Osaka Sumo Blues

Disappointment is definitely a word that comes to mind when I found out that the March Sumo tournament in Osaka was to be canceled amid the match fixing scandal here in Japan. Sumo is the ancient Japanese sport that pits two wrestlers against each other. There have always been suspicions that the sport had been filled with rigged fights and other shady dealings, but it recently came to light that these suspicions were a reality.

Last year there was a baseball betting scandal involving several wrestlers who were betting on games with the help of yakuza members. One top ranked ozeki, Kotomitsuki was even banned from fighting for life because of his involvement. During that investigation police seized several sumo wrestler's mobile phones. On their phones they found text messages where wrestlers were planning to throw their fights.

I am not by any means a die-hard fan of the sport, but I do enjoy watching it when it is on television. Last year I went to the Osaka tournament on a Sunday with one of my friends. I had a great time seeing the massive wrestlers live, having beer and the general atmosphere of the day. This year, I was hoping to go again, but with my family. We were thinking about getting a family box so I could sit with my wife, son and in laws. That is why I am disappointed.


A picture I took at last year's Osaka Sumo Basho (tournament).

I was looking forward to a great first time sumo family outing. Apparently my in laws, who are from Osaka have never been to live sumo. Now there is even talk of the remainder of 2011 sumo tournaments being cancelled. I suppose we’ll just have to see. It would have been a great family event, but it looks like I’ll have to wait until next year!

Here is a video about the Osaka Tournament cancellation by a very knowledgeable sumo fan. JasonInJapan AKA myargonauts is a popular You Tube vlogger who vlogs about Japan and Sumo:





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Kansai Rain and Asashoryu's Retirement

It's been a very rainy weekend in this part of Japan. Yesterday it poured for most of the day, but luckily my school was able to squeeze in all of its Sports Day events before it really started to come down. That's right, I was at school yesterday. Sports Day is a Japanese tradition in kindergarten through high school. Students take part in games and "athletic" events in order to put on a grand show for family and friends. It's not really a competition in any way, but a "team-building" pageant.

I missed almost every training day last week because of a sinus infection and cold. I'm now on the mend and was able to get out early this morning (I have Monday off this week) and pound the pavement. I was able to get in 10 km before my family got up.

Here' some random Japanese food porn:

This is a bento box I bought for my wife earlier in the week. this one cost about $13.00 Canadian. It looked pretty good and my wife gave it a thumbs up.


Some news type stuff from around Japan:
Ex-yokozuna Asashoryu has topknot removed
TOKYO - Former Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu, who retired in February after assaulting a man outside a Tokyo nightclub, had his topknot removed in a ceremony at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sunday.

Asashoryu, 30, performed his ‘‘unryu’’ style dohyo-iri ritual in the raised ring for the last time, flanked by Mongolian wrestlers Asasekiryu and ozeki Harumafuji, who served as the usher and sword-bearer, respectively.

Thousands of fans turned out to bid farewell to the 68th yokozuna, whose popularity still remains strong even after leaving the sport. About 380 people took snips from his “oicho” (ginko-leafed topknot) before his former stablemaster Takasago cut it off.

‘‘The fans cheered for me like it was the final day of a tournament after a playoff. I couldn’t be more thrilled. I was overwhelmed,’’ Asashoryu said.

‘‘The time I spent with Asasekiryu, who came with me from Mongolia, was very meaningful. Sumo elder Kokonoe (former yokozuna Chiyonofuji), who was the person I aspired to be like, also came. I feel nothing but appreciation.’‘
Read More at Japan Today

In this You Tube video I found this morning you can see some sports personalities at the retirement ceremony. One is a famous Japanese boxer, Koki kameda.


Blogger Responds to South Korean Government’s Anti-Japanese “East Sea” Campaign
Sounds like the South Korean government is trying to attract more foreign tourism by telling the world how bad Japan is!!! Don't think this is the best strategy!

iPads for Sumo Wrestlers

I thought this was great. Two things I love....tech and Japan.



iPad the right fit for giant sumo wrestlers
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's ancient sport of sumo is embracing the latest high-tech, with its governing body set to distribute Apple's iPad to wrestlers who often struggle with smaller cellphone keypads due to their giant hands.

