RE: [sumo] Ms. Uchidate strikes again

["ShiroiKuma" <ShiroiKuma@ShiroiKuma.com>]

Well, I always thought that it's more than just a certain common way to do the tegatana.

I.e. I'd think that doing the tegatana with the right hand has some symbolic significance. I.e. you take three cuts, first left, then right, then middle, and that is to represent thanks to the heavens, soil and something or so. In other words, it's not an empty motion, i.e. "when you take the cash, you just shake your hand three times" but it means something.

In this respect I'd think that doing it with the right has some implication, like I'm just fabulating now, on the right is where the winning wind blows or whatever, so I'd think there is the right way.

As far as, is a rikishi giving the necessary info so that he knows from the start to do it with the right arm?

Hundred percent. I've trained in a number of heya, and everywhere, I mean everywhere, if a novice would do it with the left arm in practice, or so, he'd be set straight right away. I'm confident about that.

So, of course Asashouryuu knew this all along.

In fact, I'd also like to defend Ms. Uchidate. For a long time I've been watching Asashouryuu doing with the left arm, and thought "wow, unbelievable he gets away with it." Sure, his Oyakata must've told him, as the reports confirm. But the kid just won't listen, maybe because he's a Yokozuna.

And for a long time, I thought, how come no one mentions it on the list, and I thought, ahhh that must've been talked about already.

However I think she's right to bring the issue up.

I remember one time I asked Akebono, he was an Oyakata still, about the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee: "How can anyone who's never done sumou, who's not been inside, in the hell, who doesn't know what it means ever understand it, to ever recommend something?"

This is what he said: "This is exactly the problem with the elders, because they're all on the inside, we've been locked in it, so it's hard for us to get a completely neutral view of issues, we're formed by our intense experiences. And this is exactly why they formed the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee. Because sumou is also here for the people, and this way the voices of the common man can be heard. So it's a great thing. And we can take these views into consideration."

And yes, in sumou, a part of the inner meaning of the art, is that everything has a right way to do it. And you as a warrior should strive at all time with all your might to do what's right.

Now that might be a little hard to grasp by the common man, who'd think, yeah but this is just a petty thing, there's the big things to mind, like winning on the dohyou, like Asashouryuu said.

And that's the view one would expect from the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee, i.e. the view of the common man. But then Ms. Uchidate spoke out about this, which is exactly what the inner view should be. I think this is pretty respectably and praiseworthy, that she sees sumou this way.

Later,

ShiroiKuma

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-sumo@statgen.ncsu.edu [mailto:owner-sumo@statgen.ncsu.edu] On Behalf Of Masumi
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 6:45 AM
To: Whitney
Cc: sumo@sun01pt2-1523.statgen.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: [sumo] Ms. Uchidate strikes again

Whitney:

I understand your dissapointment, but I don't share with your view, unfortunately or fortunately.

The thing is "winning is NOT everything in sumo".
And it's perfect timing to stress it now.

If winning is everything, of course, Asashoryu should be allowed to behave whatever he wants.
He is THE star and no one, including any members of Yokoshin, could deny that.
But sumo tradition is bigger than any heroic yokozuna or any individual in sumo community.
At least that's the way most long-time sumo fans in Japan feels.

I think where Ms. Uchidate's opinion is from is those feeling of sumo fans.

When you said "why now" I can't deny that I felf that "winning is everything" or at least "winning is more important than most". I personally don't think so.

By the way, I am a long-time Wakamatsu-beya fan and have been rooting for Asashoryu's success since he started at the very bottom of the ladder. I still enjoy his sumo, but I am not that happy with his behavior other than in his actual matches.

Toshiyori Masumiriki


Whitney wrote:

> Masumi-san,
>
>   You make some great points in what you stated and you are 100% correct I am sure. I was not born in Japan so I am not familiar with the cultural aspects. My big issue here is why is this an issue now? Asashoryu has been a Sanyaku rikishi since May of 2001. So I am sure he has gotten Kensho may times in the almost three year time period since his Sanyaku debut and I am assuming all of them were left-handed. The timing is horrible. It seems like every time he does something great, someone trys to "rain on his parade". After he got Zensho in January, he was encouraged to do better by Takasago Oyakata and Rijicho Kitanoumi. How can he do better than a perfect score? Unbelievable.
>
> Whitney in TX :)
>

[EndPost by Masumi <abe@accesscom.com>]



[EndPost by "ShiroiKuma" <ShiroiKuma@ShiroiKuma.com>]