Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 13:11:52 -0500 (EST)
From: Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>
Subject: Japanese Sumo magazines
Any bookstore (even a tiny small one with a selection
of Mangas and Shukan Post/Gendai and several
bestseller books) in Japan can order one for you if
you ask them. They will order it for you and calls you
once the magazine arrives (both Ozumo and Sumo usually
come out around the end of month like 30th or 31st).
Many small stores nor convenience stores do not carry
them so it's best to "subscribe" through a book store
as you are certain you won't miss it and you get it
the day it comes out.
As pointed out there are three magazines:
1. _Sumo_ by Baseball-sha (this is the official
magazine of the Sumo Kyokai so they have all the stats
and other esoterical information as how a heya was
founded and who were the oyakatas throughout its
history). Catering to truly dedicated, nothing else
will do type.
Pro : It considers itself to be THE sumo publication
so you are getting the real stuff.
Con: Rather dry, the design can be improved and fonts
are too small (I guess to to fit in more stories).
2. _Ozumo_ by the Yomiuri Shimbun (yeah the same
people who publish the world's largest paid
circulation newspaper headed by our friend Tsuneo
Watanabe).
More accessible to casual fans as well as to serious
Ozumo fans. Articles written towards wide range of
readers. More attractive design and color photos.
Pro: Good concise topics focusing on popular rikishis
and those attracting attention like new Makuuchi or
Juryo rikishis. Larger font.
Con: A few articles tend to be fluff and interviews
not necessary dealing with sumo (I guess this can be a
Pro as some will like to know "non-sumo" side of
rikishi.)
3. NHK Ozumo Chukei by NHK Stella
This one is published every other month by NHK. It
comes out in the basho month and basically a much
slimmer than Sumo or Ozumo. But if you are not a
Japanese reader, this is the best choice as the
pictures are really great and it has all the top
rikishi information with their pictures.
Pro: Great pictures, large font. Attractive design.
Pretty interesting "non-sumo" tidbits about sekitoris
like what type of liquor they drink or like which I
posted on SML a while back.
Con: Well the interviews are mostly silly (usually
conducted by a female NHK sports announcer who always
badgers the rikishi by asking when he is getting
married type of stuff).
Sumo and Ozumo come out every month so if you want to
keep track on what's going on Ozumo then Sumo and
Ozumo will be your choice. Personnally many
non-Japanese speakers really enjoy NHK Ozumo Chukei
magazine as it has great pictures and use easier to
understand language if you know little bit of kanji
and good knowledge of hiragana and katakana. I love
this magazine.
But right now I am getting Sumo magazine however more
and more these days I tend to think Yomiuri's Ozumo
magazine is an easier read (perhaps I am getting too
old to read small prints). Basically I think there is
too much information in Sumo magazine to interfere
with sumo viewing.
For those living outside of Japan, I advise contacting
OCS (a Japanese courier specializing Japanese
publications and documents) as they have offices all
around the wold. You can get couried any Japanese
magazine (but I won't recommend you get Sumo World) to
your home via air or surface. Their URL is:
http://www.ocstracking.com/
=====
.....Jonosuke
< Heart Technique Physique
心　技　体　>
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[EndPost by "Christopher J. Basten" <cbasten@statgen.ncsu.edu>]