Re: [sumo] more on the 1-day Nagoya tournament

[Katrina <katrina@shoin.ac.jp>]

Having watched this kind of knock out tournament both on television and
live, I would agree that they are not the "real" basho sumo, but I don't
think there is any arrangement or predetermination, as there might be in the
jungyo exhibition sumo, where, for example, the hometown boy always wins and
certain rikishi can be relied upon for their "special" technique.
Kyokushuzan's "special" is a Mainoumi style jump in the air.

The point of these tournaments is that a rikishi is paid for each round that
he stays in.  When he loses, he goes to an office round the back to collect
his envelope of money calculated on how many rounds he completed.  Those who
really want to get some cash try very hard, others who think they don't have
much chance or don't care so much, make less effort.  In the past,
Takatoriki was more ferocious in this kind of sumo than over the 15 day
regular tournament, and often came away with a good chunk cash.  Kyokushuzan
had a money hungry period too when he could be seen fighting all out.

There is also room for grudge match fighting here and, although Stephan
Dulka saw "not one slap" yesterday, sometimes the sumo has verged on a
brawl.  

Pride is also at stake, and I remember nearly being run down in the Osakajo
Hall shitakubeya during the tournament sumo this spring, by a rampaging
sanyaku rikishi, who was extremely "annoyed" by his loss to a lower, and
usually weaker opponent.

Wakanosato may have looked resigned when he walked off the dohyo after
losing to Buyuzan by stepping out, but I don't think he was laughing.  No
doubt he was cursing himself for his stupidity.

Chiyotaikai, was smiling after he lost to Toki, but it was more likely a
smile of chagrin.  What would be the point of agreeing to lose?  Chiyotaikai
would have had a greater chance of getting to the purse.  If there were to
be an arrangement it would be the other way around.   Probably a case of
underestimating his opponent.

I can assure you that even if they do not look quite like their usual selves
on the dohyo, the finalists are taking the competition very seriously,
judging from their demeanor back stage.
 
This year's Nagoya knockout tournament was certainly nowhere near as
exciting as past ones.  Maybe the guys were annoyed that it was only one day
instead of the usual two.  Maybe they were eager to get back to Tokyo, since
the jungyo doesn¹t start in earnest till next Friday, so they didn¹t have to
wait around for the caravan of busses that transport the rikishi en masse,
to take them to the next place.  Or maybe it was the awful screaming girl
with the shrill voice that torments Nagoya audiences, that put them off.
The rikishi were so irritated by her squealing for her multitudinous
favourites, that they wanted to get out of there as soon as possible!

Katrina


[EndPost by Katrina <katrina@shoin.ac.jp>]