Re: Questions from a new(ish) fan...

[Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]

--- jkleader <jkleader@email.msn.com> wrote:

> Is the term stable appropriate or should I use heya
> (or something else)?
> Is it a  "literal" translation? 

The literal translation is "room" as in "club room".
 
> How do stables recruit? 

The oyakatas go recruit hunting...usually a teacher,
family member or suppoter's club member contacts the
oyakata and he goes over and talk to the kid. 

They also go looking for new recruits at Kids Sumo
championships...for as young as six year olds. 

> Do Oyakata rely on their own charisma to recruit? 
> Send out star rikishi to
> dazzle the prospects? 

I remember seeing a NHK TV program on Oguruma oyakata
talking to a young junior high school grad and his
father. He kept telling the parent that he would make
the kid a repsonsible adult and take care of him as
well as prodding the kid to try it for a year or two. 
I am not sure if he joined, as if you are 15 year old
you may still are not sure what you want to do with
your life.  

But it's really competitive getting a good prospect.
    
> Do hot prospects flock to a stable on the rise or
> will they stay away
> thinking they will not receive sufficient attention
> or support?

Not necessarilly.  Some avoid a heya like Sadogatake
as they rather not have too many rikishis to contend
with as remember in the world of sumo, Senpai and
Kohai (Senior/Junior) relationship is strictly
enforced next to ranking.

> If a rikishi does not like his stable or his
> stablemates or his Oyakata, can
> he switch to another?  If so, how easy or difficult
> is this?

Very difficult if not impossible. Usually your oyakata
changes you, not vice versa.  

 
> The little wash cloths the rikishi use before bouts
> seem to come in several
> colors (e.g., yellow, blue, pink).  Does the color
> have any significance?

Yes if you win or lose.

 
> Do rikishi try to psych each other out in the locker
> room?  Or have their
> minions or stablemates try to psych out their
> opponents? 

Smaller rikishis try to get as much advantage as they
can get.  Takatoriki used to do it to Akebono, though
lately he has not been successful.  He once or twice
slapped Kotonowaka's face around and won.  Usually I
think rather than psyching their opponent out, they
are trying to psych themselves.     
 


=====
.....Jonosuke 
  <  Heart  Technique  Physique     ^ÐS   ^ËZ   ^ÑÌ  >
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