[VrQsgM7c]

What's the skinny ? Dunno. Sumos pretty hard.

There are v.v.v.few people that bother to turn up for the official weigh-ins that take place x-times a year. Like, 1 or 2 people at times.

Then there was the issue of the 17 (or was it 19?) year old guy that died last year. He attempted to flee the stable a couple of times and got a beating for it... the last one led to his death. When the media started looking into things they found that death amongst youger aspiring rikishi is not quite as uncommon as people imagine. That doesnt help its perception in Japan.

Its probably becoming a gaijin affair because the Sumo Kyokai needs to admit more rikishi.... and if there are no Japanese ones what do they do if they want to survive? Let them in.

Its got to be pretty damn hard to be a non-J in that world. You have to be really strong willed and strong bodied to survive (or stupid). Asashoryu was loved by everyone for the last few years then he was caught playing footy in Mongolia last year when he should have been in a competition over here (he claimed "injury" and sat out the comp). If was a bloody media storm at that point, with people saying "he doesnt/will never understand Japanese culture" and "this wouldnt happen with a Japanese yokuzuna" etc etc .... when its pretty damn obvious that he knows and has experienced more traditional japanese culture and lifestyle than 99.8% of the Japanese population. Poor guy.

As long as he doesnt do a Makebono then hes cool with me.

There hasnt been a Japanese yokuzuna in years..... any j-guy that does well is immedietly hailed as a potential Yokuzuna. Lot of pressure I guess.

-------------
Personally, with all the stories of sake fuelled orgies and big money endorsements, id give Sumo a go if I could. Dont want to shave my chest hair though!!!!