As You Like It (2006)

As You Like It is a 2006 film adaptation of the Shakespeare play. This is directed by Kenneth Branagh, who moves the action to Japan. There's even a sumo wrestler, which I quite enjoyed. Kevin Kline won a SAG Award for his performance. Overall, though, I'm not a fan of this adaptation. I watched it on HBO Max.

Professional reviewers were generally unkind.

Diamond Solitaire

Diamond Solitaire by Peter Lovesey is the 2nd book in the Peter Diamond mystery novel series. This was a fun read, and I'll gladly pick up another when I come across one. Lovesey stole my heart by including a high-ranked sumo wrestler as one of the plot elements.

from the dust jacket:

No one saw the small Japanese child hiding in the furniture department at Harrods. She was abandoned and unable to speak, yet she caused a major alert. Spotting any intruder after the store closed had been ex-CID man Peter Diamond's job. Had been.
The oversight had gotten the overweight Diamond sacked ... again.

Working as a security guard is, at any rate, far below the superior talents of an experienced homicide detective. Unable to forget the frightened eyes of this strangely silent little girl, Diamond takes on a challenge befitting his skills -uncovering her identity. And when Japan's top sumo wrestler takes an interest in the case Diamond is back in the sleuthing business, bolstered by the wrestler's international influence and his heavy wallet.

But Diamond soon discovers he has to throw his considerable weight around when the trail leads to New York and Tokyo, to "smart" drugs and suicide ... to the mafia and murder. With the girl's life in the balance, he needs to tip the scales any way he can, even if it means playing the heavy in a shocking climax that may shatter Diamond's heart -or cost him his life.

Kirkus Reviews concludes a positive review with this: "Polish up the Gold Dagger; Lovesey's angling for another." The Independent has a positive review. Publishers Weekly closes by saying, "Lovesey's mysteries have won awards in England and France; he has previously been nominated for an Edgar, as he could be again for this fine tale. Author tour."

Summer Sumo Tournament

I am a faithful watcher of the major Japanese sumo tournaments. These are held every other month in Japan and are not shown on any of the TV channels available in the USA no matter what your source of television broadcasts. Today the first coverage I'm seeing is at Teninshin's Youtube channel, but there's only Japanese commentary.

Right now, the only sources I know of that provide English-language coverage:

1) Jason, who is an American teaching in Japan. He posts videos on his Youtube channel of select matches and includes his own commentary. I enjoy his take on things. Here's video of a couple of today's bouts:

Here's Hakuho's 1st day bout:

Hakuho is the best sumo wrestler who has ever lived.

2) Kintamayama has been posting the daily digest video but may not continue that now that NHK is planning to provide English-language coverage on Youtube. He does have a video for Day 1:

I love his commentary and the humor he includes.

3) NHK World's "On Demand" Youtube channel has begun offering a daily digest of the upper division matches which includes English-language commentary. Theirs was still not posted as of 8:00 PM CDT. Here's their video explaining the rankings in sumo:

Osunaarashi, the Great Sandstorm

I've been interested in Sumo since I saw my first picture of sumo wrestlers when I was a child. It was one of those old Japanese paintings, and I was fascinated.

I live in West Tennessee, and news about Sumo isn't exactly in the local headlines. I picked up tidbits and information as I could, but it couldn't help but be a back-burner interest. When years later I discovered news readers, information on current Sumo events became a bit easier to come by.

My breakthrough was the discovery of the Jason's in Japan Youtube Sumo channel. Suddenly I could get emails informing me of his video coverage of the tournaments. I was a happy camper, and I learned a lot more about the sport and the current wrestlers. I discovered other Youtube channels and news sources. My next idea was to find wrestlers with Facebook pages and follow them. I searched, but -although there are some wrestlers who are on Facebook as individuals- I found only one who has a page you can follow.

Because Osunaarashi is easier to get to know because of his Facebook page, he is now my favorite wrestler.

He seems to be popular. There is a short 24-minute documentary on Oosunaarashi that you can watch at this link, which explores his journey from Egypt to becoming the first African and the first Muslim to rise so high in Sumo ranks. Here's another short documentary chronicling his work:

The next tournament (there are 6 major tournaments each year, held in odd-numbered months) begins on March 8. Check out Jason's Youtube channel for full videos and commentary of selected bouts or watch Kintamayama's overview of the entire tournament. I do both.

