Re: Re: [non-sumo] Takamiyama on TV

[jz8d-smmn@asahi-net.or.jp (Doreen Simmons)]

At 06:59 98.1.31 -0500, OhSumo@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 1/30/98 9:44:48 AM, abe@accesscom.com wrote:
>
>>In his days, he was a very popular personality in TV advertisement
>("commercial"
>>in Japanese). It's no surprise to see him in a TV show, or a drama, either.
> 
>Why don't we see rikishi in TV adverts today?  I thought it was because the
>Kyokai thought it was undignified of sumotori.  But what about Takamiyama -
>did he get away with it because he was a foreigner?

Nope. One rule for all. In Takamiyama's day, everybody was doing it.
Finally the Kyokai decided it was undignified and sometimes time-consuming;
raised their salaries and told them to cut out the extramural money-making
activities. Apart from the out-and-out commercials, this came as quite a
blow to a rather good singer who was about to put out a pop record; and
rikishi and oyakata who were artists or potters in their spare time also
found themselves under a ban.

Commercialism naturally keeps creeping back, and the thin end of the wedge
is the 'good cause'  campaign: 'Mail your new year cards early,' 'Don't
start disastrous fires,' 'Give blood - it's a lot safer than receiving it!'
(no, I made the second half up) etc.

Once a man has retired from the sumo world, he can't be touched. One deputy
chief gyoji made a commercial shortly after his retirement, dressed in his
finest costume and pointing his gunbai to the sponsor's product. This was
considered in poor taste, considering his high rank; but doubtless the
money came in handy, and the Kyokai copuld do nothing about it.

But within sumo, of course there is sponsorship, the more the better; the
kensho packets of money that ride on makuuchi division bouts; and the
gorgeous kesho-mawashi themselves. The golden arches on one of Akebono's
sets are discreet - but they're there.

 Doreen Simmons in sumoland, Tokyo        jz8d-smmn@asahi-net.or.jp 

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