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This pales in comparison to Greg Lund's find, but
I pick up the occasional old sumo postcard or photo.
I'm curious about one, which I've posted at-
http://www.oz.net/~drc/280a.jpg
I don't have any hope of finding out who these rikishi
were, but I'd just like to know if this photo from inside
the second Kokugikan (1920-1957) or the first (1909-1917).
The postcard I bought was sold as being circa 1910, but
it looks newer than that to me. The diffuse lighting from
the roof would be more like the first Kokugikan, though,
I think. Well, I don't suppose anybody on this list went
to a basho prior to 1917, but if the photo is of the second
one, maybe someone will recognize it. The second Kokugikan
survived the great Kanto earthquake of 1923, as well as
direct hits from bombs in the second world war. There must
have been many very sad sumo fans (as well as people with
a general respect for history) when it was torn down in
1983. I've posted a poignant (IMHO) photo of the second
Kokugikan standing amid the rubble of the 1923 earthquake
at http://www.oz.net/~drc/Kokugikan2.jpg
It's symbolic of alot of things, to me...
Well, I'm starting to babble.
Thanks,
Dale
P.S. I'm desperately seeking a photograph of the roof above
the dohyo back when it was supported by posts, prior to it
being hung from cables, as it is today. Well, "desperate"
may be overstating it, but I'd appreciate any leads :)
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