Nippon Times, Friday 29th January
FUTABAYAMA TO SET UP GYMNASIUM AT DAZAIFU
Sumo Champ Gets Consent Of Fukuoka Governor to Train Youths
Futabayama, famous grand champion of sumo, has decided to open a
sumo gymnasium in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, where local youths will
be trained by professional sumo wrestlers.
Futabayama's wish to establish a gymnasium was first supported by
governor Sei Homma of Fukuoka Prefecture, who offered every facility
to the champion.
At the projected gymnasium, local youths will be taught the right
techniques of sumo wrestling by Futabayama himself and wrestlers under
his guidance. The grand champion is intending to implant the spirit of
the national game in the minds of naive
young men.
Training camps of the same type are expected to be opened in other
prefectures in the future and the coaching wrestlers will spend their
spare time to help in the production increase campaign.
Referring to the project, Futabayama declared:
"My long dream has come to be realized. My wish has been to make
sumo a means of service to the State rather than an object of amusement.
"The Dazaifu gymnasium will be open next April, and we are
determined to devote ourselves to sumo wrestling."
Meanwhile, Governor Homma is reported from Fukuoka to have stated
as follows:
"I was very much impressed by Futabayama's wish to purify the sumo
world and popularize the game among non-professional people. I have
accepted his proposal with much pleasure, for it is a big benefit for
local youths to receive coaching from competent wrestlers.
_________________________________________________________________
The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail