Re: Basho and SARS?

[<peter@my.email.ne.jp>]

> From: Jack Peacock <peacock@simconv.com>
> Subject: Basho and SARS?
> Content-Length: 632
> 
> While partaking of a fine bowl of yasunabe at the new sushi place around the
> corner it occurred to me that no one had mentioned any possible impact of
> the SARS outbreak on the upcoming basho (or I missed it).  This morning the
> electronic trade press had coverage of the Computex show in Taiwan (a major
> industry show) being postponed indefinitely because of the disease,
> apparently part of an overall inclination in Taiwan to avoid large crowds
> for the moment.  What is the situation in Japan with regards to big public
> gatherings?

On the contrary, as the SARS virus is not endemic in Japan, now in the
middle of one of the major public holiday periods of the year (Golden Week),
where there is usually a large exodus of travellers overseas, the SARS
situation, wars and other international travel security concerns, combined
with a shorter than normal Golden Week because of several of the public
holidays falling on the weekend, has had the impact of markedly decreasing
international travel resulting in increased domestic travel and attendance
of domestic events.

As to whether this will help Sumo attendance out of its rut, I doubt it very
much.  To be completely cynical, nothing short of a new Japanese hero to
counter the Mongolian nemesis is likely to get the public here interested in
Sumo again.  The Takamisakari phenomenon is quaint, but I doubt he has the
right stuff to make it even to Ozeki.  If Chiyotaikai does get the nod by
the Yokozuna Promotion Council, this may help, but his presence/charisma
factor seems to be less than his Oyakata or Takanohana, so who knows how
much his ascendance would increase public interest.

TV ratings are probably as good an indication as any of public interest and
likely attendance.  Other than when there was the impending Takanohana
retirement, where NHK Sumo ratings peaked to levels they had not seen for
many years between 17:45 and 18:00 (Yokozuna match time), the declining NHK
ratings and cancellation of Sumo Digest do not bode well for Sumo
attendance.  However this is not unusual for Sumo, with peaks and troughs in
popularity going through cycles of years, as new heroes or good rivalry
emerges.  Interestingly, the times when Chiyonofuji and Takanohana were
dominating, were not the most popular periods, as the yusho was usually a
done deal and therefore not very exciting or interesting for the general
public.

Cheers, Pete.