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

[Joshua Maciel]

Sumo fans will judge Asashoryuu by more than what he does on the dohyo, just
as they always have. As has been pointed out on this list, Roho was not
popular, then he punched a reporter confirming the reason for his
popularity, then he apologized and took his suspension with grace and is
respected now more than he was.

Asashoryuu, on the other hand, has come across as a giant baby, and he is
held to a higher standard as Yokozuna. You can sit there and pretend that
sumo is all about what happens on the dohyo if you'd like, but you'd be
wrong. Have you really learned nothing from the slew of discussions that
we've had on the issue over the past couple months?

- Josh

On 9/11/07, Scott Kahn <smk1 at columbia.edu> wrote:
>
> 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.
>