Blog Nr. 11

I don't know if Anyone will care, but I have followed Japanese Sumo for a long, long time. It is an ancient form of wrestling developed in Japan. I became interested in Sumo over 50 years ago, when I did a tour of duty there.
I don't understand Japanese that well, but the objective of Sumo is to overpower your opponent and knock him on his butt.....pretty simple really.
Two large (and I mean LARGE) gentlemen face each other from a distance of about a foot and a half. On signal, they charge. Picture it: two guys, averaging 300-350 lbs each colliding. They slap each other around, grab each other however they can and try to toss each other outside the ring. (I forgot to mention, the ring is quite small). There are methods to their madness: balance, strength, quickness, guile and other tactics fascinate me What impresses me most is the sportsmanship each wrestler shows each other. No tantrums, bad-mouthing etc. are allowed in this sport. (Unlike EVERY American sport I have seen!!)
Oh, yeah, I forgot...these guys are 95% uncovered, with just a large belt and strategically placed straps covering their "boy" parts.

The reason I am talking about this is, there is presently a large scandal surrounding the sport. The Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) have been caught extorting money from some of the wrestlers who have been caught betting on other sports (baseball, soccer, etc.) Some high-ranking champions in the sport are involved. Guys who I have followed reverently over many many years. This scandal may change the face of Sumo forever. And it is a harsh reminder to me that even these large, gentlemanly champions of their sport are suseptible to doing wrong. It is indeed a sad day for Sumo.

Sumo has a governing body deciding now how to handle this shame. It is impacting me......as a subscriber to NHK, (Japanese television that my wife and I have), I would normally cheer my favorites on to victory, same as I do for the Broncos, Rockies and other athletes of whom I am fond.

The Japanese culture is very big on "shame" brought on by themselves. In the old days, someone who brought shame on themselves, their families or their countrymen would be expected to commit Seppuku (Hari-kari). Tough.
Idon't expect that to happen in these modern times, but I think the punishment for this will be severe.

In the meantime, the Sumo tournament in Nagoya, scheduled for this month, may not occurr.
That is what upsets me.........I WILL MISS MY TOURNAMENT!!!!!!!!.

So, to those Sumo wrestlers who were involved, I say SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!