Jejima's Tokyo sojourn - part 5 (day 13 action)

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

Jejima's Tokyo sojourn - part 5 (day 13 action)

.....and so it goes on (....and on....and on....)

Soon afterwards, we were joined at the front by 3 of the other Hiroshima
guys.  As it was after 1 pm, we realised that the Sumo would be going
out live ove the BS satellite channel.  We also realised that we would
be on TV.....  Four out of the six of us had our mobile telephones on
our persons.  (THIS is Japan!  Not having a pocket-sized mobile phone,
with cute key-chain attachment, is like not having your house-keys).  We
couldn't let our moment of stardom go unseen, and so we rang up a few of
our Japanese friends to get them to tune in, and we shamefacedly waved
to the camera, when they told us that we were in shot.....  Anybody
watching us probably thought that we were a group of young Future's
Traders, skiving from the office, but still making important deals, (or
not).

We were enjoying our moment in the limelight so much, (as well as the
close-up viewing of the sumo), that we decided not to go outside to
watch the sekitori arrive.  Without realising that it was that time, the
Yobidashi started his clapper, and the Juryo Dohyo-iri began!  It had
been our intention to leave before this started, so as to clear the good
seats before their true occupants arrived, but the front zabutons were
still half unfilled, and it would have caused quite a disturbance if the
6 of us had all got up then, and tried to get past the Sekitori as they
entered (our exit aisles on either side, were the East and West
Hanamichi), besides, it was too good an opportunity to miss!  So we sat,
and watched the Juryo gang enter.  Most of the rikishi seemed to be
quite bored as they went through the motions and in some ways it looked
a bit like a cattle (or a slave) auction.  These men were basically
selling themselves for the hunger of the assembled audience.  There was
of course big cheers for the more popular rikishi, Mainoumi, Tomanohana,
Asanowaka and Mitiozumi - but they were all quite indifferent to it....
The highlight was of course seeing their Kesho-mawashi up really close.
These are truly works of art, and are vibrant and vivid in their
colours!  Something I hadn't really noticed before, is that a lot of the
Kesho-Mawashi have advertising written on the very bottom bit, just
above the tassle.....

After the Dohyo-iri for each side were over, we quietly vacated our
cushions, and headed to the Sumo World Magazine box.  We met the rest of
our party, and we managed to fit all 9 of us in, or next to it - despite
it being meant for just 4!  (Although at various times some of us were
absent, either buying souvenirs, beer and snacks, or going upstairs to
the balcony to get a different perspective).  Soon, after we got there,
the rest of my group all left to get beer, leaving just me in the box
for the last 5 Makushita bouts.  Kaizinshan's (Henry Arthur Miller of
Missouri) bout was announced as a Yusho decider.  I didn't know what to
do!  Should I rush out, and make sure all the others came back in to
watch?  No, I decided to be selfish, and stay and make sure that I
caught the action!  Kaizinshan, obligingly did a 'matta', and as he and
opponent were squaring off again at the shiri-ken, the others came back
in, and I urgently beckoned them to hurry up, and quickly explained the
situation.  We managed to get one big shout for 'Kaizinshan' before the
match started again.  It was over in a few moments, as Kaizinshan barged
his mop-topped haired opponent (new guy from University) out of the
ring!  At makushita 9, with a 7-0 record, he had assured himself of his
return to the Sekitori ranks!  Let's hope he manages to stay there this
time!  (I really enjoy watching the Juryo division on TV these days, as
it seems to be full of 'celebs'!)  Maybe Kaio will miss his faithful
sukebito?

I went through the sekitori bouts on the Japanese programme (the English
version doesn't have Juryo) with two of my Hiroshima mates (who actually
knew something about the sport.   As an example of the ignorance of some
of our other companions, one question that I was asked was 'Now that
'so-and-so' has just lost, is he knocked-out of the tournament?), Jerry
and Jon, as to who we favoured in each of the match-ups.  We generally
agreed, and during the shiriken, led the others in our party to
communal, coordinated shouts, (eg.  1...2...3... MAINOUMI!!!).  Having
about half a dozen shy-free foreigners shouting in unison does make a
LOT of noise!  However, in the interests of impartiality (or possibly,
just to be different ;-), Josh tended to do a lone cry for the opponent
immediately after our bull-frog roar....  We also got some friendly
'cheering' rivalry with some of the Japanese sitting in the box next to
us, and in the 'cushion' boxes in front of us.  We were certainly
contributing to the gala atmosphere.  Our continued cheering (which
could certainly be heard on the dohyo) seemed to have some positive
effect for our favoured rikishis, as they seemed to win 4 out of every 5
bouts!  We continued our cheering throughout the Juryo and Makonouchi
bouts.  At the half-time stage (shimpan change-over) of the top
division, I came back from (yet another) beer run, to find Stewart
Nelson (of the Sumo ML), over by our box.  We had time to introduce
ourselves - and exchange a few comments before the second-half action
started.  I wish that I had been able to meet some of the other Sumo
MLers who were in town at that time - as it is nice to put a personality
behind an email - but for various reasons that proved impossible (this
time around!).

We were really enjoying ourselves in the second half, and were cheering
ourselves hoarse, as the more exciting match-ups were occuring.  Jerry
and Jon, (in particular), were getting VERY carried away, and when it
came to the Ozeki show-down, they were out of the box, and down the
aisle amongst the zabuton boxes, getting a large wad of the Japanese
audience stirred up, and leading them ALL into coordinated cheers for
Musashimaru (even Josh decided to join us, this time!)- to the Japanese'
amusement.  They were very happy to join in with us!  Anyone watching
this match on TV would have noted the length, and the fierceness of the
shiri-ken between the two.  Being there in the arena, the air was
crackling with tension.  Either these guys really don't like each other,
or Musashimaru was psyching himself up (so different to the casual
demeanor, we'd observed at morning practice earlier that day), against
one of the most likely spoilers of his promotion hopes.  For Takanonami,
he was trying to maintain the dominance of the Futa factor - soon to be
matched by the Musashi factor....  As we all know (unless you are
reading this, and duh, didn't realise that such a posting would cause a
spoiler or two...!), 'Maru ploughed through 'Nami, and looked very good
too!

The last match of the day was between Akinoshima and Akebono.  I had a
problem deciding who to cheer for.  Being English, I have no patriotic
pride which would shove me towards being an Akebono fan.  In addition,
Akinoshima shares the same birthday as me, as well as coming from
Hiroshima Prefecture (where I live) - where he is the local hero - so I
have more in common with him!  Akinoshima was then 6-6 (I recall - am I
wrong?), and was doing my 'Hoshitori' game not much good (my #12 pick -
I hadn't picked Akebono at all), as well as being the subject of a wager
which I had going with the Japanese bar-maid, of the one bar in my
little island town (I swear, I live in the water-surrounded sticks ;-).
If Akinoshima got 9 or more white stars, I would win a beer, otherwise I
would have to pay up....  However, I put all this aside, as I really
want to see Akebono to continue as a Yokozuna, and he needed a few more
wins to do so.  We got the crowd worked up, and sure enough he won,
again in a Yokozuna fashion!  The Hawai'ian's victory was certainly the
beer I had to buy yesterday.  (I was reminded of the bet, before I'd
even crossed the bar's threshold!).  We watched the bow-twirling
ceremony, and filed out contented......  Outside, we were greeted by
many of the Japanese fans, who recognised us (from our vocal support).
There was enough Japanese ability within our group, to be able to hold
some converstions - again to their amusement!  We'd done our bit for
international relations that day!

.......to be continued (can you take much more?!)

Jejima