SUMO - A Surreal Look at Sumo Practice and a Little Bit Homasho

The best laid plans………. I always say I will do my blog the same day that the events unfold. Hah! Easier said than done. I just got so sidetracked yesterday with other things here, like trying to find the exact day and time for  the making of the yokozuna’s belt (tsuna uchi). So let’s go on, before I get distracted yet again.

First, I have to thank my good friend Eduardo, for needing photos of the heya entrances, a task for which I volunteered. If not for his request, I would never have been in the area. As it happens, I went to photograph the Kitanoumi entrance (Kitazakura” heya), then over to Otake-beya, run by the former Takatoriki. Can one ever forget when he won that tournament while he was at the lower echelon of Makunouchi, and how the tears just appeared on his usually sumo-inscrutable face?

When I approached Otake, I saw a few non-sekitori types outside, one of whom looked somewhat familiar, but whom I, even now, cannot identify. I took the photo of the door, and reminded myself to pass by again after photographing the Oguruma entrance, since Roho is over at Otake. On my way down the street, I heard whistles - not the wolfish kinds that are usually reserved for attractive women, but as in someone calling out to someone else. Ignoring them, I made my way down the street, then for some reason decided to backtrack to Otake. There went the whistles again, coming from a park-like area, and there was the source of the whistles – Yuho-san, a coach/oyakata type from  Otake-beya.

Motioning for me to sit with him, we greeted each other with the Japanese equivalent of “long time, no see” and then began the ritual conversation: Yuho-san asked me– when did I get here, am I alone, am I going to the basho, when am I going home? I responded, and asked him, in turn – are you well, hot day, isn’t it, are you going to Hawaii, when are  you getting there, and, finally – is it true that there will be a Los Angeles koen in 2008?  To the latter, he hemmed and hawed a bit, talked about finding the clay for the dohyo, and some other matters that I really did not understand..(Note: this conversation was in Japanese, so the most I could do at times was just say “hai”, even though I may not have had a clue.) Then he told me that Kotooshu was there for degeiko.

Taking my leave, I ran into Otake Oyakata, who motioned for me to go in to the heya to watch the practice.  At first demurring, I "gave in" the second time he and a supporter urged me on.

The viewing area was pretty well packed, but there were a few empty zabuton in the rear. I took my place, realizing that many there were from the press, the others, club supporters, almost without exception in suits and ties.

Then my attention turned to the dohyo, where I was surprised to see not only Kotooshu, but Kotomitsuki, Kotoshogiku and Sadogatake Oyakata  (former Kotonowaka).  The full Russian/Georgian sekitori contingent was there, as well – Roho, of course, Kokkai, Hakurozan and Wakanoho. Takekaze from Oguruma-beya was also in attendance.

The keikowas pretty uneventful – no one seemed to be fighting very intensely, and Kotooshu looked the worse for wear, with the most clay on his body. Kokkai was still in Bluto mode – ouch! I’d hate for him to scrape up against me!  I really didn’t keep score in the win/lose department, but other than Kotooshu, Wakanoho looked as if he were doing  quite a bit, with his usually fair skin a deep crimson.

Otake came back in with a cloth covered baseball bat in his hand. I hoped he wasn’t going to start using it (I can’t stand watching that stuff), and thankfully, he didn’t!).

A lot of banter amongst the boys, and then butsukari commenced, indicating the imminent end to the practice session, with each sekitori in turn, lending his chest to one man, then pushing against the next.

When this was over, Otake Oyakata announced that everyone was invited upstairs for chanko – I decided to go home. I was sure he didn’t mean for me to go, but he motioned me upstairs, anyway. Thanking him, I backed out of the heya, likely missing out on another memorable experience, but risking that so that I wouldn’t have to face the barrage of questions– or, worse,  not even being talked to, at all.

Outside, I saw an NHK person whom I know and asked him about the koen. He just responded with sucking in his breath and a “maybe”. I’m sure we’ll all hear after or during the Hawaiian jungyo.

I didn’t have a decent camera with me, not even remotely anticipating that I would be at keiko – I just had my old Sony Cybershot, which is not the best for the lighting in most heya. Nevertheless,  I have posted those photos which came out the best – even with some photoshop-ing. Here I give you a surreal look at degeiko at Otake-beya. Please open the folder entitled Degeiko in the column to the right and enjoy, or click here.

Oh.....almost forgot. On the way back to my hotel, I saw a gaggle of reporters outside Dewanoumi-beya interviweing Homasho. Here are the two photos I was able to elbow my way in to take.