Re: Comparing sumo with other sports

[Doreen Simmons <jz8d-smmn@asahi-net.or.jp>]

At 16:25 -0600 3/12/99, Aaron Willis wrote:

> Doreen
>
> I spent all day yesterday pondering your statement and trying to figure out
> why you would say what you said and how I should respond.  I want to ask why
> I will get nowhere trying to find equivalents in American sports or World
> sports, for that matter, with the sport of sumo?  (snip)
>
> I think it is important to be able to compare and relate one sport to the
> other, there is so much that can be learned from this.  I know and
> understand American sports.  The most effective way for me to learn is to
> compare and contrast my knowledge of one thing with something else that is
> new.   (snip)

Aaron,

I'm sorry, but I can't help you. Just have patience, and keep on finding out
information on sumo. When   you ask questions like, "Can I assume that XXX
in Japan is much the same as YYY in America ?" the answer is very often
going to be, "No."

Ponder this non-sumo story: Many years ago, sight-seeing in the US, my
husband said wearily, "Let's go to one of these Rest Rooms. I really need a
rest." Now, if there is no correspondence between the American and British
use of such a simple, common word as 'rest,' how far do you think your
assumptions, as stated above,  are going to take you?

Analogies are possible; for instance, a sumo-beya can be likened, up to a
point, to a cross between a boarding school and a (secular) monastery; but
if you try to liken it to a gym, or a team, you will be hard put to find any
meaningful similarities.

Likewise, if you try to compare the Nihon Sumo Kyokai with the MBA, you may
find some superficial points,  but nothing that really illuminates. On the
other hand, quite a good analogy can be drawn with a collegiate university:
the Kyokai is like the university, in that it sets the standards and
conducts the examinations (basho), whilst the heya are like very small
colleges in that they recruit students (apprentices), register them with the
governing body,  teach them, and enter them for the
examinations/tournaments. But unless you are familiar with a university of
this kind, you may find the comparison meaningless.

You are most welcome to ask whatever you want. All members of the list have
equal value as participants.  All I'm saying is that you are asking the kind
of questions that will only attract the answer "No."  Two bad things may
happen as a result: you may become discouraged and think people are not
taking you seriously; or others as knowledgeable as you about some American
sports will start replying to you on off-topic subjects -- and this really
does annoy people. Sumo is a vast subject and this list is quite busy enough
-- for some of us, at least :-)





Doreen in sumoland

♪I'm not old -- just classic♪