The sumo association said it will hand out iPads to Japan's 51 "stables," or the clubs the wrestlers belong to, with the aim of improving communication among the roly-poly grapplers after some in the past had missed information sent by fax or telephone.

"We will hand out the newest iPads to all the sumo stables to swiftly communicate what we need to," association vice chairman Hiroyoshi Murayama said.

The iPad tablet PC, which starts at 48,800 yen ($570) in Japan, was likely chosen because many stablemasters do not use computers and wrestlers are not good at punching in messages on their mobile phones with their big hands, Jiji news agency said.

Sumo is trying to overhaul its image after being rocked by a series of scandals including an illegal baseball gambling racket, assault and drug use. See original here

Waiting for Fatherhood and Honest Sumo Guys

Many things have been going on in the world of Kevin. The school term is coming to a close and the hectic month of June is a thing of the past. Report cards, parent-teacher meetings and student portfolios are all but a thing of the past. The only thing to do now is sit and wait for my little whipper-snapper to come along. As I write this post, my son is a few days late on arriving into the world. We are of course beside ourselves with excitement and nervousness waiting for his arrival!

In other news, the world of Sumo Wrestling in Japan has been turned on it's head with a major gambling scandal:

NHK decides not to broadcast sumo live due to gambling scandal
TOKYO - Public broadcaster NHK will not televise the July 11 to 25 Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament live due to a gambling scandal that has hit a number of sumo wrestlers and elders, NHK Chairman Shigeo Fukuchi said Tuesday.

Fukuchi said NHK decided not to broadcast the sumo tournament to be held at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium live, but, instead, to air the digest version of recorded sumo matches on TV and report the results of the matches on radio.

It is first time for NHK not to air a sumo tournament live on television in its history of broadcasting of sumo tourneys which started in 1953. The broadcaster started airing the events on radio in 1928.

Fukuchi said the broadcaster’s decision reflects viewers’ severe opinions on the gambling scandal rocking the ancient national sport.

‘‘The Japan Sumo Association has yet to present concrete steps for its reform,’’ he said. ‘‘At the same time, we have received a number of severe opinions from viewers. We have made a comprehensive and careful decision.’‘

‘‘We urge (the sumo association) to work for prompt reform of the organization,’’ he added.

About 70% of those who contacted NHK on the gambling scandal by Tuesday said they wanted it to cancel coverage of the tournament, according to NHK.

Acting JSA Chairman Hiroyoshi Murayama and other officials of the sumo governing body visited NHK’s headquarters office in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward Tuesday to ask the public broadcaster to show the upcoming sumo tournament on television.

At a meeting with the NHK chairman, the officials from the sumo association explained the body’s decision on Sunday to fire ozeki Kotomitsuki and stablemaster Otake and to impose other punishments on wrestlers and elders for being involved in gambling on professional baseball games which is alleged to be a funding source for gangsters.

They also vowed to implement measures to prevent a recurrence of the situation.

NHK made the decision not to air the event live after hearing what the JSA officials had to say.

Commercial TV stations used to air the digest of sumo tournaments in the past, but currently, NHK is the only broadcaster that airs the sumo events live.

According to NHK, it received opinions from about 11,100 viewers on the matter between June 14, when it began tallying them, and Sunday, with 68% expressing opposition to broadcasting the Nagoya tourney against 11% in favor of the coverage.
Read original at Japan Today


My desire to get into the world of podcasting has come back. I have been thinking a lot these days about a podcast I'd like to start (especially on my long runs at night) and the technical side of getting it up and running. I think it would be a new and fun media hobby to get involved in. When will I have the time to put things together? Good question. I think I will start building on my ideas and hopefully have something up and running this summer. If I run with the idea I have now, my podcast would be about a non-Japan one. I would probably focus more on Canada and other cultures. There are already some great podcasts about Japan and I don't want to paint myself into a corner. I want to give myself more options and a much larger potential audience. Recently, a viewer of my You Tube videos complained. He said that I should talk more about Japanese history in my videos. I told him that my channel isn't about Japan. It is about me! I just happen to live in Japan. I don't solely blog about Japan. I am a blogger/vlogger and Japan just happens to be my current, but not permanent backdrop!


