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Welcome to the Sumo section of Gunga’s Den. Why sumo? There’s several reasons why I enjoy sumo. But first, a little background on how I started watching sumo. I recently retired from the USAF and spent over a third of my career stationed at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan. It was shortly after I arrived for my second tour that I watched my first Basho on TV. I had seen sumo a couple of times during my first tour, but for some reason, this time I was "hooked”. So why watch sumo, when there’s football, baseball, basketball, etc.? Well, a person doesn’t spend 10 years of their life in a country unless they LIKE it - and I do like Japan. When I talk to people about Japan, I quickly summarize my feelings by saying it's the three “S”s: Sumo, Sapporo, and Sushi. But seriously, I think the main reason I enjoy sumo is because of the many parallels between sumo and Japanese society. Sumo is rich in traditions and customs and has been practiced for centuries. I’d go so far as to say that if you understand sumo, then you might just be able to say you understand Japan.
Gunga
If you not already familiar with Sumo, I'll be adding some informative links in the next few weeks. Here's a few to start:
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