NO live broadcast of Nagoya basho

[Takamizawa 0]

If there are so many little boys clamoring to watch it in Hokkaido, there will be more enterprising sponsors wanting to bring a jungyo there but as far as I know there aren't that many demand. The last time the Kyokai went there, they even paid for one themselves. The demographic of sumo viewer tells us the main bulk, some say as much as 80% are over 50 years old. Not even 5% of kids are regular sumo watchers while more than 30% watch baseball and 20% watch J-League.

NHK has been airing sumo for something like over 50 years and every year less and less kids join Ozumo so it cannot be lack of TV coverage that kids don't go into sumo. The big problem isn't TV coverage, it is the way Ozumo operates and its image.

Yes, but cancelling the live coverage certainly won't help create any youth interest in sumo either; in fact, it can only hurt it, no matter how insignificant the number.

Kids aside, I think we're forgetting about the older Japanese who look forward to sumo every two months. Do they just not count for anything anymore? Bah well kids don't like it that much so it isn't that important to show?

Where I live, there are a lot of older folks who really love sumo; they show it everyday at the tonkotsu ramen place down the street, and hordes of senior citizens pile in to watch their Oita-ken favorites.

As for kids, even if TV coverage isn't the problem, it certainly doesn't help the issues of recruitment to cancel one more avenue of garnering interest from youths. Even if it's just 5% of kids, with the Aomori jungyo off and no coverage, we may see some of that small % moving towards other more visible and accessible sports in their free time.

[Peterao 3]

If there are so many little boys clamoring to watch it in Hokkaido, there will be more enterprising sponsors wanting to bring a jungyo there but as far as I know there aren't that many demand. The last time the Kyokai went there, they even paid for one themselves. The demographic of sumo viewer tells us the main bulk, some say as much as 80% are over 50 years old. Not even 5% of kids are regular sumo watchers while more than 30% watch baseball and 20% watch J-League.

NHK has been airing sumo for something like over 50 years and every year less and less kids join Ozumo so it cannot be lack of TV coverage that kids don't go into sumo. The big problem isn't TV coverage, it is the way Ozumo operates and its image.

Yes, but cancelling the live coverage certainly won't help create any youth interest in sumo either; in fact, it can only hurt it, no matter how insignificant the number.

Do you think that someone who is looking to sell their house would be thinking of ways to get people interested in buying his house while the house is on fire? I don't think so. I think that person would instead spend all of his time and energy trying to put the fire out. Because there's no house to sell if it burns to the ground.

Unfortunately, the Kyokai first tried to deny that a fire even existed. Then, when the flames rose high enough for all to see, they erected a big wall around the sides of the house, and named a fire chief as temporary leader to make the rounds to say that they will clean up the house. They are now preparing to take us inside of the still burning house to make their sales pitch. Check out this wall-to-wall carpeting!

Kids aside, I think we're forgetting about the older Japanese who look forward to sumo every two months. Do they just not count for anything anymore? Bah well kids don't like it that much so it isn't that important to show?

There have been a few older fans that are saying that they just want to watch the sumo. But most of the old folks that I have seen or read about being interviewed have said something along the lines of "Well, I want to see the sumo, but these are very grave problems, so this situation cannot be helped."

Most of the old folks have survived World War II. Some of them have survived an atomic bombing. They know when a sacrifice is necessary, and are made of sterner stuff than you may think.

[Kintamayama 45,126]

And , quick as a wink, a total change. Yesterday, 1200 people reported to NHK and surprise surprise-more than half are FOR the broadcasts. All these were submitted (by phone and e-mail) between 16:30 (press conference announcing the non-broadcast) until 22:00. 44% for, 20% against. And this was only yesterday. And don't tell me it's a "knee-jerk reaction". People simply didn't vote when asked originally because they couldn't in their wildest dreams believe that NHK brass are THAT dumb. Now, anyone who really cares about sumo will be voicing their opinion and hopefully we'll soon see an 80% yes to the broadcast, totally pulling the rug under their only given reason for the suspension. Even Jack Misery (Yaku Mitsuru) the cartoonist said: "I feel like telling them I'm not going to pay the annual fees!"

