madorosumaru 7 Posted February 8, 2009 (edited) Sumo rikishi are good citizens. According to the blood center in Matsudo, Chiba, where Sadogatake Beya is located, donations of blood drop drastically during the winter months. To spur the donation campaign, the two local heya ozeki decided to help. Lucky winners from those donating received signed shikishi of Kotomitsuki and Kotooshu. Kotomitsuki selecting lucky winners. Osh is awaiting his turn. During January, there were 909 donors, an increase from 795 of the same period last year. 682 of the donors asked to be included in the lottery and the two ozeki each chose five winners. "This is a good thing," they said in a joint statement. "If there are more of these events, a lot more young people will cooperate with the blood campaign." Edited February 9, 2009 by madorosumaru Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted February 8, 2009 Yokozuna Asashoryu is also a good egg. Recently, it was reported that he donated a brand new Nissan ambulance to the Second Maternity Hospital in Ulaanbaatar, where he himself was born nearly thirty years ago. When Ryu returned to Mongolia last month, he went directly to City Hall where he informed Mayor Monkhbayar of his charitable intentions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sasanishiki 57 Posted February 8, 2009 I hope that the Sadogatake rikishi donated blood as well. That would provide a nice boost to the campaign if 30+ rikishi and toshiyori turned up. Imagine if they also mobilised their koenkai and local supporters to do the same. Matsudo would be awash in blood (so to speak) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Buckton 1 Posted February 9, 2009 wonder if Kotooshu was allowed to donate? :-) Hope so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ilovesumo 12 Posted February 9, 2009 Gaijin aren't? I thought it's only (even that is a stupid rule...) gay people who aren't allowed... :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotoeikoku 0 Posted February 9, 2009 Gaijin aren't?I thought it's only (even that is a stupid rule...) gay people who aren't allowed... (In a state of confusion...) When I was last living in Japan (2006), a blood donations van was parked in my university. I went up to offer my hemoglobin, but was summarily turned away (despite having the most sought-after blood type, so I'm told (Blushing...) ). As far as I know foreigners are not allowed to donate, though I am unaware if there is any regional variation regarding this... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,648 Posted February 9, 2009 Is it a generalized ban on foreigner donations, or something vCJD-related like the U.S. Red Cross is enforcing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ilovesumo 12 Posted February 10, 2009 Whatever it is, to me it's rassistic BS... Any medical reason for it? Guess not. Despite that we are all sick... (In a state of confusion...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orion 431 Posted February 10, 2009 Whatever it is, to me it's rassistic BS...Any medical reason for it? Guess not. Despite that we are all sick... (In a state of confusion...) Some 10-20 years ago there was hysteria about HIV/AIDS and all foreigners were assumed to be carriers. Those of us who continued donating found that our containers were prominently marked 'Gai' = foreigner. Foreigners attending the donation sessions were assumed to be there in order to get a free blood test. I continued attending the sessions and then found out that the forms were now only in Japanese instead of being bilingual (or optional English if you asked for it? can't recall). I duly filled in the Japanese form, which again seemed to stump the nurse. They'd long since given up on the public ceremonies at which people who had made 25 and 50 donations received a placque -- but I'd already got both of mine. Orion, who continued right up to the age limit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peeter 15 Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) Not only good guys, some of them became good animals too - Aran loves to plow dohyo with Funny Horse (In a state of confusion...) Edited February 10, 2009 by Peeter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ilovesumo 12 Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) They use all kinds of excuses, the mad-cow one being the most common. I've pretended to be from different places just to see would they take a donation but failed every time. Even when they run out of excuses they just say there is no doctor available even though people both ahead of and behind me were able to donate. They just don't want foreign blood. No nice way to dress it up. Racist for sure but doesn't bother me at all really. Just one of those things. Yeah...just one of those things. Guess you are there for long enough. I get hurt easily, so "these things" will bother me for many more years to come... (In a state of confusion...) They could at least stop using those stupid excuses... that's bothering the most. For Germany there is a list of countries. If you travel there, had been born there, you can be banned from donating for a time or forever. ( Countries with high Malaria risk etc.)The mad-cow thing is also an issue. Understandable reasons. But allowed to donate is each human to meet the criteria. Edited February 10, 2009 by ilovesumo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaikitsune Makoto 209 Posted February 10, 2009 Not sure but perhaps the homosexual sex part has now been removed in some countries. To prevent people engaging in homosexual sex from donating blood has been very common. Based largely on statistics that people engaging in homosexual sex have higher incidence of HIV due to anal sex details and the fact that the number of partners is greater. There actually is a basis for this which always comes forth when someone says "I want to donate and I am gay!" and wants change. Not that it is that good rule but there is a statistical basis in that... But it is funny there isn't any clear reason given why in Japan one can't really donate as a foreigner. Mad cow disease etc. are not really good reasons as a whole. If there are many Japanese people who don't want to receive foreign blood, then one should just ban all foreigners from donating without strange excuses and so. Who would really give hard time to them for that? Japan's bias is not a big secret. If you want to make a rule that discriminates foreigners, it would be less insulting to just say that "foreigners are banned from donating blood". It is like not wanting to invite a person to a party. Say "I don't want to invite you" and not make dumb excuses that are transparent and insulting. World where things are said frankly is good. It may be bad but it is also good. Maybe as a Rijicho one should also be very frank and just kick out people from forum. