Re: Dale's postcard

[Dale Carlson <drc@oz.net>]

Thank you for all the information!! To those wondering where the 
question about Tamanishiki's impossible demotion from Yokozuna to 
Ozeki came from, I had asked the question in private e-mail regarding
the following chronology, taken from the webpage "Yusho Results from 
1909 to 1995" <http://www.wap.org/ifaq/sumo/yusho.html>

>1930    March   Tsunenohana     (Y, Dewanoumi)  10-1            (10th & last)
>                -Tenryu         (M1, Dewanoumi) 10-1
>                -Tamanishiki    (O, Nishonoseki)9-2
>
>TAMANISHIKI ERA
>Tamanishiki             (2nd - 9th)     8/16 (.500)
>                                        Including 2 three-consecutive yusho.
>
>1930    Natsu   Yamanishiki     (M5, Dewanoumi) 11-0            (1st & only)
>1930    Oct.    Tamanishiki     (Y, Nishonoseki)9-2             (2nd)
>                -Musashiyama    (K, Dewanoumi)  9-2
>                -Minanogawa     (M1, Takasago)  9-2
>
>1931    Haru    Tamanishiki     (Y, Nishonoseki)9-2             (3rd)
>                -Minanogawa     (S, Takasago)   9-2
>1931    March   Tamanishiki     (Y, Nishonoseki)10-1            (4th)
>                -Musashiyama    (K, Dewanoumi)  10-1
>1931    Natsu   Musashiyama     (K, Dewanoumi)  10-1            (1st & only)
>                -Shimizugawa    (M3, Hatachiyama)10-1
>1931    Oct.    Ayazakura       (M4, Dewanoumi) 10-1            (1st & only)
>                -Tamanishiki    (O, Nishonoseki)9-2

It's obviously simply a typo. Sorry!! :) Tamanishiki's first
appearance as Yokozuna is listed later on (correctly) as
Haru-basho, 1933.

If the shinpan weren't seated on the dohyo during the Sandan-Gamae 
(they apparently usually were on the dohyo during the regular Yokozuna 
Dohyo-iri), then the photo could be from as early as the reopening
of the Kokugikan in 1924. But your theory about it being from the
first basho of the Showa era and the dedication of the Emperor's Cup
seems more likely. The rikishi on the left does resemble Miyagiyama,
although a bit on the thin side compared to the only photos of him 
I've seen- one in Clyde Newton's book and another on the Sumo Kyokai 
website.

The photo on my postcard shows long wooden benches or guard rails
in front of the spectators at the floor level. These look very
dangerous to any rikishi sent flying into the front row!! I wonder
if they were only temporary, or if not, whether they were removed
after causing injuries? They must have made the fans seated up
front feel more secure, though :)

Thanks again to Masumi Abe and Doreen Simmons for all the information, 
both on and off the list. I wasn't expecting so much, and I'm learning
alot about a very interesting period in sumo history!!

Dale

P.S. The photo in question will probably remain at
http://www.oz.net/~drc/280a.jpg  for several years :)