[sumo] Old, but still valid dissertation on Sumo

[Barbara Ann Klein]

In this lull between basho, I have found very interesting reading in this
1997 study entitled "Legal Rules and Social Norms in Japan's Secret World of
Sumo", in which the author, Mark D. West, seeks to show "how the presented
social structure and set of rules is closely related to the behavior of a
company. In this sense, the norms assure economical control in the
organization, best allocation of resources and reduction on transaction
costs- or avoidance of tasks that would require big effort for resolution,
as the eligibility of elders and directors in the
association".Notwithstanding the date of the paper, it makes for excellent
FREE  reading with sections on "the life of a sumo wrestler", "the sumo
association", "the Elder share regime",  "choice between rules and norms"
(including sections called "Kirishima's Lament" and "the fall of Wajima")
and the introduction of foreigners into the world of sumo. While some of the
info may be a bit obsolete, much of it continues to apply.
 
The document is 38 pages long and there are numerous footnotes with
references to materials that may be found on the web. The author thanks
Mark Schilling, Lynn Matsuoka and our own Masumi Abe, among others.
 
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/JLS/journal/issues/v26n1/JLSv26p165/JLSv26p
165.web.pdf
 
Enjoy, and Happy Holidays to all.
 
BRTK