Re: [sumo] Ancient sumo grapples with modern times

[Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]

 --- Joe Klemmer <klemmerj@webtrek.com> wrote: 
> Ancient sumo grapples with modern times
> Fri 6 February, 2004 03:06 
>  By Dan Sloan
...
> With waning sponsorship, falling turnout and --
> perhaps most troubling
> -- the loss of its biggest stars, sumo has been less
> than agile in
> responding to very modern business woes.
> 
> Retiring grand champion Musashimaru put it bluntly:
> "Hello, it's 2004.
> We're not in the Edo Era."

It's rather obvious this guy missed the boat a couple
years ago. You don't take what Maru says "bluntly".
On NHK's News10 program, their sportscaster Udo asked 
Maru once if he already had someone he was thinking of
getting married. Maru said, "Yes...(her name is)
Umiko."  Ms Udo thinking she got one of the biggest
scoops of year breathlessly kept asking Maru,
"Yokozuna, is it really true, as this program is going
all over Japan."   Of course, Ms UMIKO Udo didn't
realize then, Maru was merely toying with her.   

Well I did digress.  Anyway why is this guy writing
the stuff like this now? Ozumo is slowly climbing out
of the lowest pit.  This Hatsu Basho they had a
weekday sellout in a long long time (with their usual
weekend and holiday sellouts).  Asashoryu got the
record number of Kensho on Day 14.  The Kokugikan
souvenir shops looked little busier now with
Takamisakari goodies and the chankos selling out well
before the Makuuchi bouts started.  TV ratings have
recovered somewhat.

For good or bad, more things change out in the world,
more things stay the same in Ozumo.  Speaking of
which, the Kyokai folks now have to contend with four
more years of Fusae Ota, the Governor of Osaka as she
just got re-elected.  I wonder if someone is going to
see her before the Haru Basho starts to tell her that
they are still weighing in all the facts and are not
yet ready to release the conclusion to let her climb
up on the dohyo to give the Governor's Cup herself.
 

=====
.....Jonosuke 
  <  Heart  Technique  Physique     ?S   ?Z   ?Ì  >

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[EndPost by Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]