And if it's in your mind to ask why I like Sumo, don't. After all, I don't ask why you like baseball or football or tennis, do I?

And Hakuho Wins Again!

Hakuho has won the Summer Sumo tournament. The Japan News says, "Hakuho is now two behind Chiyonofuji and three shy of Taiho for the all-time lead in tournament victories." Asia and Japan Watch quotes the champion: ""I'm thrilled to win my 29th title at the age of 29," Hakuho said. "It's hard to find the words to describe it other than I did my best."" Mainichi says, "Hakuho once again proved why he is still the master of the raised ring."

Jason's in Japan has coverage of the tournament, including this video of the winning match:

The photo at the top of the page comes from Wikipedia.

Hakuho Wins in Playoff

Here's the final bout:

Asia and Japan Watch opens their report with this:

Yokozuna Hakuho won his 28th career title on Jan. 26 after Mongolian compatriot Kakuryu forced a tie-breaker in an exciting finish to the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

The Japan Times says,

Hakuho suffered his first setback with a defeat at the hands of ozeki Kakuryu in the final bout of regulation, but bounced back to claim the Emperor’s Cup with an impregnable display in the playoff, moving him within four titles of matching legendary yokozuna Taiho’s all-time record of 32 championships.

Sometimes the winner is known early, but this tournament wasn't decided until the final match on the final day.

Hakuho Wins Again!

Hakuho has won another one! Asia & Japan Watch opens an early report with this: "With blood trickling down his face, yokozuna Hakuho defeated ozeki Kisenosato on Sept. 28 to win his fourth straight Emperor’s Cup at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament" and updates the story with this: "Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho put the finishing touches on his fourth straight Emperor's Cup in style with a convincing win over compatriot Harumafuji on Sept. 29, the final day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament." Japan Times says, "The Mongolian won his fourth consecutive championship, moving him within four of yokozuna great Chiyonofuji’s hallowed mark of 31 career titles. Hakuho is alone in third place on the all-time list behind Chiyonofuji and Taiho at 32."

the final:

The photo at the top of the post is from Wikipedia.

Sumo Books

The Husband asked me some questions about Sumo recently, and I couldn't answer them. I'm not versed on the finer points, or -to be honest- even knowledgeable about all the basics. Soon afterwards, he gave me 2 books on the subject. Isn't he a Good Husband!

One of them is The Big Book of Sumo: History, Practice, Ritual, Fight, by Mina Hall. It's an oversized paperback and combines text, drawings, diagrams and photos. You can view parts of it at Amazon.com, where reviews are positive. Here are a couple of examples of the drawings:

from the back of the book:

In a dirt ring, two giant men perform the age-old ritual, stomping and clapping to alert the gods. Then, in a great burst of energy, they charge forward and grapple each other to determine who will be champion... The Big Book of Sumo is an illustrated guide to Japan's ancient ritual sport that today is winning new fans around the world. Super sumo fan Mina Hall covers all aspects of sumo, including history, traditions, training, stable life, rankings, fighting strategies, and judging. She goes inside the "stables" to show the rigorous, disciplined life of a sumo wrestler. She also gives advice on how you can visit a stable yourself and where to eat and stay near the main sumo arena in Tokyo. Of special interest are a collection of belly-busting "sumo stew" recipes and a revealing look at the Hawaiian power-houses who have helped make sumo a truly international sport. Whimisical line drawings make The Big Book of Sumo the most user friendly sumo guide book available -fun to browse through and filled with amazing facts about the giant wrestlers of Japan.

It's a wonderful guide to understanding all aspects of the sport.

The other book he gave me is The Joy of Sumo: A Fan's Notes, by David Benjamin:

This book has more text, fewer and less helpful illustrations, more details about certain things but less general information... In the introduction the author says, "Herein, then, is freedom from expert opinion! I will guide the casual but astute fan through the stages of sumophilia."

from the back of the book:

Just what is sumo? Is it a sport, a religion, an aesthetic feast, living traditional culture, or a battle of titans? The simple answer is Yes! For the first time ever, David Benjamin's The Joy of Sumo strips away the veneer of culture and looks at Japan's national sport through the eyes of a true aficionado. Learn what makes a sumo exciting. Read what makes individual wrestlers tick. Understand why there are no weight divisions. Find out how to remember names. Memorize tactics. But most of all grasp why such a plethora of descriptions of the sport can all be true. Sumo, like any sport, has its heroes, horrors, and hilarity, and The Joy of Sumo has something for everyone. Guaranteed to provide invaluable information for everyone form the novice fan to the expert, The Joy of Sumo also is the first book to do it with the same humor normally associated more with football, basketball, or baseball. In fact, after he's read this book, the sportslover's world will never be quite the same-just broader and more fun!

