Did you notice?

[Kintamayama 44,652]

After Buyuuzan nearly fell on Takamisakari's head as he came flying out of the ring to the sidelines, watch what Sakari does..He's supposed to remain unfazed, waiting for his own bout. He does a small rain dance..

http://www.banzuke.com/~movies/natsu2004/day4/buyu_tamano.rm

Then after he wins his own bout, watch the guy with the fan go bonkers..

http://www.banzuke.com/~movies/natsu2004/d...kami_kakizoe.rm

Edited May 12, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Mark Buckton 1]

Then after he wins his own bout, watch the guy with the fan go bonkers..

This guy is an avid anti-foreigner (look at the flag on the fan). Gave Osh a hard time on day 1 and seems to give all foreign rikishi the verbal abuse from time to time.

Personally I think it is him Shoryu gives the eye to.

Always same seat so has connections - always to be seen on TV.

General - hen-na yaji

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

:-/ Ya, you're right...that guy is always on tv :-/

So, you figure it's him 'Shoryu gives the old stink-eye >:-( to after winning the bout and taking his loot with his *left* hand...good call!

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Thanks for pointing those out :-(

Can someone elaborate on the guy's flag? What is it, what does it mean, etc.?

[Zentoryu 154]

My favorite moment of the basho thus far was the day 1, off dohyo, crash landing of "Air Hayateumi". :-(

That one is truly worth a look...

[Takanobaka 0]

As for the "Rain Dance", if you look at what Robocop usually does while he's waiting, I'd say that's pretty par for the course. He's always fidgeting and dancing and shaking his legs and standing up and sitting down over there, while pretty much everyone else just waits patiently...

[Higashimori 0]

This guy is an avid anti-foreigner (look at the flag on the fan).  Gave Osh a hard time on day 1 and seems to give all foreign rikishi the verbal abuse from time to time.

Personally I think it is him Shoryu gives the eye to.

Always same seat so has connections - always to be seen on TV.

Really? I've never got that impression, and I think you'd be hard-pressed to back that statement up if you looked into this guy's background. This guy is quite famous in Japan, always at big events, especially the Olympics (and not just the Nagano one). In fact, his nickname is "Olympic Ojisan". He's been around a looooong time. If you're American, I'd compare him to the guy who used to (still does?) wear the rainbow wig and John 3:16 t-shirt at various sporting events, always prominently placed to get maximum TV exposure.

His website is here. His name's Naotoshi Yamada and he's 78 years old, and has been going to each Olympics since the 1964 Tokyo Games. His actual "job" is the owner of a crane wire company (here). He's very well known in the Olympics world, as well as the baseball and Ozumo ones. I can't really read Japanese so I'm not sure what he has to say about things such as foreigners in sumo, but according to my wife, his front page has a message which reads something like "If we all appreciate each other, all cultures will share a common bond." Every Olmpics, he takes with him a list of how to say "thank you" in all the worlds languages so that when he meets people, he can tell them this in their own language. He also gives spectators around him and folks he meets a 5 yen coin, which is considered lucky in Japan. The kanji in his own Olympic logo on that page can read "interchange of smiles".

At any rate, I've never sat close to him so I don't know what he says/thinks about the foreign wrestlers, but I will say he's VERY enthusiastic during Asashoryu's dohyo-iri, swooping his fan down and shouts "yoisho" along with the rest of us. On TV, you can always here his voice above all others. Perhaps it's mocking, I don't know, but I tend to think not. He certainly has no problem using a picture of him with Takimiyama (Azumazeki Oyakata) on his site. From what I can gather, the Kyokai and other organizations sort of view him as unofficial cheerleading president :)

For what it's worth, my wife, who's is very anti-patriotism of any kind and generally hates any display of the Hinomaru (Japanese flag) doesn't feel bothered by this guy's fan.

Just as an aside, somewhat OT but if you want to see rampant nationalism at work, just watch any Japan national sports team on TV here in Japan, be it volleyball, football (soccer), judo, etc. It's not anti-foreigner, but you'd be hard-pressed to even know they were playing another team. So one-sided is the coverage that the announcers have no qualms, indeed it seems expected, to utter "Gambare Nihon" ever other sentence. They even go so far to caption the program (most Japanese programs have a caption in the upper right or left hand corner of the screen) with the same message. I always thought Americans took the cake as far as this stuff goes, but it really can't compare to how Japan TV glorifies their national teams.