TV stations should broadcast shows and not become judge and jury, even though they are a public station. I hope this blows up in their faces.

[Peterao 3]

And , quick as a wink, a total change. Yesterday, 1200 people reported to NHK and surprise surprise-more than half are FOR the broadcasts.

44% for

Huh? Does not compute.

I guess two people really can read the same thing in two totally different ways. The only reason that anybody against the broadcast has a reason to call in now is to thank NHK for making their decision, and I'm really surprised that 240 people bothered to do that (I haven't gotten around to doing that yet) So, after over 8500 people registered their protest and got their way, a little over 500 people (of which who knows how many were new people and how many who previously called before the decision was made) tried to get them to change their mind.

In a land of over a hundred million people, I expected a much bigger backlash than that. I'm more convinced than ever that NHK has read and reacted to the situation in the best possible way. And that the Kyokai is really and truly screwed.

[Kintamayama 45,126]

I guess two people really can read the same thing in two totally different ways. The only reason that anybody against the broadcast has a reason to call in now is to thank NHK for making their decision, and I'm really surprised that 240 people bothered to do that (I haven't gotten around to doing that yet) So, after over 8500 people registered their protest and got their way, a little over 500 people (of which who knows how many were new people and how many who previously called before the decision was made) tried to get them to change their mind.

In a land of over a hundred million people, I expected a much bigger backlash than that. I'm more convinced than ever that NHK has read and reacted to the situation in the best possible way. And that the Kyokai is really and truly screwed.

I expected better from you. 44% for, 20% against, and we can read that in two different ways? Two times more for than against in 6 hours and you're waxing semantics? Nobody called in to thank them-everyone called in to voice their disgust, which results in hard numbers which you choose to ignore. As for that "who knows who the people calling really were" argument, I can say that about the original 8500 who were in favor of canceling the broadcast, so let's get off that train, shall we? As for being screwed, it will take more than NHK, which is just a public TV station canceling a basho broadcast, to screw the Kyokai. The NHK has to pay them anyway, and the box-office cash boxes will be singing the NHK's praise for 15 days in Nagoya. The Kyokai has much greater worries than that, like the police investigation that got under way a couple of hours ago. NHK is small fry, run by small bureaucrats with small minds who have read Orwell one time too many.

[Takamizawa 0]

There have been a few older fans that are saying that they just want to watch the sumo. But most of the old folks that I have seen or read about being interviewed have said something along the lines of "Well, I want to see the sumo, but these are very grave problems, so this situation cannot be helped."

Most of the old folks have survived World War II. Some of them have survived an atomic bombing. They know when a sacrifice is necessary, and are made of sterner stuff than you may think.

In what way did I allude to the Japanese elderly as not being made of "sterner stuff?" Whereas you mave have seen/heard from numerous older fans who are fine with the basho being cancelled, I've heard the exact opposite from the people where I live. Nothing but complaints and displeasure. In both our cases this is nothing more than speculation of course without any hard data. I guess people are more displaced to find support for the side they're on heh.

All I was trying to say was it is a dick move on the part of the NHK to ruin the basho for the folks here, especially the elderly, who really look forward to it. Sure they will be able to cope just fine as you mentioned, but it doesn't change the fact that it still really sucks for them. In no way did I state that the older fans were somehow weak and couldn't take the loss of the broadcast, and I'm frankly offended at the implication that I thought that way. I know you prolly didn't mean it that way, so no harm no foul, but my point was that people seemed to be focused on the unpopularity of sumo with youths to justify the NHK not broadcasting in some way, and I just wanted to remind everyone that older fans care a lot and are important to consider too.

Just because a group can deal with a crappy situation doesn't make it OK or right.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Takamizawa

[Peterao 3]

I guess two people really can read the same thing in two totally different ways. The only reason that anybody against the broadcast has a reason to call in now is to thank NHK for making their decision, and I'm really surprised that 240 people bothered to do that (I haven't gotten around to doing that yet) So, after over 8500 people registered their protest and got their way, a little over 500 people (of which who knows how many were new people and how many who previously called before the decision was made) tried to get them to change their mind.

