[sumo] New videos, Princess Aiko

[Barbara]

I started this thread but it got a bit politicized and personal. How did 
that happen?

Anyway, back to the subject of the Emperor and sumo.  If Aiko-sama were 
to someday become Empress, it would not be unprecedented for her to have 
Sumo command performances.  Empress Kogyoku who reigned for a while 
beginning about 642AD arranged sumo matches using her palace guards, for 
the entertainment of foreign dignitaries.  This was well before there 
was such a thing as professional sumo though.

After that, it became commonplace for the Emperor to arrange sumo 
matches.  They were often during festivals.  Like today, perhaps with 
thought of not disturbing the main occupation of the wrestlers, who 
always had other jobs.  The Emperor, in fact, is credited with making 
sumo into a real sport as opposed to merely a poorly defined sort of 
strength contest practiced by two men.  Warlords in imitation of the 
Emperor later began holding their own sumo festivals, and that led to 
sponsorship of favorites, which eventually led to beya.

Before Hirohito became emperor, he used to present trophies himself to 
the winners in the top divisions.  The trophy for the makuuchi division 
became known as the "Emperor's Cup" at that time.  Hirohito watched sumo 
from his deathbed in 1988.  When he died, the sumo matches for the next 
day were postponed in his honor.

When Emperor Meiji was young, he had a habit of getting drunk and then 
challenging his aides to sumo bouts.  The famous samurai Tesshu was a 
new aide and at first refused to participate.  Finally forced to 
respond, he defeated the Emperor quickly and then used the opportunity 
to demonstrate the folly of drunken behavior to the Emperor, who 
subsequently took on Tesshu as one of his most trusted advisors.

A recent Reuters report about the new baby prince has a footnote about 
Princess Aiko: [quote] " The baby's cousin Aiko, who before his birth 
might have become the first empress since the 18th century, on Sunday 
got her first taste of a Japanese tradition when her parents took her to 
see the ancient sport of sumo. Her father said in his birthday news 
conference earlier this year that his daughter is a sumo enthusiast who 
excitedly watches the giant wrestlers on TV and loves to imitate their 
moves. A wide-eyed Aiko held her father's hand as she entered the Tokyo 
Kokugikan, where sumo tournaments are held. Her mother, Crown Princess 
Masako, walked behind them. As the rounds went on, Aiko sat on the edge 
of her seat, sometimes smiling or grimacing at the result. Her parents 
have made efforts to give Aiko a taste of life outside the palace. In 
March, she went to Tokyo Disneyland, and last month she accompanied her 
parents on a visit to the Netherlands. " [end quote]

Barbara Murasakihana

References:
http://www.scgroup.com/sumo/faq/faq2.html
http://www.journeythroughjapan.org/culture/culture_detail.cfm?id_news=47696823&type=1
http://www.att-japan.net/modules/tinyd1/rewrite/tc_25.html
http://www.e-budo.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-32753.html
http://www.zenstoriesofthesamurai.com/Characters/YamaokaTesshu.htm
http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-9-10/45836.html
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEFDB103BF935A1575AC0A96E948260