[sumo] News and Mr. Buckton's most recent JT column

[Scott Kahn]

I second your sentiments on both.

I was once again disappointed to read Mark Buckton's most recent 
unabashed hazing of Asashoryu in his Japan Times basho preview.  Mr. 
Buckton is not objective, he does not speak for the sumo fan.  His 
remarks are worthy of a tabloid journal, and he leaves the impression 
that he is either too close to Asashoryu detractors or has been 
personally shunned by Asashoryu and his camp. 

Perhaps we have different circles of Japanese friends, but those who I 
know have no problem with Asashoryu's return in January.  Should the 
intervening bashos be flush with mediocrity, and should Asashoryu return 
with his usual performance on the dohyo, I believe that his reputation 
will be fine.  I personally think that Mr. Buckton has immersed himself 
too deeply on the side of vengence by offering the irresponsible 
suggestion that the Kyokai could use this situation as a xenophobic 
excuse to exclude deserving gaigin rikishi from the top ranks.  And, 
that that decision would be Asashoryu's fault, not the Kyokai's.  No, 
vengence is what the press used to fuel this situation in the first 
place.  It is apparent to me that the Kyokai has been working behind the 
scenes with Asashoryu to rectify the situation out of the limelight of 
the tabloid press, with which Mr. Buckton appears to be aligning himself. 

In Mongolia, Asashoryu will work himself back into proper physical 
condition, and then he will arrive in Japan to a media onslaught, the 
likes of which haven't been seen for a long time.  He will offer his 
sincere apology at that time, and the Kyokai will fully accept.  If it 
is a choreographed display of deep bows and tears that are required from 
Asashoryu in a Japanese manner as the public face of remorse, I wouldn't 
hold my breath for that kind of acting to come from Asashoryu.  From 
Takasago Oyakata, perhaps.  Asashoryu's perception in Japan will come 
from his performance on the dohyo when he returns, not from a need for 
vengence from within Japan, as Mr. Buckton's appears to espouse.  If Mr. 
Buckton is correct in his thinking that the overriding force is 
vengence, then wouldn't Asashoryu's suspension be a direct result of 
foreign rikishi having recently behaved badly???  Again, given Mr. 
Buckton's position and the wealth of information that is available, 
including reports that sumo has gone on fine without Asashoryu, I think 
that Mr. Buckton can do much better than he has on this issue.

On with the basho...

Sukubidubidu

John Racine wrote:

>>"I'm not going to retire because of this!!", declared Asashouryuu
>>    
>>
>yesterday. Although he was offered close to 25 million dollars by a
>certain Martial Arts group, he has no intention of going that way.
>
>This is the best news I've heard since Torideyama got home safely.
>
>John
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