Kyokudozan update

["Edward A. Mazza II" <underdog@po.synapse.or.jp>]

The latest unconfirmed word from island country:
	Kyokudozan's stablemaster has turned down the maegashira's resignation
from sumo. Kyokudozan, you will recall, announced his resignation in
favor of a career as a Shinshinto politician.
	The stablemaster apparantly told Kyokudozan that he didn't have a
chance in the world of politics. 
	Does this mean his political career is over bfore it begins? Not quite.
The stablemaster will allow Kyokudozan to campaign for his seat, and
will accept his resignation from sumo should he win.
	He will be campaigning, then, as an active rikishi, which means he must
wear formal wear and topknot while on the campaign trail. Photos of this
should be interesting indeed.
	Islanders now seem to be hoping he loses the election -- which will be
for a Kinki district far from his Tokunoshima hometown -- so that he can
continue with sumo. During tournaments, each Kyokudozan victory is
announced to the community -- many residents of which don't have
television, or can't receive NHK signals -- by a barrage of
firecrackers.


Edward A. Mazza II
Tokunoshima, Japan