You have to be willing to actually read this one to get anything out of it, which makes it much less useful to me if -for example- I just want to know what just happened in a bout. It's more filled with anecdotes about past wrestlers and answers fewer Why? and What happened? questions.

Together they make a wonderful resource as I try to learn more.

Hakuho Does It Again!

Hakuho has won the Sumo tournament and now has a 30 game winning streak! He's undefeated in the last 2 events.

Wikipedia has an overview, including this:

Making his debut in March 2001, he reached the top makuuchi division in May 2004. On 30 May, 2007 at the age of 22 he became the second native of Mongolia, and the fourth non-Japanese overall, to be promoted to the highest rank in sumo, yokozuna. He has won twenty-four yūshō or tournament championships to date. In 2009, he broke the record for the most wins in a calendar year, winning 86 out of 90 bouts, and repeated with the same record again in 2010 when he established the second longest winning streak in sumo history.

Hakuho's name appears on many of the record-holder lists.

Asia and Japan Watch opens its report with this:

Yokozuna Hakuho drove out Mongolian compatriot Harumafuji on the closing day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on May 26 to capture his 25th Emperor's Cup and complete the 15-day competition with his second-consecutive perfect record.

Here's the final match, compliments of the Jasons In Japan Youtube channel:

The picture at the top of the post is from Wikipedia.

Hakuho Wins Sumo Tournament

Hakuho did it again, winning with no losses in the tournament.

Asia & Japan Watch opens their report with this:

Yokozuna Hakuho established a new gold standard at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament by sending rival Harumafuji to the dirt to win his final match on March 24 and mark an unprecedented ninth perfect 15-0 finish.

The Japan Times reports:

Hakuho had shared the career record for titles with a perfect mark with Futabayama and the late Taiho. But the Mongolian overtook the legends with a clinical uwatenage win in the day’s final bout against countryman Harumafuji

Futabayama died in 1968, and Taiho died this past January.

This is the winning bout:



The photo at the top of the post is from Wikipedia.

Harumafuji Wins Sumo Tournament

Harumafuji has won the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament with a perfect 15-0 record. Asia and Japan Watch opens their report by saying,

Mongolian yokozuna Harumafuji dominated nemesis Hakuho on Jan. 27 to finish the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament with a perfect 15-0 record, his first at the sport's highest rank.

Japan Today explains why he had a lot to prove after disappointing losses at his debut at this rank. The Japan Times quotes him:

“I am really happy,” said Harumafuji. “This is my first title as grand champion. I fought each day and made sure I had no regrets.”

Here's video of the final match with commentary by JasonsInJapan, who has a Youtube channel devoted to coverage of these tournaments:



The picture at the top of the page is from Wikipedia.

Hakuho Wins Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament

Asia and Japan Watch reports:

Hakuho closed out the year with a big win over new rival Harumafuji at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Nov. 25 that wraps up his 23rd Emperor's Cup title.

The Japan Times quotes the winning wrestler:

"These days I have been introducing myself as 'Hakuho, the guy that hasn't won the championship for a while.' Now I can say 'Hakuho, the guy that just won the title,' " said a grinning Hakuho.

Here's the final bout, brought to you with clear explanations and commentary by the JasonsInJapan youtube channel:



The photo at the top of the page is from Hakuho's Wikipedia entry.

Harumafuji Wins Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament

Harumafuji has won the Autumn tournament 15-0, winning his final bout against Hakuho. The Asashi Shinbun Asia & Japan Watch opens their article with this:

In the best final-day showdown in years, Mongolia's Harumafuji outlasted arch-rival Hakuho to win his second straight tournament with a perfect 15-0 record and assure himself of promotion to sumo's highest rank--ending Hakuho's two-and-a-half year run as the sport's only yokozuna.

