moving sumo stables out of tokyo?

[Petr 0]

Hisashiburi,

I have been invited to some program to discuss ozumo (and rural development) but since I know very little I would like to ask you esteemed sumo forum members for your opinions. As a step to revitalize Japanse rural areas and to bring young people back there, we should discuss in the program the possibility to move all sumo stables from Tokyo to various prefectures. I think that it's impossible and that young Japanese don't care about sumo anyway but I guess that that's not enough for a lively discussion. I would appreaciate to learn more educated opinions on this from the sumoforum experts.

Thank you very much!

[Sasanishiki 57]

I don't think I could see any practicality in the idea. There would always need to be some grouping of heya so that they could train together in ichimon rengo or go for degeiko. Furthermore, hte honbasho would still be in large centres to attract the economic base needed, so there would be increased travel costs (offset I suppose by cheaper land costs, but don't most of the heya actually own the land they are on?). While the move might revitalize the rural areas, I think only some would benefit, and the risk is that sumo becomes even more marginalised not only in the whole tradition/modern divide but also the urban/rural divide that exists in Japan (and which this program seems to be addressing).

[ilovesumo 12]

Tourists need it centered.

[Asashosakari 19,648]

While the move might revitalize the rural areas, I think only some would benefit ...

I'd also question the impact that this could possibly have. What exactly is plopping a random heya with, say, 10-15 rikishi and 5 other personnel in the middle of a rural prefecture supposed to achieve? It's not like there's going to be much of an effect beyond the town they're going to be located in, and that is going to be pretty marginal. Even multiplied by 50 I think that's going to constitute less than the proverbial drop in the bucket. Japan's countryside is pretty vast.

And as you mentioned, the downside would be that it cuts off those stables from all the well-established support networks. I'm honestly finding it difficult to think of any reason that a stablemaster would be receptive of this idea.

[Petr 0]

Many thanks for your precious and prompt responses. You articulated much better what I was only vaguely feeling

just to summarize the main points:

-negligible impact

-breaking the support networks

-necassary concentration to train

-heya construction/land cost

-further exclusion out of the modern urban society

-Nishi, do you mean the having a sumo stable in every prefecture, the rikishi would enjoy more attention from local people than they get in Tokyo?

I will inform you how it went (it's any experts disscusion as you can tell) and when it will be broadcasted.

If you or anyone else has any other opinion on this, or generaly, sports for regional development, or problems of Japanese rural areas, please share!

[Jejima 1,414]

Not quite on topic, but I used to live in Hiroshima Prefecture. This was not particularly a good location for a sumo fan. We had a jungyo make a two day stop in Hiroshima during my 3 years there (due to the demand - Hiroshima has a population of about 1.5 million) and that was about it.

If a heya were to relocate to Hiroshima, I (for one) would have visited it regularly for asa-geiko, and I would have taken a keen interest in the careers of the whole stable (from the lowest to the highest ranked.) I am sure many others living in Hiroshima would have taken a closer interest in 'their heya'. It could be similar to supporting your local football or baseball team, perhaps? For example, whilst in Hiroshima, I supported Hiroshima Sanfrecce (the football team), and the Carps (the baseball team). If Hiroshima had 'Hiroshima-beya' too, then I would have supported that as well.

This is not the same as moving heyas into rural locations, but rather allowing major connurbations (other than Tokyo) to be the base for some heyas. Is there any reason why Osaka can't have a few permanent heyas located there?

Of course, there are many reasons to go against this, such as tradition, the ichimons, general admin and degeiko opportunities - but it is another idea.

Edit:

PS I am planning to visit Hiroshima in the last week of January 2009 - anybody likely to be in that area at that time?

Edited December 12, 2008 by Jejima

[Petr 0]

Very good points.

Thank you, guys!

(Petr from HK airport (boarding for Tokyo soon.))

[Jejima 1,414]

(Petr from HK airport (boarding for Tokyo soon.))

OFF TOPIC!

Well, if I had known, I'd have bought you a beer (as I live in HK).

