How long have you been a fan of sumo?

[Jejima 1,384]

Another poll....

I became aware of the sport in the late 80s when 'highlights' were shown late at night on Channel 4 in the UK. However, I only became a fan when I first lived in Japan in 1997 (so about 6.5 years).

Who has been the fan the longest B-)

:-P

[Zenjimoto 40]

Since Aki 2001, a week or so after I got my satellite dish, and was suddenly able to receive TV Japan, which really did it :-P So I checked 2 years, although its a bit more than that.

[Tumppi 0]

2 years maby.... the first times I watched it was just when I happened to snap on Eurosport and I got stuck in front of the TV. That's maybe 2-3 years ago but I've been more active less than 2 years. Hmm, gotta check when I registered to sumoforums..

edit: ok, maybe I've been more active for about 1,5 years. I voted 2.

Edited January 29, 2004 by Tumppi

[Kintamayama 45,117]

Since 1962. That would make it 40-45, no?

Edited January 29, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Tumppi 0]

Since 1962. That would make it 40-45, no?

Woah u auld fart! Juust kidding.. :-P

Impressive!!

[Naifuzan 1]

I became addicted after watching aki 2002 on eurosport, so kyushu 2002 was the first basho I followed online.

So 1 year.

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

Since day 13 of Kyushu Basho 1997. The bout? Kotonowaka vs. Konishiki.

[Kashunowaka 300]

Since day 13 of Kyushu Basho 1997. The bout? Kotonowaka vs. Konishiki.

Konishiki's last bout?

[Zentoryu 154]

I clock in at around 8 years or so. I can't believe it's been that long.... :-P B-)

[Fujisan 533]

Since 1989 when C4 started showing it on TV in England-

Although I was thinking about this and I might have first had my interest peaked by browsing a book on sumo in the library.

[charliki 16]

Since 1962. That would make it 40-45, no?

B-) You were a baby? :-P

For me, Hatsu 2002 was the first basho I followed online.

Edited January 30, 2004 by charliki

[Heitaikai 0]

After watching Natsu Basho 1999 on eurosport. Musashimaru won and became yokozuna.

[QttP 0]

First basho I ever saw (at least in part): Haru 2000 (Takatoriki!)

Basho after which I became a regular: Natsu 2002

[Manekineko 200]

No idea, really, since one of Eurosport's Paris-basho reruns... I voted 8, but probably less.

[Onnagumo 4]

Konishiki's last bout?

Yes. After that match, I became even more a Kotonowaka fan than I already was. I've got a picture of it in my personal collection. I'll send it to Kotoseiya-zeki, so he can post it for me.

Who has been the fan the longest

Well, certainly not me (You are going off-topic...) . About 8,5 years or so, it was somewhere in 1995.

Edited January 30, 2004 by Onnagumo

[Kintamayama 45,117]

Since 1962. That would make it 40-45, no?

(In a state of confusion...) You were a baby? (You are going off-topic...)

For me, Hatsu 2002 was the first basho I followed online.

No, I was 8. 8 is old enough to know what is what and who is who.. I actually started watching it on TV two years earlier, but to be on the safe side, said 1962..

[furanohana 3]

I started watching sumo on eurosport in the 90's, but I really started following the sport, reading stuff, etc. in 2000. That makes some 3.5 years.

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

I'll send it to Kotoseiya-zeki, so he can post it for me.

Yes, Konishiki's last bout and Kotonowaka's way of paying homage to the old champion whose career he had the honour of finishing.

[Fujisan 533]

Quote time-

Konishiki-"Thanks Kotonishiki,thanks to you I won my bet that I could still fit in the Mawashi I used as a Presumo-Now how the hell am I gonna get out of it?"

[Zuikakuyama 1]

I started watching NHK broadcasts of sumo on the weekends starting from about '97. My dad was a avid fan, and he explained alot of things to me, although I really didn't understand the intricacies of the sport at all. I was just always amazed at the skill of takanohana in fighting against all the big hawaiians, and winning most of the time.

I was only when I started joining this site that I really started to appreciate sumo, and listening to all the insights of the "old birds" like Kinta (You are going off-topic...) .

[Mark Buckton 1]

How did fans outside Japan / Japanese influence as far as TV goes follow sumo pre-internet boom time?

ANR

[QttP 0]

How did fans outside Japan / Japanese influence as far as TV goes follow sumo pre-internet boom time?

ANR

If I'm not mistaken, Eurosport has been broadcasting their sumo digest shows as early as the mid-nineties, and possibly earlier. Of course I can't be sure when exactly it started, since I didn't follow it at the time.

[Onnagumo 4]

How did fans outside Japan / Japanese influence as far as TV goes follow sumo pre-internet boom time?

In 1995 I saw the Paris tournament on Eurosport. I don't know if they showed sumo before that too, but from that moment on I watched every basho. We didn't have internet at home then, but my hubby regularly came home with all kinds of printed info he got from the net at work.

In 1996 the cable company decided to take Eurosport off the cable :-| I'm sure I told all of you many times how much that irritated me - I had to hear from my hubby about Kotonowaka's 2 kinboshi in Nagoya '96, never saw that basho :-/ But shortly after that, they deciced to put Eurosport back on again, there was simply too much protest.... (Eh?)

Now that we have internet at home, I get most of my info from there, but I still watch every basho on Eurosport too.

[Yokotanoharry 1]

As you can see I haven't been here in the sf for long, but poll results show that only one other chrome domer has me beat for longeveity. But thats about it. My fanaticism started in 1967 soon after arriving at Yokota AB through 1970. Lost interest and contact until sat tv discovered out here in the sticks. (I remember electrification, too.) As I said in my intro, Taiho was king when I started, Andy Adams was columnist for Japan Times, and eng trans unknown on tv. Sadagotake was Ozeki then (Kotozakura) who I disliked. Kitanofuji and Takamiyama were favorites.

[Kashunowaka 300]

As you can see I haven't been here in the sf for long, but poll results show that only one other chrome domer has me beat for longeveity.  But thats about it. My fanaticism started in 1967 soon after arriving at Yokota AB through 1970.  Lost interest and contact until sat tv discovered out here in the sticks.  (I remember electrification, too.)  As I said in my intro, Taiho was king when I started, Andy Adams was columnist for Japan Times, and eng trans unknown on tv.  Sadagotake was Ozeki then (Kotozakura) who I disliked.  Kitanofuji and Takamiyama were favorites.

A question for those of you who have followed sumo for a long time: how is ozumo different now compared to the 60s and 70s? I know that the average weight in makuuchi has increased over the years - how has that affected the bouts, and the techniques used?