Sumo association gets no new applicants

They should follow the example of baseball, and offer more money...plus medical advice at the end of a career on how to return to a normal physique and life style.

Of course greater transparency on the part of the old boy sumo association, fewer links to organised crime, and a complete disclosure on the alleged match fixing would help restores its reputation and allure.

 

"fewer links to organised crime"

Really, what are some people here talking about?? You seem to see Yakuza EVERYWHERE!! Do you think it makes your posts somewhat more credible? I can assure you that it does not.

 

Without the steriods -- how boring. We need to see some "roid rage" on the dohyou.

Furthermore, to quote a line from the movie "Animal House" -- "fat and dumb is no way to go through life" so why make a spectacle of yourself in front of thousands of people -- and for a puny salary to boot! No wonder there were no applicants...

 

Perhaps they will need to reconsider clauses of the constitution that allow teachers to beat new recruits with sticks and planks, and force them to wipe the asses of their sempais.

Glad to see however that the ban on new foreign wrestlers is doing so much to drum up enthusiasm for recruitment. The Sumo association clearly has its finger on the pulse of the nation.

Peace

 

I'd always written it off as a weird looking sport.. but having "done the touristy thing" and gone to watch it i've gotten really into it. It involves a lot more skill than i'd expected, and was much more tactical and exciting than i ever thought possible.

I did notice that a very large percentage of the audience was non-japanese though.. so it seems that i't popularity isn't so much with the locals these days.

I'd say its much more exciting than pro wrestling (and thats from a wrestling fan).. but they do seem to expect a heck of a lot of commitment for very little return...

 

A mention of organised crime is hardly seeing yakuza everywhere, nor is it used to establish credibility. It was only one of three factors mentioned.

A brief search on articles in the Japanese Press will reveal a number of articles on the links, you can search for them if you like.