Hello from Tokyo, Tachiai readers!
Following in the wake of our interview last year with John Gunning, we’re pleased to share that we’ll be speaking with another member of the NHK World sumo coverage team in the coming weeks. None other than play-by-play guru Murray Johnson will be meeting up with us to discuss a number of questions relating to the sport.
As with last year’s John Gunning feature, we’d like to open up the opportunity for Tachiai readers to send in some questions as well. This is another great opportunity to potentially have your questions answered by one of the leading names in sumo coverage and analysis!
Please be advised that we will ask questions as time and the parameters of the conversation permit, but we will endeavor to put as many interesting questions as possible to the esteemed announcer and pundit.
Leave your questions in the comment section below, and we will review them in the coming days before we speak to Murray!
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At the end of nearly every NHK highlights broadcast in the US, we see the same rikishi in the background getting ready to enter the ring, apparently for the bow-twirling ceremony. Who is he, and why is he (apparently) always chosen for that role?
Hee hee, Murray already answered that one! Go on youtube and search for “Sumopedia Bow Twirling Ceremony”. (If I link it directly this comment will go into moderation.)
If it’s any of the recent basho, then it’s Kasugaryu, of course.
He is chosen for the role because he is a Yokozuna’s tsukebito. He serves in that role as the Yokozuna’s proxy. The dance is kind of complementary to the Yokozuna dohyo-iri.
Before Harumafuji retired, the performer was Satonofuji, who was his tsukebito. He replaced – and traded places several times – with Mizuguchi, who was Hakuho’s tsukebito. Mizuguchi retired in 2016.
Currently, the performer is Kasugaryu, who is Hakuho’s tsukebito. In the most recent Jungyo, Shohoryu has been instructed in the dance and performed it several times. Shohoryu is Kakuryu’s tsukebito.
The dance requires agility and dexterity, and some practice, so they don’t replace the performer very often. But there are always at least two rikishi who know how to perform it, just in case one goes kyujo etc.
When the respective yokozuna retires, his tsukebito is released from the yumi-tori duty soon after (though he may still perform on special occasions. Not in honbasho, though).
Following up on Herouth and Coreyanofsky…
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/sumo/sumopedia/20/
Thanks for the explanations and links!
Where does Murry see sumo in general in 5, 10, 15 years? Where does he see Japanese sumo outside of Japan, (tying into questions about how we can get better coverage without Abema and a VPN or nice-but-illegal YouTubers…)?
Why are the mawashi never washed?
Hard to imagine anyone wanting to rewear one, completely unsanitary etc.
This seems the antithesis of Japanese fastidiousness.
With the reconditionning of the Ryōgoku Kokugikan for the olympic, what new improvement/feature you would like to see for the venue ? More seats ? More camera spot for better angle coverage ?
Do you think adding huge screen display above the Tsuriyane raised roof like the ones with see in modern stadium (like in Yokohama) would be a good thing for the spectator’s viewing experience (and for the broadcasting in the venue) or it would be too distracting to them and the Rikishi themselves ?
Do you think it would be a good idea to add removable gymnastics mats/tatami mats around the dohyō on the floor during honbasho which would help cushion the fall of rikishi outside the ring and perhaps soften the risk of injury ?
I ask not what Murray Johnson and the world of Sumo can do for the fans and me, but what we can do for Sumo and Murray.
With NHK World’s coverage in English being available all over the world, does Murray think we are going to see any more top level rikishi from English speaking countries any time soon? And what about about the prospects of any emerging from Australia given that there seems to be an upsurge of interest in sumo among Australians? Simon, Canada.
Are there any college or even high school wrestlers who are gathering a reputation? Is there much of a chance of more Juryo coverage? It seems to me that only the top division is considered as important to broadcasters, is this stance reflected in the attitude of the country as a whole?
Hi Murray! What do you think needs to happen for Takayasu to finally achieve his first yusho. He has gotten achingly close too many times for it to be simple luck. Many of us are desperate to see it happen, but what is the rate limiting factor so to speak?
Thanks
Tom
When a rikishi passes away before retiring, do they cut their chonmage before the funeral?
Hi Mr Johnson!
Do you think the restrictions regarding women will lighten up in the Reiwa era? There seemed to be a mild uproar with the last embarrassing incident (the women providing emergency care on the dohyo), but as in the past, it seems to have been forgotten quickly.
The question I’d like to ask is this: what is the single biggest reform/change you think needs to be made to ensure a solid future for the sport of sumo?
Is there any chance the highlights could be expanded to one hour?
I’d double-down on this and wonder if there’s any chance we could see lower-ranked bouts live. It’s prime-time TV, or just after prime-time in the US. I think it would be great to see that live via NHK-World.
Rikishi health is a continuing issue (as it is in any sport (looking at Otani), and seeing Kisenosato (and now Hakuho) opt for “natural” healing rather than surgery, is there anything sumo can do to improve the situation so we don’t have a continual string of obviously injured wrestlers mount the dohyo each day, like Ikioi, only to go 2-13, or come back after a few days rest to enjoy a long losing streak (Yutakayama, Aoiyama)?
Alright, here’s my question, mate: Will the Sumo-powers-that-be ever allowed ALL sumotori (just those in the six professional divisions) to be PAID!
I know these young men who are entering that strict life have to earn their way up the ranks to Sekitori status — but maybe, many MORE young, Japanese males would be recruited to such a wonderful, but intensely harsh and Mano-a-mano sport.
Isn’t it about time to join the modern sports world — or will tradition ALWAYS get in the way? Will the bottom-rung athletes finally get a salary?
YDC repeated criticism of Hakuho for a hand clapping ceremony seems quite petty — at least from this side of the pond! Is the YDC fishing for excuses to deny Hakuho a kabu when he retires?
I think you are mixing two distinct bodies here. There is the YDC – the Yokozuna Deliberation Council – and the NSK/JSA (Nihon Sumo Kyokai – Japan Sumo Association). The YDC is an independent advisory body to the NSK, whose roles are (a) approving new Yokozuna, and (b) making recommendations about existing Yokozuna. It has no executive powers of its own but the established system is that if they recommend something, the NSK has to follow their recommendation.
The YDC has absolutely no connection to kabu and can neither grant nor refuse it.
The YDC critcized Hakuho once for that hand-clap, in its regular post-basho meeting.
The NSK, following through on that criticism, assigned the issue to the compliance committee. The compliance committee summoned Hakuho and his stablemaster three times for questioning.
The compliance committee made its recommendations to the NSK board. The NSK board decided that Hakuho will be reprimanded, and his stablemaster will have his salary docked.
Also bear in mind that even within the NSK there are varying opinions and conflicted interests. It doesn’t actually have a common will. Its decisions are a result of negotiation and compromise between various factions.
YDC -> NSK Thanks, Herouth. I must be wondering whether factions in the NSK will oppose Hakuho’s kabu. I am wondering whether he will get the kabu he needs.
Well, IMO, unless he really gets dismissed in shame or something, it shouldn’t really be a problem. Even if he is not granted an Ichidai kabu (using the name Hakuho as his elder name), he can use it for five years before he has to get a real kabu. By that time, Miyagino oyakata is supposed to retire, so I believe he can get that kabu at the very least.
“Also bear in mind that even within the NSK there are varying opinions and conflicted interests. It doesn’t actually have a common will. Its decisions are a result of negotiation and compromise between various factions.”
This is such an important point that I think really goes missing many times among sumo fans/viewers/enthusiasts.
There are so many differing personalities and viewpoints within that group, and many things come down to who has influence and can build support.