Re: Taka's marriage

[guje@nmr.lpc.ethz.ch]

Tanaka-san wrote:

> Just got back from Japan and thought I'd post some info on how some people
> view Taka and his bride after it became apparent that their marriage was a
> "dekichatta kekkon" (loosely translated as an "oops marriage") referring to
> their imminent offspring...

You surely don't expect me to repeat that tabloid rubbish, do you? Well, I mean
considering the usual level of discussion in this group this one is well below
the mark. Usually I am not so blunt with my critique and I don't want to start
a flame war, but I simply can't stand that kind of hate-loaded remarks, be they
about Taka and his wife or about anyone else.

Tanaka-san also wrote:

> But, I wanted to let you know that there are sumo fans in Japan, and there are > non-sumo fans in Japan, and there are marginal sumo fans 
> (or maybe these are the true sumo fans) 

and I am a true human being (and you not?)

> in Japan who view sumo as a sport and not a cultural "gishiki"
> and have lost total interest because of the unsportsmanlike
> no-same-heya-bout rule.  I disagree with some of the traditionalists, who
> insist that sumo is a total package of sport, spirit, tradition and
> culture.  Sumo is a great sport ... great enough to stand on its own purely
> as a sport.

Well, for my part I like the total "package". If sumo loses dohyo-iri, 
traditional hairdo, the performance character with the drums, the traditionally
clad gyoshi, the shikona, the salt-throwing and so on- I will send my
unsubscribe message to the newsgroup the day after. I would never become that
excited about a mere kind of sports.

> If you need gishiki and culture, you can go to a tea ceremony or visit a
> temple.

And since tea ceremony is certainly about gishiki and not about drinking, may I
suggest that they scrap the tea from it ;-)

(Oh, I'm really bad tempered today- but why? I had a very good week at work
and a beautiful tour in the mountains today).

> The kyokai has finally gotten its Japanese-born yokozuna, so we should go back > to a more level playing field.

If that suggests that Takanohana became yokozuna only because of the
no-same-heya-bout rule, I like to remember that he was promoted after his 
seventh yusho (with two consecutive zensho yusho) and is east-yokozuna at
present. I can understand that one doesn't like Takanohana, but I beg you to
stop at least short of outright paranoia ;-)

Finally, I am also a strong supporter of cancelling the no-same-heya-bout rule.
This is not really necessary to maintain the traditional character of sumo and
Futagoyama-beya is really to large now.

Anyway, I hope I don't rock the boat too much with my reply ;-)

Gunnar

  
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|  Gunnar Jeschke                      		| +41/1/632-2735 (phone)     |
|  Laboratorium fuer physikalische Chemie  	| +41/1/632-1021 (fax)       |  
|  Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule (ETHZ) |		             |       
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