Any other sumo fans?

[QueenCobra]

If you’ve seen me around this board, you know I’m a fan of sumo and watch it every time there’s a tournament. I started watching it in 2017, mostly out of curiosity. Like most Americans, I’d only been vaguely aware of it, though I’d always seen sumo wrestlers at my local Japanese festivals.

But to watch an actual tournament? It’s completely different from a festival demo. I like the amount of tradition and ritualistic care put into it, like the salt-throwing, dohyo-iri to scare away spirits, the gyoji (referee) still wearing the dagger, etc.
Of course, I enjoy watching the wrestlers, and not only bc of skill.
Ura is fun to watch, even though he’s more of a “people’s Yokozuna” (or champion). His matches always have him doing flips or something elaborate lol. Also, in the interviews they always mention doing “my sumo” or “my style of sumo”. Maybe their stablemasters want them to say that?

I have NHK on Roku and also watch “Sumo Salon”, a talk show about sumo topics…and Kisenosato (former Yokozuna) is a co-host on there!

So, does anyone else watch sumo, or have any of their own opinions on it?

 

[ShawnFuzz]

I wish I could say I am a fan, but I have never taken an interest.

Although after reading your post, I am definitely curious, but where would I start?

 

[QueenCobra]

I wish I could say I am a fan, but I have never taken an interest.

Although after reading your post, I am definitely curious, but where would I start?

Before I found my NHK channel (am still mad AT&T got rid of it, but thankfully it’s on Roku), I was doing most of my research on Wikipedia, the r/sumo subreddit, and watching matches on YouTube.
There are also some English-speaking YT channels that discuss recent goings-on in the sport, such as Chris Sumo and sumostew.
The NHK show I watch of tournaments (next one in May) is in English, and there is a streamer called MidnightSumo who also covers matches.

 

[QueenCobra]

I was also a bit surprised to learn that Yama (formerly Yamamotoyama in Japan), now lives kinda near me and runs his own sumo school. He retired long before I started watching it on NHK, but I’d heard of him. I used to see him on American shows (like Ellen and BuzzFeed videos) in addition to appearing at the Japanese festival. I think he was also in an Ed Sheeran music video.

But according to the Instagram, a lot of people show up and learn how to wrestle from him. I mean…I like watching sumo, but would I want to do it? No. I’m a girl, too, and the students are mostly guys. I even didn’t want to shove them during the festival demonstrations. (Partially bc I had on so much eyeshadow last time lol)

 

[ShawnFuzz]

If I were in your shoes, I would be tempted if they gave some kind of introductory class. I wouldn't commit long term, but it sounds fun to me!

I would end up like Napoleon Dynamite and his brother when they took that Karate class. I would get slapped around a bunch and decide it was a waste of time

 

[QueenCobra]

If I were in your shoes, I would be tempted if they gave some kind of introductory class. I wouldn't commit long term, but it sounds fun to me!

I would end up like Napoleon Dynamite and his brother when they took that Karate class. I would get slapped around a bunch and decide it was a waste of time

Omg same! But they also make you wear a mawashi (the belt, or “diaper” as people around me joked) over these tight pants (?). The mawashi looks kinda tough to put together, but yeah…I had no idea there was an amateur sumo scene near me!