[sumo] Making sumo more popular

["Jezz S" <jejima@hotmail.com>]

Here you go....

A couple of ideas that I have about how to make sumo more popular.

Firstly, you need to reduce the number of tournaments.  Six-a-year, for the 
average person is just a little too many (and no, I am not talking about 
myself, I certainly prefer to have as many tournaments as possible.)  No 
sooner has one tournament finished, then they are already discussing the 
next one.  Currently there is no big incentive to go to the Tokyo 
tournaments, as there will be one turning up in a few months time.  Also, by 
reducing the number of bashos, you'd increase the resting time for injured 
rikishi.  So, hopefully, they'd all turn up.

Also, sumo tournaments overseas would increase the interest - both for the 
countries that they visit, and also for the rikishi (one of the perks to 
encourage more youngsters to join sumo) - and certainly for the TV stations 
in Japan.

So, from the six basho a year, cut tis down to 3 official basho.  A January 
basho to be held in Tokyo, an April basho to be held in Osaka, and a basho 
to be held in alternate years in Fukuoka and Nagoya in October/ November.  I 
have a feeling that by limiting the tournaments as above, they would be sold 
out every day.

Then you throw in a big Summer tour, with a full 15 day tournament (I am not 
sure whether this should be 'official' in terms of Banzuke changes or not) 
to an overseas country.  I am that there are many cities out there that 
would love to have sumo come to visit them.

Are these ridiculous ideas?

Cheers,

Jejima

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[EndPost by "Jezz S" <jejima@hotmail.com>]