[sumo] Asashoryu's latest 'doings'

[Lon Howard]

On Feb 26, 2008, at 3:16 AM, Sumocypher at aol.com wrote:

> Forgive me for yet another stupid question - why is his being seen in
> civvies while not in Japan, not on an official mission or not  
> during a tourney  such
> a terrible thing? Is he supposed to go swimming with his kimono on? I
> remember pictures of all the rikishi in Hawaii without kimonos on  
> at various  times,
> so what's the big deal?

I'll give a go at this, knowing I'll oversimplify or just get it  
wrong, but for the sake of adding another 2 cents;

I don't think it matters much whether they are in or out of Japan, or  
whether they're 'on duty' or not, but like all things ozumo, many  
times it just depends.  For example, if a yokozuna/ozeki were  
overseas, and was invited by a personal friend for a quiet dinner at  
a nice restaurant, he could probably get away with a suit and tie;  
but if he was attending a dinner party where he would be interacting  
with lots of folks, he'd better be in kimono.  Also, if he were  
golfing or running around the beach, the kimono would look a little  
dumb there.  Airports, shopping malls, etc. are public places though,  
and a yokozuna is a round-the-clock ambassador for the ozumo persona/ 
culture, yada yada - like it or not, that's the deal.

Since he started chirping about the kimono to the photographer while  
in the Hawaii airport, it appears there was no confusion in his own  
mind about how he should have been dressed.  Still, if he'd just  
stared straight ahead or even just waved, there wouldn't have been  
much to talk about.  Hopefully, it'll blow over - probably already  
has...

- Shomishuu