mellow. I’d never go just to watch him. If Harumafuji could keep the Ama spark he seems to have found again recently, I’d love to see him be promoted. It would probably take that to get me to go back again.
I used to be the editor of Sumo Fan Magazine, so I went to every basho (which isn’t a cheap hobby), I went to keiko and senshuraku parties, and I had contacts to get me in the shitakubeya. But once all the scandals started, especially the hazing death, seeing the bizarre machinations of the sumo kyokai, and discovering that guys who I’d supported and congratulated and celebrated with had been cheating, well, that pretty much finished it for me, and it’s a long road back.
As for Kaio, he should’ve retired several years ago. He’d been relying on the goodwill of the ozeki backscratcher’s club for far too long and it made me sad to see him damage his legacy by struggling on. And Kyushu half-full? That would be a huge improvement! I always love going to Kyushu because it’s like seeing an arena band playing a pub gig. I always tell people to go there if they want to get up close and personal.
Lee says
Fascinating stuff Calissaja, I had no idea you used tone the editor of Sumo Fan Magazine. Even for me all the problems you mention tuned me off the sport, but being on the inside as it were, I can only imagine how disappointing it must have been.
You must have some great stories to tell though from your time following it so closely. I’m sure there must have been some really good times. Albeit expensive ones as you say.
I’ve only been to sumo live in Tokyo, so the next time I go to Kyushu I’ll have to try and make it coincide with a basho. Maybe that would help rekindle my interest.
Thanks for the incites. Really interesting.
Japan Australia says
I’m a huge sumo fan and would like to see it go on forever. It does need more interest from the younger generation in Japan.
Japan Australia
Lee says
Yeah, it really does. Sadly, without a Japanese Yokuzuna — or at the very least some Japanese winners — that’s increasingly unlikely…
arabesque says
interesting post Lee.
one can see from your fotos the kids’ determination to really be 100% fit and proper when it
comes to this sport.
very engaging and yes, a bit of a controversy considering that at such a young age, strict discipline and rules are already implemented.
Lee says
Thanks. Yeah, there was real determination and, from a good number of them, a good knowledge of the various moves/techniques too. Great to see.