[Petr 0]

(Petr from HK airport (boarding for Tokyo soon.))

OFF TOPIC!

Well, if I had known, I'd have bought you a beer (as I live in HK).

Yea, I've noticed that in your avatar yesterday, that's why I added that note. Sorry, I should have noticed earlier.

[Sasanishiki 57]

I think Nishi has hit the nail on the head in many ways. The rural areas do support 'their' rikishi but from afar. I don't think there would be a significant increase if the heya are moved to far flung areas, despite Jejima's example. What would happen, say, to a rikishi from X-town if he was at a particular heya and then another heya established itself in X-town? Who would the locals support? Would they back the hometown boy or the relocated ones? probably a bit of both, but it certainly muddies the lines of support. We can see from the last jungyo and the newspaper reports that the country folk come out to see the jungyo and they support those from their prefecture. I think rural support really does exist, but I doubt it is of sufficient size that it could support a whole heya.

[Petr 0]

Yea, that makes sense. The recording of the program was yesterday. There were some opinions that for this to work, sumo would have to be restructured and change its face completely (which, according to some, needs to be done anyway) and do progressive marketing in the local areas. One more supportive opinion was that rural families wouldn't be afraid to let their son join Ozumo, if all the stables were'nt so far. I forgot when it will be broadcasted, put I'll post it when I know. (Don't expect much, though.)

[Mark Buckton 1]

hey Petr - not seen you since you were riding your bike down aoyama-dori with no clothes on!

Hope all is still well - and that you can now afford a T-shirt!

On this one - I am late - but can say this would never never work. Reverse modernity and going back to the era of han and the like.

I was at a heya yesterday, 2 stables got together for a great session, total of 6 sekitori. Only myself and a friend there so quite quiet. About 0830ish three of the sekitori left to go to another heya, 1 guy was injured and sat untaping himself outside while 2 others led the massed ranks of makushita men as 2 oyakata gave advice.

Couldn't happen if things were to split up so much.

The 'think local' act global idea is admirable in many ways but not in sumo as such a move would just serve to fragment the sport, not garner more support beyond the initial rush of interest.

[Orion 431]

I was at a heya yesterday, 2 stables got together for a great session, total of 6 sekitori. Only myself and a friend there so quite quiet. About 0830ish three of the sekitori left to go to another heya, 1 guy was injured and sat untaping himself outside while 2 others led the massed ranks of makushita men as 2 oyakata gave advice.

Was that the day the top Kasugano men came round to Dewanoumi to try to get a piece of Asashoryu? I agree entirely that this kind of to-and-fro would be completely impossible if the heya were more widely spread. The whole idea of the radio program was pretty stupid, I'd say.

Orion

[Mark Buckton 1]

think that was Christmas Day. I was there on Boxing Day.

[Orion 431]

think that was Christmas Day. I was there on Boxing Day.

Could be. I sang two services on Christmas Eve and didn't get home till one in the morning.

Doreen the chorister

[Petr 0]

hey Petr - not seen you since you were riding your bike down aoyama-dori with no clothes on!

Hope all is still well - and that you can now afford a T-shirt!

On this one - I am late - but can say this would never never work. Reverse modernity and going back to the era of han and the like.

I was at a heya yesterday, 2 stables got together for a great session, total of 6 sekitori. Only myself and a friend there so quite quiet. About 0830ish three of the sekitori left to go to another heya, 1 guy was injured and sat untaping himself outside while 2 others led the massed ranks of makushita men as 2 oyakata gave advice.

Couldn't happen if things were to split up so much.

The 'think local' act global idea is admirable in many ways but not in sumo as such a move would just serve to fragment the sport, not garner more support beyond the initial rush of interest.

Hey Mark,

sorry for a very late response. (At least I'm writing this fully dressed.)

Yea, I was saying something like that in the studio. Many thanks for everyone's input. You could hear your opinions from my mouth this Sat from 22:10 to 23:00 if it wasn't on BS1 which no one can probably view.

P

[Mark Buckton 1]

I have BS - will try to watch