One of Aunty’s favorite writers is Mark Ford aka Michael Masterson. He used to write financial advice and the mindset for wealth but recently he came out of retirement and writes about common everyday pleasantries and finds.
I do like his movie recommendations – Octopus Teacher, Fargo, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Home for the Holidays and others – as well as his wit and observations.
His latest was about sumo – which he calls “full grown men having a shoving contest in diapers.” He highlighted a Czech born wrestler named Takanoyama Shuntaro – in error since Takanoyama had retired in 2014. However, despite his mistake, the tournament he referred to was in May 2019 with Tochinoshin Tsuyoshi – a Mtskheta, Georgia born sumo wrestler.
It is a fascinating sport. Hawaii has also had many sumo wrestlers, among the best were Takamiyama (Jesse Kulaulua from Maui), Konishiki (Saleva’a Fuauli Atisano’e born in Samoa), and Akebono (Chad Rowan from Waimanalo).
Here is Tochinoshin’s highlight video from last year. The surprise comes at the end:
I remember watching that tournament, my friends and I had just reconnected with sumo after many years of not following the action. The best sumotori are very skilled and quick-thinking/quick-moving, that’s why the sport is so exciting. It’s amazing what a difference a year makes, some folks were not so controversial back in 2019!! That tournament made for a thrilling start for the Reiwa Jidai!
It is such a revered sport in Japan but I don’t get it. It is over so quickly and they don’t smile after they win.
I have a friend who was planning to go to a sumo tournament this year. I sent them this video. Art and I watched the whole thing. Uumm… yup. That was a surprise all right.
Yes, we here in Hawaii know these sumo wrestlers, who are now retired. They are famous.
I haven’t watched that video yet, but what a hunk of a man he is! Thanks for the treat still to be enjoyed, friend. 🙂
I like Tochinoshin.
I know locals who go to Japan just to attend these sumo events. We got to meet Jesse Kuhaulua on one of our tours, when he was kind enough to devote time to our group, one event was a dinner in a hotel where we got to take a group photo with him. He is humble, personable, & friendly, a good representative of Hawaii. I also attended a health seminar here with Konishiki speaking on arthritis, a powerful presenter, has lost considerable weight.
Will check out Mark Ford’s works.
Tutu