Oshi-dashi'd message

[Basten <cbasten@statgen.ncsu.edu>]

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Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 14:08:25 +0930
From: Paul Eckermann <paul.eckermann@adelaide.edu.au>
Organization: The University of Adelaide
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To: sumo@statgen.ncsu.edu
Subject: The expectations of being a yokozuna
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Hi everyone,

I'd just like to make a few comments about the rank of yokozuna that I
have been thinking about for a while now...

I think that part of the attraction of sumo is due to the rank of
yokozuna and what it signifies - yokozuna are treated differently from
other rikishi, with their own dohyo-iri and many other perks, almost
being raised to a semi-god status (although probably not so much these
days) and every young rikishi aspires to become a yokozuna one day. But
with this status also comes added responsibility - that they must
perform as a yokozuna every time they step onto the dohyo.

But I don't think it is reasonable to expect yokozuna to perform at
yokozuna level for every bout of every tournament they participate in.
In every other sport I can think of, when an athlete returns from injury
they are not expected to perform at their peak - they might play some
games at a lower level or come on as a pinch hitter (in baseball) or as
a substitute (in soccer), and nobody worries that they aren't at their
peak yet, the fans are just glad to see them compete again. But in sumo
if a yokozuna returns and cannot compete against the other top-ranked
rikishi right from the start, this is seen as a disgrace.

I believe that this situation is hurting sumo and part of the reason for
its current decline. If there was no pressure on Takanohana to perform
at his peak straight away, he would have probably entered the last
basho, thus creating more interest in the sport and it probably would
have been good for Takanohana to test his knee out in a match situation
to see how far along the road to recovery he is.

I was glad that Konishiki was not promoted to yokozuna as this almost
certainly extended his career by about four years. If he was promoted he
would have been forced into retirement at the start of his decline in
late 1993. And I don't believe such a fuss should have been made when
Wakanohana went 7-8 as a yokozuna, leading to his retirement shortly
afterwards. Surely the sport would have been better off had his
performance been accepted - Wakanohana may have still been competing
today drawing more fans to the sport.

Similarly, I was a little apprehensive when Ekigozan was promoted to
yokozuna in the Hoshitori game, as I was looking forward to
participating in the Hoshitori for the next 50 years or so, but I will
now be forced to retire after a couple poor basho!  :-(

Paul (aka Ekigozan)