sabledragonrook

Hello, all! I've been gone for a while, and I've finally returned from Japan shortly after the November Basho. Unfortunately I wasn't there long enough for the Hatsubasho. But anyway, I'm giving a series of small talks in Japanese on sumo, mostly focusing on the topic of foreigners as rikishi and the general acceptance of foreigners in such a traditional and natively-Japanese sport. Obviously those who come to mind are the yokozunas, Hakuho, Kakuryuu, and Harumafuji. I'm finding a need to explain the term "Maegashira" to those in my audience, and for some reason I can't quite seem to come up with a very simple definition for those who aren't familiar with sumo. Anyone have any ideas? I could just use some brainstorming, since I can't use "Oh, it's the rank above this and below this" because none of that makes sense to them. (Also, no need to do it in Japanese. I can translate it later myself.) Thanks for the help! Carrie

Thanks! I think I've got it down to how I'll describe it. I appreciate all the help!

Hello again, everyone! Thanks for all the responses! I'm still working over a single-sentence explanation while thinking about what you all have said. My audience is English speakers studying Japanese culture at a college, if knowing that helps how you would define it.

Hello all! Sorry if this is in the wrong forum again. :-S I posted a while back about which day would be the best to go if I've never seen sumo before. I'm excited to report that I did in fact get a ticket for the final day of the Fukuoka tournament-- it's on my desk in all its happy Japanese glory. :-D So I'm excited and everything, but I want to make sure I make the most out of the day, and I know nothing about anything regarding sumo -- what the stadium looks like or what is in it, what times I can expect to get there and leave, and how I might be able to see the participants other than in the ring. Can anyone chime in on things you think would be helpful for a complete sumo newbie to know? Thanks! P.S. I'm living in Hikone at the moment, so I'll be taking the shinkansen, but I'm trying to get there as cheaply as possible. I think the shinkansen takes like 3 hours or something. Do I need a hotel for the night if I stay till the actual end of the tournament (i.e. will I be hitting last trains)?

For those who were waiting, here are some of the videos I took. Ready, set, go. Name those rikishi. ;)

When I was there the winner got the bow and did the twirly dance. ​ I figured the flags were sponsors. Is that a form of intimidation too? Like maybe one rikishi has a bunch of sponsors and the other one is like, "Man, he's pretty popular and I'm not." I haven't had time to upload the videos to YouTube yet, but I've got some really good ones, so they will be forthcoming. In the meantime, here's a link to some of the pictures I have. http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/agehibari/library/Sumo%20Nov%202014

Thanks for the help, everyone! Because of all your tips I was able to enjoy Hakuho's victory over a lovely box of fresh sushi and ebi tempura from the pier. Lots and lots of videos and photos, but I did learn one thing: I suck at choosing the winner. I chose the winning rikishi about 20% of the time. Oh darn, now I just have to practice by watching more sumo... ;) Also, Hakuho could build the Taj Mahal out of all the trophies he won. On a side note, the only thing that I basically didn't understand was what the banners were for. Can anyone enlighten me? You know, when they walked around the ring carrying those colorful vertical flags.

Well, tomorrow's the day, and I'm polishing off the last of my itinerary. My only question now is which shinkansen to get on. I'm looking at three in particular, arriving in Hakata at 12:30, 1:15, and 1:30, respectively. Plus the 20 minute walk to the stadium from the station, and also I'd like to stop and see if there's still sushi around at that time. For a newbie like me, which do you think is the best time for me to get there? I know some of you brought up earlier that I shouldn't spend too much of my energy on the lower divisions so as not to tire myself out on my first time. Thoughts? You guys have been so helpful :D

Just a bit more than a week till I'll be at the tournament! That being said, I've got two questions -- 1. How hard/inconvenient for others is it for me to stand up and walk around every now and then? Is it like a movie theater where I'm going to be slinking past everyone while they give me dirty looks? Umigame's experience seeing them as they warm up is neat, but obviously I'll need to not be in my seat for that! :) 2. Anyone know about less expensive, portable meibutsu from Fukuoka? I'm looking at needing 5 or 6 omiyage to bring back with me from the trip for the Japanese folks around me (above me, not same rank, if that makes a difference in your recommendations), but the only local specialties I know of are the ones that you have to eat while you're there, like the ramen. Thoughts?

Yes, I am aware that the tournament starts at 10 / 10:30ish. I just don't know how important it is that I get there at that time.

Hello again, all! I'm planning my shinkansen tickets, and it looks like I can hit up a shinkansen straight from Maibara (a 30 min. bike ride from my apartment) to Hakata. However, I might not get to the stadium until like 11 instead of 10. Conversely, if I get up really early (read: get on the Maibara train at 5AM, after biking there), I can not take a shinkansen and take regular local trains to Shin-Osaka and take a shinkansen from there. That will let me arrive in Hakata at 9:30. The long and short of it is this: how much am I going to miss if I'm not there at 10 and get there at 11 instead? I understand there are coaches around who might be willing to take pictures -- will they be gone by then? Will I be queuing in a line for an hour because I got there later-ish?

Ah, beautiful! Exactly the sorts of things I'm looking for. Can anyone tell me about intermissions? I'm assuming there are short periods of time between "leagues" (I don't think that's what you call them, but...) where I could wander around. I suppose I could always take a walk during a the pre-match preparations, since I'll have been sitting for a while. Also, I'm in B section because I don't have that much money. My understanding is that all the seats are close enough to the ring that I'm not going to need something outrageous like binoculars or something, right? (Laughing...)

Thank you for the input, everyone! I've heard that you can't leave the stadium and come back in on one ticket, or that it depends. Does anyone know about Fukuoka specifically? And are the stalls where there's food and stuff in the stadium such that I don't need my ticket to go and walk around and see them?

Hello! I'm new here, and I can't post this in the Sumo Information forum, so I'm hoping that a mod moves it! I'm going to the Fukuoka tournament this year, but I have the choice to go on the 22nd (the day before the final day) or the 23rd (the day the tournament ends). The 22nd is more convenient, but am I going to miss something totally awesome and unique if I don't go on the 23rd? I know there is a special closing ceremony, but is there anything aside from that? Do you think it really matters to someone like me who's not a sumo guru? I basically have to choose which day to go, and I don't really know what to do. And besides that, I don't really know what to do when I get there. ^_^ Total newbie here. I'm going to preorder the tickets online at buysumotickets, but as far as what to do on that day, not sure. I might explore Fukuoka a little before heading in for the later matches. Tips anyone? Especially for what day to go or whether or not it matters?

Ah, that link is fantastic, thank you! I hear that this year could be a major historical one if Hakuho ties the record, so I'm not holding out hope of getting a final day ticket, but I have already placed a preorder! Another complete newbie question -- I've never been to a venue like this. Is it hard to figure out where to go/where to enter/how to get to where you're supposed to be? I speak Japanese, but not fluently, if that helps at all. I'd class myself at about JLPT 2.

What's the time frame? If I were to go and explore before waiting outside, what time should I plan to arrive to see the arriving wrestlers? How many divisions are there (you suggested seeing the first two)? What time can I reasonably expect to be out of the hall after it's done? I'd need to get a flight out on the same day if I go on the Sunday. Thanks for your help, everyone!