[SUMO-History] Kokugi

[Masumi Abe <abe@accesscom.com>]

This is mainly for Doreen, since this should be an answer to her earlier
question about the origin of the word "Kokugi."

Related to Dale's question on Kokugikan, I ran into an information on
the origin of the word "Kokugi."

According to this information, when the first dedicated building for
Ozumo "O-zumo Johsetsu-Kan" was built in 1909 in Ryogoku, Tokyo, a
writer EMI Sui'in wrote an introductory writing "Ozumo Josetsukan Kansei
-- Hatsu-Kogyo Go-Hiro" or "Ozumo's Dedicated Building has Completed --
The Introductory First Presentation." In this writing, he wrote "because
from old days, Sumo has been "kokugi" (or national sports) ..."

OGURUMA Bungoro, former Ozeki, an executive director of Sumo Kyokai,
suggested to call the building "Kokugi-Kan" based on the introductory
writing.  Yokozuna Hitachiyama agreed to his suggestion. Then Sumo
Kyokai announced the new naming of the building as Kokugikan through the
national newspapers as EMI Sui'in as the person responsible for the
naming.

-Roshiyori Masumiriki