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The Citizen, 1996-08-21, Page 20Letter from Toyohashi, Japan Not Just Fat Men in Diapers My first week in Japan I was invited to watch a sumo wrestling tourniment. My first thought was, spend a whole day watching fat men in diapers push, shove and slap each other like a couple of bad-tempered, oversized toddlers? No way! Then I thought, when in Japan ... So I spent an entire day watching sumo and to my surprise, I enjoyed it. Sumo bouts are short. They rarely last more than a few minutes; some last only a few seconds. As a result, the day begins with lowest ranks and ends with the highest ranks. There's no weight classification in sumo. A 170 lb. man (yes, there are thin sumo wrestlers) could end up wrestling a 500 lb. man. I'm not exaggerating these weights. The largest wrestler at the tournament weighed about 700 lbs. To move up in the ranks, you must win. If you start to lose, you move down in the ranks. The rules of sumo are simple. The wrestlers try to push each other out of the dohyo (ring) or unbalance one another so that something other than a wrestler's feet touch the dohyo. The wrestlers push, shove, slap and grab at each other in an attempt to force their opponent out of the dohyo. The favoured hold is to grab the opponent's mawashi (diaper) and use it to overbalance him. Also, if a wrestler's mawashi comes off during a fight, he automatically loses the match — and some dignity. The dohyo is a 4.55 metre diameter ring on a raised platform made of earth. Sand is spread over the ring and carefully levelled. I'm told people can make a career out of knowing how to build and properly prepare a dohyo. Encased in the middle of the dohyo is fruit, meant to be an offering to the ancient Gods. The dohyo is considered sacred; women are not allowed to touch it, lest they befoul it. I must admit, when I heard that I almost ran up to the dohyo and danced on it but I managed to control myself. Each match is presided over by a gyoji (referee) who wears a wizard- like outfit. Like sumo wrestlers, gyoji must move up in the ranks so that only the most experienced may judge the highest levels. A group of four other judges, dressed in black and all former sumo wrestlers, sit around the ring to ensure that the gyoji makes the correct calls. The gyoji wears a dagger that in olden days, he used to commit instant seppuku (suicide) if he made a bad decision. Now he is simply embarrassed. In the higher ranks, the pre-game preliminaries often last longer than the bout itself. The wrestlers do the squat-raise leg-squat-raise leg then hurl salt into the dohyo to purify it. They repeat this process several times before facing each other in the ring. They then try and push each other out of the ring. A wrestler who is much smaller than his opponent may forgo the initial pushing and shoving completely. He may instead dodge his opponent and trip or push him from behind as the opponent charges forcing him out of the ring. These kind of tactics are received well by the crowd who appreciate cunning. If, however, two wrestlers of about the same size face each other and one tries these tactics, the crowd turns on him for being a "coward". It's almost as much fun to watch the crowd as it is the sumo. Basho's (tournaments) begin on the Sunday closest to the 10th of the month and last two weeks. Each wrestler competes once a day. If you visit Japan when no basho is being held you visit a sumo stable to watch training. The UNTO publishes a pamphlet called Traditional Sports which provides all the information you'll need. Enjoy! Carrie Fortune Carrie Fortune is a Belgrave resident, graduate of University of Guelph (Honours BA) and Lakehead (Bach. of Ed). She is teaching English in Toyohashi, Japan. What if ,:etwdealk coul 'donut Speak? Or maybe you couldn't walk. Or your vision was blurred. That's what it's like to live with multiple sclerosis. But with your help, we can connect with a cure. 1-800-268-7582 Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada CA H SAVI ,40" vot? Alku ON '3.00 THURSDAYS Drop into either of our offices any Thursday with your word classified (maximum 20 words) and pay only $3.00 (paid in advance). That's $1.00 off regular rates. C itizen The North Huron New Blyth business venture has some of this, some of that PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1996 By Janice Becker "Blyth is a tourist town and it needs 50 more of these." That is the sentiment of Bruce Papple, owner of the newest shop in the village„Act II. Located where the Mini Mart once was, Act II is not just a gift store, paper supply shop, toy store or party accessory place, -but it is at little of each. Papple says he wanted to bring items to town which had never been here before. To that end, one of Papple's most fun items is the large selection of balloons, from regular coloured balloons to foil balloons in combination arrange- ments. The choice of balloons will suit any occasion as will the gift wraps, ribbons, and cards available as party accessories. The shop is a little of "this and that" he says."Whatever Gwen (Papple) and Ann (Hulzebos) and I think will be wanted by the cus- tomers. If it feels good, we buy it." The numerous gift items will be made into gift baskets, which can be custom ordered. Handmade chocolates from Ottawa and old- fashioned candy sticks, adorned with a tiny character, may tempt those with a sweet tooth. For a warm and cozy toueh, a good line of bath towels will be kept in stock as well as a selection of afghans. A sense of order can be main- tained at home with one of the unique wall clocks or note holders which have a distinct country feel. Having recently made a deal with a toy distributor, Papple has access to a very good line of toys, includ- ing all the major toy companies in Canada. Though just in his second week of business, Papple says there is much more to come for Act II. "If we haven't got it, we can, get it; usually in two or three days." As for the name, Papple says many months were taken to find just the right moniker. Act II was chosen because of its connection to theatrics and it is Papple's second business in Blyth. The shop will be open from 10 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday during the theatre and Christmas holiday season. Ear- lier closings may occur during the off-season. A lot of hot air Balloons of all description will be flying at Act II, the newest shop to open along Blyth's main street. Charlene Hulzebos shows off one in the interesting collection. From high school to business car's have been man's career By Janice Becker From a part-time job for a high school student to private business, Raymond Wilts has made his inter- est in cars a career. Wilts opened Countryside Colli- sion and Customizing, just south of Blyth on Hwy 4, a few months ago and is now being kept very busy with his repair business. Beginning with Harry Otten, Wilts earned his apprenticeship papers in car repair and customiz- ing, continuing to work there after graduation from high school. Working as a farmer and veal producer, Wilts soon felt it would be easier to give the time required to the farm operation if he was self- employed in auto repair. Renting a shed from his father for the business, Wilts renovated the structure and added office space. Much of his business consists of insurance work and painting, but he says he would be very interested in increasing the customizing portion • of the operation. Customizing is for people who want something other than factory like suspension changes or custom body work. Thorough work is Wilts' aim. "Sometimes it is a lot of work, but I would cut out (a problem) instead of covering it up," he says, refer- ring to body work. For an appointment, just drop by or call 523-9726. "If I'm not in the shop, I'm probably in the field." Wilts now lives at the same loca- tion as the business, along with wife, Kendra. Developing a business From an interest in high school, Raymond Wilts has created his own collision repair and auto customizing business.