[sumo] Where will they fight in Osaka

[Sumocypher at aol.com]

The Yomiuri reports that Osaka government will close the  gym where the basho 
take place each year. I wonder what they have in mind  and whether it will be 
in time for next year's Osaka  tournament.
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Nobody puts Asashoryu in a .corner - 0

 
_http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080415TDY02201.htm_ 
(http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080415TDY02201.htm) 
Sumo world puzzled by plan to close Osaka Pref.  gymnasium
The Yomiuri Shimbun 
The Sumo world is puzzled by a financial reform plan championed by a  project 
team of Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto to demolish a gymnasium in the  city that 
hosts spring sumo tournaments.  
Prefectural government officials went to Tokyo on Monday to explain the  
plan, which is aimed at reducing the prefectural government's expenses, to  the 
Japan Sumo Association.  
The Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Naniwa Ward, Osaka, opened in 1952  to 
host sumo tournaments and other sporting events. The current building  was 
constructed in 1987. The gymnasium's floor panels are sturdy enough to  support its 
nearly 30-ton dohyo ring, and its storage rooms are used as  dressing rooms 
for the wrestlers.  
The gymnasium is one of only a few profitable prefectural facilities.  Its 
total revenue in fiscal 2006 was 260 million yen, about 80 million yen  of which 
was related to sumo.  
In reviewing the necessity of all prefectural facilities, the project  team 
suggested that the prefectural government demolish the gymnasium and  sell the 
vacant lot. The team estimates the former site can be sold for  more than 10 
billion yen, as it is located in the Minami entertainment  district.  
However, the plan has drawn opposition from the sumo world because a  new 
venue for the spring sumo tournaments has to be found.  
The Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium, which was built in 1996, is  regarded 
as the most likely venue to host the sumo tournaments.  
Hashimoto plans to announce his decision on whether the prefectural  
government will demolish the prefectural gymnasium by the end of June.  "We're 
bewildered because [the plan] came out suddenly. We'd like to  consider how to 
respond," a spokesman for the association said.  
(Apr. 15, 2008)


 
 



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