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ilovesumo 12 Posted February 10, 2009 It is like not wanting to invite a person to a party. Say "I don't want to invite you" and not make dumb excuses that are transparent and insulting. World where things are said frankly is good. It may be bad but it is also good. Maybe as a Rijicho one should also be very frank and just kick out people from forum. Jep. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sokkenaiyama 81 Posted February 10, 2009 Hmmm... do you have anyone in particular in mind? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoviki 16 Posted February 11, 2009 Kind of shocked reading this! I've been donating blood for over 15 years now in Japan. The first time was when blood drive for my rare Bneg was going on and a friend called me to ask if I'd donate. I'm on a list for the hospitals when they need Bneg I always get a call as I used to back in the states. I have given in Tokyo & Saitama. Very strange indeed! (Foot in mouth...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,192 Posted February 11, 2009 Kind of shocked reading this!I've been donating blood for over 15 years now in Japan. The first time was when blood drive for my rare Bneg was going on and a friend called me to ask if I'd donate. I'm on a list for the hospitals when they need Bneg I always get a call as I used to back in the states. I have given in Tokyo & Saitama. Very strange indeed! (In a state of confusion...) Hmm, maybe you just are looking different from Nishinoshima. I bet sumo-sized foreigners with tattoos may be looked at differently... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ilovesumo 12 Posted February 11, 2009 I'll test that the next time for sure...but 0pos is nothing they need that badly I guess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoviki 16 Posted February 15, 2009 Kind of shocked reading this!I've been donating blood for over 15 years now in Japan. The first time was when blood drive for my rare Bneg was going on and a friend called me to ask if I'd donate. I'm on a list for the hospitals when they need Bneg I always get a call as I used to back in the states. I have given in Tokyo & Saitama. Very strange indeed! (Showing respect...) Hmm, maybe you just are looking different from Nishinoshima. I bet sumo-sized foreigners with tattoos may be looked at differently... You just said it.... Actually my friend was denied due to his tatoos! That could be the only reason!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotoeikoku 0 Posted February 15, 2009 You just said it.... Actually my friend was denied due to his tatoos! That could be the only reason!!! I didn't have any tattoos at the time, but was still turned away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orion 431 Posted February 16, 2009 I've been donating blood for over 15 years now in Japan. The first time was when blood drive for my rare Bneg was going on and a friend called me to ask if I'd donate. I'm on a list for the hospitals when they need Bneg I always get a call as I used to back in the states. If you have a rare blood type and are registered with a hospital, that puts you into a very different category. I think the rest of us are talkiing about walking into the modified buses designed to collect from the general public. In this case I got the "unclean-gaijin" treatment despite producing my regular Japanese donor card and my gilt 50-donation badge, and correctly filling in the form in Japanese. Orion aka Doreen Simmons Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,047 Posted February 16, 2009 My tatoos weren't visible to the staff. Oh boy, don't tell me you still don't know about the one on your forehead. :-P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danjinoumi 10 Posted February 17, 2009 That's funny - I was usually eyeballed like a vampire looking at a potential snack when I used to walk by the facility at my local university. Very few foreigners in my neck of the woods, and O negative is the universal donor ... (darn, where's a nice vampire emoticon when you need one? :-P ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Washuyama 641 Posted February 17, 2009 (darn, where's a nice vampire emoticon when you need one? :-P ) I think a pic of Tochinoshin would suffice... ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoviki 16 Posted February 22, 2009 I've been donating blood for over 15 years now in Japan. The first time was when blood drive for my rare Bneg was going on and a friend called me to ask if I'd donate. I'm on a list for the hospitals when they need Bneg I always get a call as I used to back in the states. If you have a rare blood type and are registered with a hospital, that puts you into a very different category. I think the rest of us are talkiing about walking into the modified buses designed to collect from the general public. In this case I got the "unclean-gaijin" treatment despite producing my regular Japanese donor card and my gilt 50-donation badge, and correctly filling in the form in Japanese. Orion aka Doreen Simmons This is all so strange to me, maybe I was just lucky!? The first time I gave blood in Japan was at Sogo department store. They had a sign that they needed Bneg blood and I went in. I could barely speak 10 words in Japanese. A nurse came who spoke some English and asked me a few questions before they took my blood, she spoke a little English. Maybe they take my blood out of pity and throw it away? who knows what is going on. I hate giving blood truthfully!!! But I always feel pressured! Good Luck to the donors out there!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
