Sumo: Throw and Go

The 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament ended July 27. Viewers new to sumo might titter at the big buttock cheeks flapping from what you're apt to call "the diaper". The name of that thong is "mawashi", and it is made of heavy silk, about 10 yards long by 2 feet wide, folded in 6, and wrapped around and up and over several times depending on the girth of the wrestler.

The mawashi is on there so tightly, there's no chance of a wardrobe malfunction.

Well, almost no chance. A mawashi did loosen in 2000 during a televised tournament and all was exposed to all. Fortunately, I missed that. But it was nice to be living in Japan and share this sumo moment because the last time a mawashi dropped in Japan was in 1917.



I attended a sumo event only once, here in Tokyo. It was a special one-day mini-tournament ("Jungyo Circus".) With no weight limits in sumo, it could be humongous guy versus simply huge guy. Competitors in sumo might face an opponent twice his own weight. At the tourney I went to, I sat way up in the rafters. When you see the pure power that these guys have, and hear the wham when they slam into each other at the start, it is quite fascinating.

That initial thud sounds more painful heard through surround-sound on these new digital televisions. Everyday, I watched the final hour of the July sumo tourney on TV. Like American football, the view is better at home, watching on TV. And now digital TV allows you to clearly see even the few whiskers that Hakuho sprouted on his chin during the course of the July event.

 
Watch videos from the July 2008 tournament, with English announcing. Sumo blog with more pictures and details of the July event.

In addition to competing, and eating at the table in their training "stable", sumo guys perform traditional rituals. They toss kids, throw beans instead of each other, and make infants cry.

RELATED
Mongolian Hakuho posts perfect 15-0 record at Nagoya sumo (Hakuho with trophy above)
Sumo tourney slide show

Sumo beginners guide
Doing their best to win
Grand Sumo Homepage
Nagoya Summer Basho 2008
Seat selection and views from each
More pictures of Nagoya arena and previous tournaments

TOURNAMENT PHOTO  CREDITS
Daily Yomiuri; Sankei; Nikkei

Whale Streamers Replace Traditional Carp

At this time of year, carp streamers can be seen flying outside the homes of families with male children.


CARP STREAMER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD

Japundit notes that some locales in Japan have other kinds of carp streamers (koinobori) to represent local fish products important to local economies. Such as streamers that look like whales.

Japundit

SOURCE

More whale streamer photos: (1)   (2)   (3)    (4)

Traditional carp streamer photos:  (1)   (2)   (3)  (4)

Whale Not Often Eaten In Japan

The Fifth Season: Rain

"We have four seasons in Japan". It is not uncommon for non-Japanese to be told that Japan experiences summer, fall, winter and spring.



Yet, what about the official rainy season (called tsuyu or baiyu) which is now underway in parts of Japan? So doesn't Japan actually have five seasons?

Japan's rainy season begins on a sunny day in southern Japan in May or early June The Japan Meteorological Agency officially declares the rainy season has begun.

In July, gradually by area, usually during a torrential downpour, the rainy season is officially declared over.

The rainy season in Japan probably confuses people:


Sound effect: phone rings

Japan Meteorological Agency: Moshi moshi (hello). Kishouchou de gozaimasu (It's the weather agency.)

Caller: I put my laundry out on the balcony to dry last night and it rained. My clothes are soaked. Yesterday you said the rainy season was officially over.

JMA: Aso. Gomen nasai. (We are very sorry). I apologize for that.

Caller: It looked like it might rain. But you said the rainy season had ended!

JMA:  (bowing) Suimasen. (So sorry). Gomen nasai.

Sound effect:  Goro goro!  (Thunder!)

Sound effect on phone: Ka chan! (Hanging up!)

Sound effect:  Fu fu fu (chuckle)

Cherry Blossom Blooming

The Sakura "Blooming Front" is closely followed.

Sakura So Serious

Hanami - cherry blossom viewing party -  requires careful panning.


Ueno Park, Tokyo. (Mainichi Daily news)
Ueno Park, Tokyo. (Daily Yomiuri)

Tokyo Tower. (Sankei Newspaper/MSN)

How To Do Cherry Blossom Viewing
Gallery 1  (Mainichi)
Gallery 2  (Mainichi)
Sakura viewing party 1 (Flicker photostream)
Sakura viewing party 2 (Flicker photostream)