[sumo] When does Aki start?

[jdouglas at nyc.rr.com]

---- Doreen Simmons <jz8d-smmn at asahi-net.or.jp> wrote: 

Amen, Doreen -

I need MANY fewer things as well -
But how can we ever part with our voluminous and incredibly valuable sumo memorabilia?
I could open a Sumo Chatchke (sp. from the Yiddish) museum.  Here in Washington Heights the sumo fan population is probably 1.  That would be me.

My grandchildren occasionally bring friends by to look at my beloved collection of posters, pictures, banzuke, miniatures, fans, figures of various sizes including a wrestler with a clock in his stomach, another one with a fan and an almost life sized rikishi coffee table ready for Tai chi ai with a glass top;  they look in awe and often say "cool"  or "sweet".  Or they say nothing and look at me with a strange glaze in their eyes.

Thanks to my good friend who actually who experiences the sumo world I have a real tegata, and once spent a day with Asashoryu when he  first became  a Yokozuna.

When MTV had that "I want to be a sumo wrestler" show where one of the featured people described himself as "the country's biggest sumo fan",  my 16 year old granddaughter took great exception.  "he doesn't have a picture with Asashoryu she said." Just like this guy's little child,  she has been forced for many years to identify various rikishi who I adore.   When I am re-watching taped sumo broadcasts I call her -   "Molly - quick - watch this !!"  Molly reluctantly but obediently comes to watch a particularly brilliant match.  I then  ask her to identify at least one of the rikishi.  Her stock answer is always "Takanohana"  then "Asashoryu".  She has memorized their names for my sake.   
But in his heart he IS the greatest Sumo fan in the country.

Meanwhile, I believe that all Sumo fans have the capacity for being the greatest sumo fans in their house, neighborhood, city or country.   It is only because of great luck that I had that opportunity.  Meanwhile,  I have not been able to see sumo live.  Other great sumo fans have had that experience.  I've been to Japan,  but just after a basho.

I watched sumo live on Japan TV via cable for almost 3 years not realizing I could have heard the commentary in English.  I had no idea what they were saying for the most part, just the kimarate, the outcome of the matches and whatever I could glean from the Yobidashi's introduction.  Duh.  All I had to do was switch the language choice to Spanish.  

I digress.  Guess I have been lurking for a long while,  need to remove lots of clutter and well, Doreen to me equals Sumo.  She's going through her extra stuff, Aki is  around the corner and I am ready!

While I have many other  favorite rikishi, I am foremost an ardent Asashoryu fan.  I am hoping he is well and will dominate.  

Best to all on the list,

Huzayomama

> Putting off tidying the storage room for another half-hour -- I have 
> belatedly come to the conclusion that I don't need a better storage 
> system -- I need fewer things.
> 
> Doreen Simmons
>   jz8d-smmn at asahi-net.or.jp
> 
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