In a land of over a hundred million people, I expected a much bigger backlash than that. I'm more convinced than ever that NHK has read and reacted to the situation in the best possible way. And that the Kyokai is really and truly screwed.

I expected better from you. 44% for, 20% against, and we can read that in two different ways? Two times more for than against in 6 hours and you're waxing semantics? Nobody called in to thank them-everyone called in to voice their disgust, which results in hard numbers which you choose to ignore. As for that "who knows who the people calling really were" argument, I can say that about the original 8500 who were in favor of canceling the broadcast, so let's get off that train, shall we? As for being screwed, it will take more than NHK, which is just a public TV station canceling a basho broadcast, to screw the Kyokai. The NHK has to pay them anyway, and the box-office cash boxes will be singing the NHK's praise for 15 days in Nagoya. The Kyokai has much greater worries than that, like the police investigation that got under way a couple of hours ago. NHK is small fry, run by small bureaucrats with small minds who have read Orwell one time too many.

How do I "choose to ignore" the "hard numbers" when I freaking quoted them in my response!?

You and the media can spin those numbers however you like; in my mind, only 500 people calling to defend the product after it was historically dumped is bad news.

And won't it be fun if the police investigation finds some _really_ juicy stuff midway through the basho?

[ilovesumo 12]

Reply from NHK.

Many many many people must have been writing! (Clapping wildly...)

様

日ごろＮＨＫの番組をご視聴いただきありがとうございます。

お寄せいただきましたご意見・ご要望・お問合せは、お問合せ番号［658274］

でお受けしました。

このメールは、お客さまのメールを受信したことを自動的にお知らせするものです。

＜＜このメールは送信専用メールアドレスから配信しています。このメールへのご返信は、お受けしておりませんのでご注意ください。＞＞

[Kintamayama 45,126]

How do I "choose to ignore" the "hard numbers" when I freaking quoted them in my response!?

You and the media can spin those numbers however you like; in my mind, only 500 people calling to defend the product after it was historically dumped is bad news.

And won't it be fun if the police investigation finds some _really_ juicy stuff midway through the basho?

That's 500 people who were for the broadcasts in six hours. How many hours were the broadcast-fate deciding polls running for? As for the numbers, you complained that "they don't compute". They compute, they compute, just like NHK makes me compuke..

Juicy stuff? I think by the time the police decided to get off their asses (nearly a month since all this started?), whatever hard evidence existed is long gone. If they find anything, it will be of a mild nature. I do hope they get to the bottom of this. Hell, I'll settle for the middle. Somehow, I have a feeling nothing earth-shattering will be found.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,126]

Reply from NHK.

Many many many people must have been writing! (Clapping wildly...)

様

日ごろＮＨＫの番組をご視聴いただきありがとうございます。

お寄せいただきましたご意見・ご要望・お問合せは、お問合せ番号［658274］

でお受けしました。

このメールは、お客さまのメールを受信したことを自動的にお知らせするものです。

＜＜このメールは送信専用メールアドレスから配信しています。このメールへのご返信は、お受けしておりませんのでご注意ください。＞＞

Translation: There's this guy Peterao who has been sending us many e-mails (8500, to be exact) demanding suspension of the Nagoya Basho broadcast. Do you know him by any chance? If so, can you tell him we got the message and he doesn't have to send any more e-mails? That goes for the early morning phonecalls as well. Rumor has it that the McDonalds next door has gone out of business since this person has stopped frequenting their premises. At least, we have no worries..

Donald

Edited July 7, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Peterao 3]

Reply from NHK.

Many many many people must have been writing! (Clapping wildly...)

?

???NHK??????????????????????

?????????????

[Kintamayama 45,126]

I have always received a follow-up response from a human within 24 hours of receiving that message.

See reason in one post up..

[Peterao 3]

Reply from NHK.

Many many many people must have been writing! (Clapping wildly...)

?

???NHK??????????????????????

?????????????

