Re: [sumo] Re: Aki Basho Day 11

[takanomizu@mchsi.com]

What does "DEBU" mean?


Irene
>  --- Ken  <nippon444@excite.com> wrote: 
> >  Sumo like other sports needs better PR and
> > marketing skills in this era of cable TV and all the
> > other alternatives. This is something I find lacking
> > with sumo. When I was in Japan in the late 90s never
> > did I see a big promo especially on TV before a
> > basho.  Also the restrictive lifestyles of the
> > rikishis out them at a disadvantage to personalities
> > like Ichiro, Matsui (MLB) or Nakata.Finally I
> > believe Japanese are becoming internationalize in
> > their taste
> 
> I totally agree with you.  NFL's Tampa Bay led by
> Sapp(Warren, not Bob) and Keyshawn Johnson and New
> York Jets played American Bowl at Tokyo Dome in front
> of over 43,000 people and it's only an exhibition
> match.  
> 
> Real Madrid just arrived in Tokyo and had their
> practice session at the Tokyo Dome charging admission.
>  And they had 45,000 fans showing up and paying for
> the practice. Fans don't just come to see a game but
> for its stars, Beckham, Figo, Zidane etc  Of course
> their team management know full well the interests in
> Japan.  Their official web site is in Spanish
> (obviously), English and Japanese.
> 
> When Ozumo was popular, it had its stars - the last
> was the Wakanohana/Takanohana brothers were in their
> prime. Prior to that was Chiyonofuju's era.  Those
> Kyokai folks need to cultivate their own rikishis and
> may even get a good professional PR agency. But at the
> end of day they desparately need the stars. 
> 
> Their way is to cling to the old way of doing things
> as they figiure it worked before and it may again. As
> much as they say they want to fill the arenas at
> bashos and Jungyo tours, they don't seem to do be
> trying harder or doing something radically different. 
> They still have their own oyakatas going around the
> circuits and usual suspects like town hall denizens
> and local store owners and asking them for their
> cooperation before the troops visit the town. 
> 
> Lot of kids go to soccer and baseball camps now that
> it's a summer break but how many kids go to sumo
> camps?  They need to sponsor more of these grassroots
> activities.  There are still many Japanese kids who
> are interested in martial arts and judo which also has
> its stars.  
> 
> Just like Miyamoto Musashi or "Terminator", they all
> want to be strong and fearless.  But then one thing
> they don't want to be is becoming a "DEBU".   Sumo may
> need some image change and should hammer hard on being
> physical active and vibrant. 
> 
> I believe one of the good things  coming out from all
> those Mongolian rikishis is that they are lighter,
> more skill oriented with speed.  They are showing size
> isn't everything but full hard contact combined with
> agility and skills can make not only pretty exciting
> brand of sumo but also winning sumo as well.
>         
> 
> =====
> .....Jonosuke 
>   <  Heart  Technique  Physique     ?S   ?Z   ?Ì  >
> 
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> [EndPost by Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]
[EndPost by takanomizu@mchsi.com]