The Japan Times quotes the victor:

"Today I squeezed out every drop of strength I have and I am glad I could respond to the expectations people had in me," Harumafuji said. "I want to continue and wrestle in a way that moves peoples and provides them with courage and hope."

You can watch videos of the tournament via this JasonsInJapan Youtube channel, including this clear and understandable coverage of the final bout by a huge fan of the winner:

 

 The photo at the top of the post is from Wikipedia.

Harumafuji Wins Sumo Tournament

The Washington Post reports: "Mongolian Ozeki Harumafuji beat compatriot Hakuho on Sunday to win the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament and capture his third Emperor’s Cup."

The Asahi Shimbun Asia & Japan Watch opens their story with this:

Ozeki Harumafuji won the first final-day showdown between an unbeaten ozeki and yokozuna--and the first duel of unbeaten wrestlers on the final day in 29 years--by pushing Mongolian compatriot Hakuho out of the ring at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on July 22.

The Mainichi says,

Ozeki Harumafuji was leagues above yokozuna rival Hakuho on Sunday, winning the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament and his third career Emperor's Cup, while denying the grand champion his 23rd career title. The Mongolian ozeki, whose last win came here last year, won with a perfect 15-0 record in a tournament for the first time.

This video has excellent explanatory commentary in English:



The photo at the top of the post is from Wikipedia.

Oldest Sumo Wrestler to Win First Title

The Bangkock Post reports: "Mongolian-born Kyokutenho on Sunday became the oldest wrestler in modern times to win his first career sumo title, beating the previous record set in 1929." The Daily Yomiuri adds, "The championship makes him the fourth Mongolia-born wrestler and the 10th foreign-born wrestler to win." From Japan Today:

Unheralded veteran Kyokutenho of Mongolia won the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, capturing his first Emperor’s Cup with a win over Tochiozan in a championship playoff.

the playoff:


The picture at the top of the post is from Wikipedia.

Congratulations, Hakuho!

The Mainichi Daily News says this is "his 22nd career title, tying him with former yokozuna Takanohana for fifth on the all-time list." The Japan Times reports "Hakuho pulled off an improbable comeback in Houdini-esque fashion, rallying from behind...". Wikipedia says,

This marked the first time a wrestler had come from one win behind to claim the yusho on the final day since Asashoryu defeated Hokutoriki in a playoff in May 2004.

Here's the play-off from this tournament:


Hakuho is a Mongolian wrestler.

Inside Sumo

National Geographic Explorer has an episode on Sumo:



This is from season 3.

Hakuho Wins

Hakuho has won yet again.

Taiwan News reports:

Mongolian Hakuho has defeated compatriot Harumafuji to win his 13th Emperor's Cup at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

The Japan Times reports:

Hakuho was widely expected to win the championship here in the absence of former yokozuna Asashoryu, who recently retired amid claims he assaulted a man during a alcohol-fueled rampage in Tokyo in January.

The Jakarta Globe also has a report.

hpeterswald has posted videos, including this one from the final day:


The photo at the top of the post is from Wikipedia.

Super Bowl 44

I had family members on both sides of this game, so I'll just say The Who were boring (Chicago Sun Times: "the saddest, most tired musical spectacle yet: the band that pretends to be the Who"), and this is my favorite commercial of the night:



Sumo! Yes!

Asashoryu Retires

The Daily Times opens with this statement: "TOKYO: Controversial sumo grand champion Asashoryu announced his retirement on Thursday following a drunken attack on a man outside a Tokyo nightclub." The Examiner reports:

Yokozuna Asashoryu, one of the greatest Sumo grand champions in the history of the sport, announced his retirement in the afternoon of February 4th (JST) to the shock of many, including his peers.

The Japan Times says, "It is regrettable that despite his glittering record, he did not learn that a yokozuna should not only be powerful in the ring but also behave in a respectable way." The Mainichi Daily News notes that

The grappler's move was triggered by an incident during the January Grand Sumo Tournament, in which he allegedly assaulted a waiter -- an unforgivable act for a yokozuna.

Asia One points out that "Asashoryu does not have Japanese citizenship, which is a prerequisite to stay in sumo postretirement." The Independent headline reads: "Star of Sumo quits in tears after brawl in Tokyo club, Drunken rampage forces champion wrestler from Mongolia to bow out" Business Week has an article.

hpeterswald has posted a video:


Wikipedia has an overview of his life and career.