Re: NON SUMO: Sake "Ozeki" and their trademark

[Masumi Abe <abe@accesscom.com>]

At 11:28 AM -0600 6/3/02, David Luke wrote:
>  > The Ozeki's official site does not mention anything about the relationship
>>  with their corporate name "Ozeki" and Sumo at all.
>
>Actually, they do.
>
>>  From http://www.ozekisake.com/index02.html:
>
>
>Origins of the Ozeki Name
>
>The Ozeki name is rooted in the traditional
>Japanese sport of sumo. Hundreds of
>years ago, the strongest castle guards in
>the land would gather each year to test
>their wrestling skills. "Ozeki" was the title
>bestowed on the victor. (Later, in the Edo
>Period, "Yokozuna" became the highest
>sumo ranking.)

In my personal opinion, this is just a description of
"Ozeki" name in the Sumo world. In addition, as I
mentioned in my previous post that Ozumo authority
officially recognized Yokozuna as the highest rank
in early 20th century or in Meiji Period, instead
of Edo/Yedo Period.

I could not see any particular relationship between
this particular company's relationship with Sumo,
except "Ozeki" name in this "description".

>  It was in 1939 that a
>special-grade sake bearing the name "Ozeki" was
>first released.

Such event is not mentioned in the Ozeki site in
Japan. In fact nothing mentioned between 1939 and
1961.

>
>
>Ozeki's Connections with the Sumo World
>
>Having a name steeped in the Japanese national
>sport of sumo, Ozeki has since 1958 presented
>victorious sumo wrestlers with the Ozeki Cup.
>Television broadcasts often show a wrestler and his
>entourage celebrating victory by drinking sake out of
>this large silver cup.


Again, this does not mention anything about the
reason why they chose "Ozeki" as their trademark and
corporate name. They became a sponsor of Ozumo long time
after they adopted "Ozeki" name for their trademark in 1884.

Their corporate history is seen at:
http://www.ozeki.co.jp/company/enkaku/index.html
though it's written only in Japanese.

-Toshiyori Masumiriki

>
>--
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>David Luke                          Plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose
>dvl@cypress.com
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------