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.
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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.