Re: Sumo, gaijin and the Olymp

[Robert James Weiner <rweiner@uclink2.berkeley.edu>]

On Tue, 31 Jan 1995, Masumi Abe wrote:

> It is interesting to read all these posts.
> 
> As Robert suspected, the people pushing internationalization of sumo is
> Japanese people. But don't confused with these people with Sumo Kyokai.
> 
> There are two sumo groups in Japan. One is Nihon Sumo Kyokai which is the
> responsible organization of professional sumo tornament with long Japanese
> tradition. All rikishi belong to this organization. 6 hombasho and jungyo
> are planned, organized and managed by this organization.
> 
> The other organization is Nihon Amateur Sumo Remmei, which is a participant
> of Japanese Athletic League. Highschool, collegeate and industrial
> leagues/tornaments belong to this organization. The players are called
> "senshu" and they use shimpan instead of gyoji. The sumo organized by this
> organizations is a sport. They don't have kesho-mawashi, chon-mage,
> dohyo-iri, gyoji, yobidashi, sagari, etc.
> 
> These are the ones promoting sumo as an international sport, following
> success of judo and karate. To make players from other country easier to
> adapt sumo as a sport, they don't require mawashi as the only outfit, and
> allow them to wear a trunks underneath.
> 
> Sumo Kyokai indirectly support their amateur counterpart as a part of
> Public Relation activities. But Kyokai does not have any formal relations
> with Amateur. Only when a heya recruit amateur sumo wrestler to be a
> rikishi, they respect their amateur record to consider Makushita
> tsukedashi.
> 
> One of Sumo Kyokai's task or duty is to keep sumo tradition for the future
> Japanese generations. Based on this, they will remain stingy to change
> their Japanese tradition too quickly. For them, internationalization is to
> change their tradition too radically. They prefer Japanization of
> foreign-born sumo rikishi than internationalization of Sumo Kyokai.
> 
> -Masumi
> 
> 


Once again, hats off to Masumi.  This is exactly the kind of info I was 
wondering about.

 - Rob