Jejima's Tokyo sojourn - part 3 (Museum and Trophies)

[Jezz <jezz@urban.ne.jp>]

Jejima's Tokyo sojourn - part 3 (Museum and Trophies)

And so it continues.....

After leaving Musashigawa-Beya for the station on that Friday, I managed
to convince Josh to join us for the day's Sumo (Josh's work that day was
only in the evening).  I was very surprised to learn that it would be
his first time to go!  When we got to the Kokugikan station, the 3 other
Hiroshima guys went off to get something to eat, whilst Josh and I went
to buy him a cheap 'day's ticket'.  This was no problem, at all.  I also
bought a cheap ticket for the following day - again they had plenty
still to sell.  On the way back to the station, (to meet another of the
Hiroshima gang, Jim, who hadn't attended the asageiko - in total that
day, we were 8 guys from Hiroshima, plus Josh), we passed by a tall
Japanese guy wearing a very smart suit.  It took us a moment to realise
that it was the former Asahiyutaka!  So we ran back to him, and asked
the Oyakatta if we could have our photos taken with him.  He still had
his top-knot, and was looking very dashing!  I tried to explain to him,
that the photo was for my girlfriend.....  He was very bewildered to be
confronted by us two gaijin, by wearing a suit, he probably thought that
he was icognito - but gladly posed with us, before rushing off to attend
to his duties.  Just in general, there were of course loads of kimono
clad rikishi all around the area.  I particularly liked the rikishi
arriving by train, and took a couple of photos of them emerging through
the ticket barrier.

Josh, Jim and I went into the Kokugikan.  We first checked out the
diplay cabinet, with all the Yusho trophies.  The 'Champions Flag' looks
a little battered.  The Emperor's and the Prime Minister's Cups look
very heavy (obviously).  The Coca-Cola Trophy (sorry to say) looks very
tacky.  What was a little strange, is that the glass in the famous 
'Mushroom Trophy' - as donated by the nice people of Oita
Prefecture - is broken, and taped up (to stop the mushrooms escaping,
and causing havoc...?)  Maybe it was dropped at some stage in it's
history?

We next checked out the famous 'Sumo Museum'.  This was a little
disappointing, because it is TINY; just one smallish room.  Also there
was very little explanations in English (it would surely be a good
public relations move to get some translated placards).  Thankfully,
Josh was able to translate the Japanese for the interesting displays -
including some very old Kesho-Mawashi.  I found the photos around the
top of the walls very interesting.  They showed photos of all 66
Yokozuna (to that date), with wood-cut prints for the early ones.  It
was good fun spotting some of the current Shimpan , as they looked like
all those years ago....!  As someone recently said on this list, it is
much better to make the grade as a lacklustre Yokozuna than as a
brilliant Ozeki, as you will be recorded for all time.  The last photo
in the series was of Wakanohana, above the end of a display cabinet,
just before the doorway.  If they add Musashimaru's picture immediately
after it, it will look out of place.....!

To be continued.....

Jejima