[kotooshu_bulgaria 0]

I can not help agreeing with all the guys who dislike the オリンピックじじ. His behavior is not acceptable, not at least in a sport like sumo, which is restricted as far as fan extremism. Being a foreigner in Japan myslef, I am firmly against foreigner-ijime. Also, please dont be mislead by the hipocrytical friendship and interest in other languages of that guy. No wonder the じじ　is so polite when he goes abroad, he must feel guilty for his behavior in Japan, I guess. (Order, order! ) :-( (Sign of disapproval)

[Takanobaka 0]

If you're American, I'd compare him to the guy who used to (still does?) wear the rainbow wig and John 3:16 t-shirt at various sporting events, always prominently placed to get maximum TV exposure.

I'm going :-(

Funny thing about that guy in the wig, AKA Superfan, he hasn't been to a single sporting event since the late 80's, but he definately has one of the more interesting stories in all of sports fandom. He was actually not much of a sports fan, but considered himself to be a preacher, and thought the best way to convert the masses would be to have a message of love from the Bible posted on a sign at sports events. For about 6 or 7 years at the end, he was homeless, living out of a van, getting donations to get into the sports events. However, as his novelty wore off and his funds ran out, he got desparate and actually took a building hostage since he thought that would be the best way to get maximum TV exposure...he figured that afterwards, there would be a media fixation on his actions and he would be able to convert the most people that way. Unfortunately for him (and probably pretty common sense to anyone else), taking a building hostage wasn't exactly the best way to make friends, the judge in the case ordered a press gag, and the guy has been rotting in prison ever since.

Hard to find a lot of backup on this one, but I know there was a recent documentary that came out about him called "The Rainbow Man/John 3:16". If anyone else is interested (personally I think the guy is fascinating), here's a few links...

Two columns by the same guy 10 years apart from each other...

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_186.html

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971107.html

A little more in-depth:

http://home.pacifier.com/~dkossy/rainbow.html

Anyway, I guess it is interesting about Olypmic Ojisan, and I can add him to the list with Rock n Rollen and Mark Roberts (although that chap doesn't seem to care as much about the sports as just getting nekkid) in the world of prominent superfans. I'll have to watch out for him in the 2004 Olympic broadcasts!

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

I thought the Japan flag was white with a red disk in the middle (example). And I thought this guy's flag is red and yellow. Is my vision just going bad, or is this an old flag, or something else?

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

I thought the Japan flag was white with a red disk in the middle (example). And I thought this guy's flag is red and yellow. Is my vision just going bad, or is this an old flag, or something else?

Right you are. The hinomaru is a white background with a red circle. But, a lot of sensu (folding paper fans) are gold (very flashy/eye-catching) with a red circle. They (the gold fan with red circle) are very popular with the blue-haired set (senior citizens), who are into things like shibu (traditional Japanese fan dancing).

How do I know all this...? Too much time spent teaching English to the blue-haired set (or, more common in Japan, the purple-haired set) :-P

[Zenjimoto 40]

After Buyuuzan nearly fell on Takamisakari's head as he came flying out of the ring to the sidelines, watch what Sakari does..He's supposed to remain unfazed, waiting for his own bout. He does a small rain dance..

LMFAO! :-P ;-) (Laughing...) he is SUCH a monkey! :-D

[Guest omus]

Personally I think it is him Shoryu gives the eye to.

It cannot be this man with the fan that Shoryu gives the stink eye to. Shoryu's stare is directed at someone sitting on the opposite side, to the left of the head shimpan.

Wonder whether it could be Ms Uchi sitting there? :-P

[Higashimori 0]

I can not help agreeing with all the guys who dislike the オリンピックじじ. His behavior is not acceptable, not at least in a sport like sumo, which is restricted as far as fan extremism. Being a foreigner in Japan myslef, I am firmly against foreigner-ijime. Also, please dont be mislead by the hipocrytical friendship and interest in other languages of that guy. No wonder the じじ　is so polite when he goes abroad, he must feel guilty for his behavior in Japan, I guess. (Order, order! )  :-P  (Sign of disapproval)

I don't know this guy from Adam really, and don't really mean to defend someone I don't know, but before you just throw out words like hypocritical would you mind backing it up with some facts? I'd really like to hear them, because while the guy certainly seems a bit idealistic or naive, I really don't see him as worthy of this "avid anti-foreigner" label. Not yet at any rate.

I too am a foreigner living in Japan, and have experienced my fair share of prejudice. Trust me, it's not something I take lightly. But given that it does exist, I would like to focus my attention on those who actually are anti-foreigner rather than those who just seem to be. If this "Olympic Jiji" really partakes in "foreigner-ijime" then I'll be the first in line to condemn him. But I'd like some evidence of this first.

His behavior is not acceptable, not at least in a sport like sumo, which is restricted as far as fan extremism.