RANDOM PICTURE TIME

Took this picture last week on a train platform! Loved it and was disgusted with the possibilities!

Rain Rain and More Rain

My wife tells me that the rainy season in the Kansai region of Japan will start soon. I disagree with her. I tell her that it already started more than a month ago. Why else would it rain four to five days a week? Apparently I am wrong. it is raining a lot, but the wet stuff falling now has nothing to do with the official rainy season. It's just a precursor!

I'm sitting at home early on a Monday morning enjoying a cup of coffee and doing something I normally never have a chance to do on a weekday morning. I'm writing a blog. What has caused this change in routine? My school has been closed for the day due to heavy rainfall warnings in the area. It is indeed raining cats, dogs and maybe some sheep. It was as well yesterday.

So, let's get to some news in Japan and Korea that I find a little interesting!

Police ask Kotomitsuki to explain baseball gambling report

TOKYO - The Metropolitan Police Department met with sumo wrestler Kotomitsuki on Saturday over a recent report in a weekly magazine that said he is in heavy debt from gambling related to professional baseball games, police officials said Saturday. Police asked the ozeki, the second-highest rank next to the grand champion yokozuna, for explanation about the contents of the article, according to the officials. Read more at Japan Today

This guy is an ozeki which is the second highest ranking fighter in sumo in Japan. He is a very high profile athlete in these parts. he also looks like a giant bird with massive breasts! I love sumo guys!



Check out this odd, yet fun story over at Japan Probe.

100 Animals in One Small Apartment


Of course everyone knows by now that those trouble making rascals, the North Koreans were responsible for the sinking of the South Korean corvette, the Choenan. They torpedoes it. They are true A-Holes....them North Koreans!

S. Korea takes ship sinking case to UN
The South Korean government, which accuses North Korea of sinking one of its warships, said Sunday it's taking its case against Pyongyang to the United Nations Security Council.

A senior government official in Seoul suggested the South will likely push for international agreement for the existing sanctions against the North to be strengthened. There are reports unilateral measures will also be announced.

"We are focusing on diplomatic means of punishment as we found out that existing sanctions and resolutions are not enough," the official told South Korea's Yonhap News Agency. "It is time to decide whether we go over to another step."

An international team of investigators announced last week that the evidence pointed to a North Korean submarine having fired a homing torpedo on March 26, tearing apart the 1,200-tonne Cheonan and killing 46 sailors on board.
Read More at CBC.CA

A lot of stuff about Japan

it is another rainy and cold day here in the Kansai. I am still on vacation, but as it draws to a close I find myself doing work at home. I just finished typing some reports and will soon head out and buy some new supplies for my new classroom. I have changed schools this year and will have a new role. I am quite excited to mix things up and work with new students and people.



I have sumo hands! these are two souvenirs i picked up while at the sumo tournament on the weekend in Osaka. The one on the left is Baruto's hand (he is an up and coming Estonian wrestler) and the one on the right belongs to Hakuho. Hakuho is the curent Grand Champion or Yokozuna. the hand prints were about three dollars each.

Random stuff I wanted to post:

Looks like South Korea and Japan are at it again....disagreeing with each other.
Japan, S Korean scholars again differ over history

it just isn't my home country of Canada that is having a doctor shortage. Japan is facing the same problem. I remember while living in Ottawa, seeing OC Transpo buses covered in advertisements about the medical professional shortage we were suffering from. Looks like that here in Japan, the government will make things easier for foreign doctors to practice here.


if you are in Tokyo this upcoming weekend you might want to take in the Tokyo You Tube Hanami party. You don't have to be a You Tube person to take part. It will be held in Yoyogi park on March 27th. Hanami means "cherry blossom viewing." Basically it is a great chance to drink under the blossoming cherry trees. For a lot more info, check out the Tokyo Cooney vid with all the details:

Sumo Time in Osaka

On Sunday I went to the Osaka Sumo Tournament. It was my first time seeing live sumo wrestling and I seriously plan to do it again next year. It was simply that fun. The crowd was energetic and since I know a little about sumo and am familiar with many of the top division wrestlers, had a lot of fun watching.