[ilovesumo 12]

Guys, I know what is written there: Thanks for telling us, blah, please do not reply, blah blah.

I thought the number was interesting (it just counts the number of people who wrote, not the number of people who complained about the broadcast-thing (?) ) and - am glad I could reply from Germany - I often had problems like "from your area this function cannot be used"

That means everybody could write to them and counts. Cool. (Clapping wildly...)

[Peterao 3]

Guys, I know what is written there: Thanks for telling us, blah, please do not reply, blah blah.

I thought the number was interesting (it just counts the number of people who wrote, not the number of people who complained about the broadcast-thing (?) ) and - am glad I could reply from Germany - I often had problems like "from your area this function cannot be used"

That means everybody could write to them and counts. Cool. (Clapping wildly...)

That's just a call number for reference. There's no guarantee that it started at 1, or that it always increments by 1.

[Peterao 3]

In a development I somehow overlooked, NHK director Imai has stated: "we have not paid for the rights to air the Nagoya tournament."

No word on whether the Kyokai will try to demand payment. But if they end up saving half a billion yen in user fees out of this, then I'm even more in favor of the cancellation than before.

EDIT: more from the article:

"A ministry representative, meanwhile, said the JSA should humbly accept NHK's decision not to air the tournament.

'It means a need has arisen for the association to make more of an effort to bring about reform.' the representative said. "

So the cancellation is having exactly the effect that I hoped for.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Peterao

[Manekineko 200]

Moderator Notice

I'm impressed that this debate has managed to go for so long with very little personal pokes and insults. Please, continue in the same manner.

Note: this post is not meant as a direct answer to any single post preceding it, but as a general remark.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Manekineko

[Kintamayama 45,126]

English

[Fay 1,677]

I simply don't think NHK's reason for cancelling is to provoke a reform in the kyokai. For me the poll and pointing out the finger towards kyokai is just an easy way to get rid of a program they don't want to broadcast anyway and save millions/billions of yen in future. Just dishonest in my humble opinion.

[Umigame 82]

Moderator Notice

I'm impressed that this debate has managed to go for so long with very little personal pokes and insults. Please, continue in the same manner.

Wholeheartedly agree! (Applauding...)

I have to say the combatants have opened my eyes with some good points on both sides.

As a result, I am thoroughly undecided and have mixed feelings about the NHK cancellations. :-S

[ilovesumo 12]

I simply don't think NHK's reason for cancelling is to provoke a reform in the kyokai. For me the poll and pointing out the finger towards kyokai is just an easy way to get rid of a program they don't want to broadcast anyway and save millions/billions of yen in future. Just dishonest in my humble opinion.

Exactly. The quota was down to some 13% in May, during the golden days they had over 50%.

Perfect reason to get rid of a quota-nightmare and air something more profitable....

As I said before- the broadcast is very important as THE media boys get in touch with Sumo.

[Peterao 3]

I simply don't think NHK's reason for cancelling is to provoke a reform in the kyokai.

That may or may not have been NHK's original intent. Regardless, as evidenced by the ministry office statement, that _is_ the effect it is having.

[Asashosakari 19,329]

EDIT: more from the article:

"A ministry representative, meanwhile, said the JSA should humbly accept NHK's decision not to air the tournament.

'It means a need has arisen for the association to make more of an effort to bring about reform.' the representative said. "

So the cancellation is having exactly the effect that I hoped for.

The effect you hoped for was a grandstanding statement by a ministry drone? Congratulations, mission accomplished!

[Fay 1,677]

I simply don't think NHK's reason for cancelling is to provoke a reform in the kyokai.

That may or may not have been NHK's original intent. Regardless, as evidenced by the ministry office statement, that _is_ the effect it is having.

If the cancelling of the broadcast really has an effect, I'm fine with it. Cancelling the whole basho would have convinced me more.

[Asashosakari 19,329]

An interesting graph at Yomiuri today, Nagoya basho television ratings throughout the years. I'm guessing these are the full national ratings rather than the usually reported Kanto-area ones:

Not that they're good, but I didn't expect to see essentially no further decline for a full decade now.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Asashosakari