What behavior are you talking about? His waving of his fan? As someone mentioned, look at his seats. And look at his site. I'd be willing to bet he's got the blessing (or at least tolerance) of a few Kyokai or Yokozuna Council members. At any rate, I don't really see his behavior as any different than fans chanting the names of their favorite wrestlers at the top of their lungs, or the tossing of cushions. These certainly could be considered "extreme" couldn't they?

Funny thing about that guy in the wig, AKA Superfan, he hasn't been to a single sporting event since the late 80's, but he definately has one of the more interesting stories in all of sports fandom.

Takanobaka, thanks for posting this. Fascinating! Definitely a big memory of mine from all my years of watching sports on American TV.

[Kashunowaka 300]

Since when did waving your own country's flag become equivalent to being anti-foreigner? I think there lies much reason in what Higashimori says.

Hm, I was going to to say much more about this, but I think I'll stop right there.

[Sasanishiki 57]

From memory, I can say that the Olympic jiji is enthusiastic about any yokozuna performing the dohyo-iri. I remember seeing him from about '99 onwards and there have been a variety of yokozuna since then (3 foreign and two Japanese). I can't comment on any heckling he might do, but he always seems to be enjoying himself so if there is no hearsay evidence presented perhaps we give him a break?

[Mark Buckton 1]

Generally speaking the old man makes efforts to move towards a departing rikishi from lands afar and wave his flag in an 'enthusiastic' - somewhat in your faces type of gesture in the lower ranks. He moved from his seat towards Osh doing this on Sunday. (Day 1) No same reaction with Japanese rikishi that I have ever seen.

Higher ranks he can't move so easily as there are more people of course but compare his reaction with Japanese and non. Facial geatures and shouting when Japanese beat non-J = happy and celebratory (being there live and on NHK TV - stream I don't know)

When the foreign guy wins - seems unhappy and more aggressive.

Japanese VS Japanese (except Yokozuna matches) - nothing major barring a bit of fan waving at really good sumo.

With Yokozuna matches of years ago - a loss for Maru - joy and celebration. Taka - any reaction? On the Dohyo iri I see him though as respecting the rank and not the wearer - similar to many despised military officers being saluted for their rank alone.

These observations and my meeting many (mostly Japanese) long-term fans in the kokugikan and elsewhere who rarely miss a basho - who tell me how much this guy hates foreign people convinces me. Same last week - guy in seat next to me said the exact same thing. Tis true he could be wrong and so could ALL the others I've been told this by - no smoke etc. Tis also true me supposes that Japan's 240k strong SDF with the a budget larger than the UK and China on arms spending could actually NOT be a military force simply because their homepage says they do not retain a military. Bollocks of course and Japan is the land of the smoke screen - screens Higashimori-san, I and many others experience daily perhaps.

To be honest - his homepage refeence, although interesting is unimportant and clutching at straws in that the ideals (for the outside world to see?) as is paraphrased above are but ideals only. The constitution of the land has lots of articles that are perfect and idealistic that are abused daily yet never punished. Naive Japanese however stick by them and actually are shocked when I tell them their Navy is better equipped and bigger than that of the UK, they have 1000 'special' vehicles (the word Tank is not allowed) etc etc.

Remember Makiko Tanaka in S. Africa in a piblic speech to the world - we have no minority problem because we have no minorities. The world bought it for the most part. - A surface image ignoring the Ainu, buraku, Korean situations etc.

What the yaji does and how he behaves in the Kokugikan is the most important thing here - not how he dresses himself up in public outside the world of sumo - and ALL the Japanese who tell me the same thing are too much smoke for there to be no fire.

[Higashimori 0]

Well, most distressing indeed. Thanks Adachinoryu for your fair assessment. I will have to watch this guy more closely in the future to help make up my own mind but you certainly paint a compelling (and very disheartenting) picture.

[Coo-cook 0]

Are you talking about my friend ?

[Naifuzan 1]

Ahh yes, its the fan-fan I've heard about! I've never noticed him before. Maybe because its 7 or 8 in the morning here when the sumo bouts start, and at that time I dont have the best eye for details (Applauding...)

[Higashimori 0]

For what it's worth, just now, Day 7, Olympic Jiji just smiled and waved his fan/flag at Kyokutenhou, who had just beat Musoyama a couple of minutes before. There was no animosity as far as I could tell, and Kyokutenhou seemed to acknowledge him although his back was to the camera.

Just offering anecdotal evidence here, for sure.

[Guest omus]

Are you talking about my friend ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I do not seem to see "Olympic Ojisan" at Hatsu Basho.

Anyone knows what has happened to him?