[sumo] Jungyou are important

[Jim Bitgood]

Absolutely a major benefit for fans who live away from the 4 
locations of Honbasho.
When I lived in Chitose, I went to the weekend Jungyou in Sapporo in 
'99. Iit better than
going to the Kokugikan (which I was able to do later) since the stars 
were all around and available for autographs and
photographs, and probably just idle chit-chat. Unfortunately, I 
wasn't confident enough with my
Japanese at that time. But the jungyou provide a chance to really see 
and meet the rikishi as well
as watch them perform in person.


 >The idea of the jungyos as "useless exhibitions" could only come from
 >someone who either has a bottomless wallet and no work schedule, and can
 >attend the bashos at will, or who has zero conception of what is involved
 >for many who live and work in Japan and love sumo and watch every basho on
 >TV to actually attend them (e.g. farmers, office workers, the elderly, the
 >disabled, and many folks in the countryside, like my family for example).


         Jim
         "Chitose-Taikai"