Basho Bent (Tournament Sack Lunch ) Masumi and Tomo brought takoyaki and a gazillion bread snacks. I brought onigiri, (rice balls,) maki, (seaweed wrapped rice rolls,) and dried cuttlefish.
Close-up of the ridiculously delicious takoyaki. I'm not telling you what it is. If you don't know, you haven't been reading my captions anyway so tough!
First up is the C listers, or the third tier category. Nobody really watched these guys but instead ate their bentos and sipped sake or beer.
The view from our floor seats, (literally!) That's Masumi in the front. I met her at the yakitori shop we regularly attend. She's the daughter of the head cook and like everybody else in that shop, she's awesome!
This was a hoot. Because this "tournament" wasn't a true tournament, there was a real relaxed vibe to it including these clowns from the C league. As they approached the ring, one of them tripped. We thought it was an accident until they started behaving strangely.
They did all sorts of taboo things like spit water at each other, mess with the official, show emotion, etc. etc. They even started mimicking Pro Wrestling. It was a hoot.
Normally in a Sumo Tournament,as the bouts move from the c listers to the b listers and so on, each wrestler is introduced as they step in to ring and form a circle. They then do a clap-clap, raise their smocks, and put both hands up in the air in unison then exit the stage. These guys, however, took turns singing. It was really weird to see them out of character!
Tomo explaining something to Masumi
Masumi chan with the takoyaki.
My colleague Daily Planner Dave and I pose with our goods
Dave and some sumo wrestlers in the background
Still singing.....yep
Me and the popular of the B league guys. What a ham he was!
And a brief taiko interlude....
Now the main guys come on. They didn't goof around. They did the traditional entrance only there weren't oodles of sponsorship flags around the ring as usual.
That's the Yokozuna or Grand Champion.
And there he is again.
Okay. Does this look like the famous scene at Iwo Jima of the marines and corpsman lifting the American flag or what?!?! I told everybody and they just died laughing....
They're actually demonstrating how difficult it is to tie the "obi" or sash of the sumo wrestler. Yes, they're exaggerating. It's called humor folks. sheesh.
Bring on the talent!
The first time Matt and I saw a sumo tournament the crowd was silent...until this guy did his stomp. He almost goes completely vertical!
Waiting their turn to enter ring.
The guy in the back is Kotooshu. He's Bulgarian and one of the top ranked. Though he's not the most exciting to watch, he's easy on eyes...
Like I said....
This is the square that I paid eighty dollars to painfully sit in for three hours. See that beer can? Try sitting in a foot and a half squared patch of carpet. I dare you. Seriously! Try it!
This guy paid 150 bucks to lie down most of the tournament...
Sorry for the blur but this is what the officials wear in the ring.
The Mayor of Yokosuka would like to thank you for voting with him. No, seriously...for coming out today folks. (and for voting for him!)
Tomo and his sixth piece of bread. This is after four rice balls, two rolls and half a plate of takoyaki. I HATE this guy!
Explaining his tattoo...funny story but you'll have to fly out here to hear it. sorry!
This is Matt's favorite wrestler. We call him Silver Back because he does all this funny stuff to pump himself up like hit his chest and stomp the ground. Crowd loves him too
The Yokosuka Centennial Mascot. Daily Planner Dave says he's a blue turd but I think it's a drop of water. Hello! Mariner town!
This little girl would not stop hugging "it." It was so funny:)
Each sumo wrestler has a flag with sponsor on it
Kotooshu's flag
Haha!
