Essay Saving sumo By Scott Hards	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
相撲を救え 相撲が危機的状況にある。 朝青龍の問題のほかにも、その古い体質が若者に嫌われて新弟子が集まらないなど、難問が山積みしているのだ。 そこで筆者は考えた。 相撲は近代化しなければならないと。

Since I first came to Japan in 1980, I've been a fan of sumo. Certainly it took me a while to get used to the notion of fat guys in loin cloths squatting on a dirt mound, but ultimately the sport's simplicity won me over.

In those days, I was a big fan of Chiyonofuji. Although he wasn't particularly big, his speed, power and technique were unparalleled and he dominated the sport. When he lost, it was a major event

After his retirement, we had a string of mediocre champions.While Takanohana wasn't too bad, it wasn't until Asashoryu that a truly dominant yokozuna — somebody who didn't pass out kinboshi like business cards — came back to the fore.

But given the current scandal over his behavior and the two-tournament suspension that resulted, it's uncertain whether he'll ever be able to reclaim his former glory, if he even stays in the sport.

Having its top star seriously tarnished like this is the last thing sumo needs, as there are plenty of other problems: Allegations of bout-fixing continue to appear in the media. Hazing (physical abuse of new wrestlers by older ones) has also emerged as a problem, and is alleged to be linked with the recent sudden death of a young wrestler. Violence in the sport is not particularly surprising, after all, given that stable masters have been whipping wrestlers with bamboo canes during practice for decades. And all of this may be contributing to the fact that the number of young Japanese interested in joining a stable continues to fall, seriously threatening the sport's long-term health.

I think it's clear that sumo needs to modernize if it wants to avoid becoming a little-watched cultural anachronism like noh theater. Since tradition plays such a big role for sumo, that's going to be a hard pill to swallow for most of sumo's elders, no doubt. But it's quite possible to bring the sport into the 21st century without taking away its traditional charms. For example:

(1) Ban all physical abuse. A high school baseball coach would be fired in an instant if he struck a player. Why should sumo be any different? (2) Allow women on the dohyo for awards ceremonies, etc. A tradition based on ignorance and misogyny is not one that's worth continuing. (3) Treat wrestlers like adults. Forbidding wrestlers from driving, "grounding" them when they misbehave (as the sumo federation recently attempted to do with Asashoryu) or other personal restrictions placed on wrestlers only make the sport look less attractive to talented young athletes. (4) Consider drug testing. Whether any current wrestlers are taking steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs is unclear (though it has been alleged), but the health risks of such behavior are clear. Stop it before it becomes a problem.

Nobody's going to propose that wrestlers start wearing pants or squaring off on soft mats. But there are many things that can be done to make the sport more alluring to young talent, and thereby to fans when those boys make the climb to be the next great yokozuna. Let's hope the men in charge have the courage to do what's necessary.

Shukan ST: Sept. 21, 2007

(C) All rights reserved