on this day: 1944

["Rowan Klein" <rowanchan@hotmail.com>]

The Mainichi, Saturday 15th April 1944

Hefty Worker
http://www.juryo.com/newspaper/1944/19440415.jpg

Well, here's a powerful worker who ought to excel in lifting heavy objects 
and doing odd jobs requiring strength. It's Futabayama, sumo champion, 
offering labor service.

Main Sumo Tourney

Korakuen Stadium Will Be Site; Hours Shorter; 10-Day Schedule

   With the epoch-making schedule befitting the decisive stage of the war, 
the summer main tournament of the Dai Nippon Professional Sumo Association 
will be held for 10 days from May 7 at the Korakuen stadium, Koishikawa, 
Tokyo, instead of the familiar Kokugikan, according to an announcement made 
by the association on April 12. The rankings for the coming tourney will be 
published on May 2.
   To have the spectators avoid rush hours in their visit to and retirement 
from the stadium, the open contests will commence daily at 11 a.m. and 
finish at 4 p.m. as a rule, the participating wrestlers being limited to 
those of the "juryo" rank and higher.
   Matches of the low-ranking contestants will not be open to the public.
   With no box seats, the admission fees will consist of six classes with 
Y4.90 as the top.
   This will be the first time since 1909 in which the sumo tournament will 
be a 10-day affair.
   From 1778 up to that year, the tourney was held semi-annually within the 
compounds of the Ekoin temple, Tokyo, for 10 days each.
   Beginning with the summer tourney of 1909, the arena was shifted to the 
Kokugikan, which since has continually remained the Mecca of sumodom except 
in 1918 and 1919, when the edifice was under construction after a fire, and 
in the post Great Earthquake year of 1924, when the spring main tourney was 
held on Nagoya.
   Though sumo fans may feel sorrowful over the separation of sumo from the 
time-honored Kokugikan, the fact that contests in this national art will be 
held in invigorating air under the blue sky will certainly be an inspiring 
phenomenon suitable to wartime.



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