It was a little pricey at 5,400 yen for the second cheapest tickets, but even in the "nosebleed" section, I still was able to see everything easily.

If you are ever visiting Japan during one of the six annual sumo tournaments, I would completely suggest taking one in.


This is the video I made about my sumo experience in Osaka.




You can see the Estonian wrestler, Baruto. he is rising through the ranks and having a great tournament. Many people are hoping he will soon be promoted.


Here is the Grad Champion (Yokozuna) Hakuho. He is a Mongolian fighter.


Here is the Grad Champion (Yokozuna) Hakuho. He is a Mongolian fighter. This is him performing a ritual before the top division fighters began to wrestle.


These are the top division fighter. BIG boys!

I'm Going to Sumo!

I am excited! Why am I so excited? I'm so excited because I'm going to see live sumo wrestling for the first time. It is March which means that the annual Osaka Sumo Tournament is going on. In fact, it started today.

Next Sunday I will go and check it out for myself. It will be made even more cool due to the fact that an old friend from my days in Korea will be joining me. a great guy I knew from my days in Ilsan, South Korea (circa 2002) now lives in Japan and will spend the weekend at my place. He is a pretty big sumo fan.


Kevin....the proud owner of some sumo tickets!

I am really excited to see Hakuho (my favorite sumo wrestler and now the only Yokozuna).

Japanese town in 'The Cove' setting dolphins free

Japanese town in 'The Cove' setting dolphins free
Updated Thu. Sep. 10 2009 6:44 AM ET

The Associated Press

TOKYO -- The Japanese town chronicled in the award-winning film "The Cove" for its annual dolphin hunt that turns coastal waters red with blood has suspended killing the animals -- at least for this week's catch -- following an international outcry.

The western Japanese town of Taiji will sell some of the animals to aquariums as it does every year, but the remainder of the 100 bottlenose dolphins that were caught early Wednesday in the first catch of the season are to be released. In the past, they were killed and sold for meat.

An official at the Taiji fisheries association, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the town abhors the publicity its dolphin-killing has drawn, said Thursday that the decision was made partly in response to the international outcry created by "The Cove." Read More...


If you don't know about the movie, "The Cove", check out the trailer. It's pretty damn powerful!

The Cove


The town of Taiji is located in Wakayama Prefecture which isn't really too far from my neck of the woods.That's the prefecture next to Osaka Prefecture.


Big Chair for a Big Guy

Sumo wrestler Yamamotoyama, who weighs 258 kilograms, and a young fan show off a seat specially created by McDonald’s Japan for sumo wrestlers in its Asakusabashi restaurant. The 25-year-old wrestler said he prefers McDonald’s to the traditional vegetable and meat ‘‘chanko’’ soup for sumo wrestlers. Japan Today



Check out my two latest vids on You Tube:



And I saw some nasty rats in the middle of the day close to my house!

Being Sick Sucks

Wednesday night after my Japanese class I was suddenly struck by some sort of stomach virus. After a very rocky night I had to experience a Japanese hospital for the first time yesterday morning. I'm on a lot of meds and not feeling very good at all. I'm missing another day of work and looks as if my long weekend plans are scrapped.

Hopefully I'll be able to get out on Monday and get some film footage of Seijin shiki 成人式 "Coming of Age" day in Japan. That's the reason for the long weekend. On that day 20 year olds around the country celebrate their passage into adulthood.

I came across this video today and thought it was pretty damn funny. I'll never have the lack of shame to be able to do this. Also, if I ever attempted anything like this, my wife would probably kill me!!

Dave Eastgate vs Scott Gregory - GAIJIN STREET SUMO

This was filmed in Dotonbori, in Osaka. See the original here.