Monday, July 10, 2006

Its Sumo Time Again in Nagoya


sumo2
Originally uploaded by pookie_san99.
Yup the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament rolls or waddles into Nagoya.It started yesterday Sunday at the Aichi Prefectural Gym in the grounds of Nagoya Castle.For two weeks.From 9a.m to around 6pm each day.
I plan to go to this Friday.I'll have to queue for a general admission seat at 2,800 yen as all the other reserved seats have been booked out.I plan to get there round 8a.m as there are only a limited number of these seats on sale.
It may well be the last time I get to see Kaio in Nagoya as the ozeki is now 33 years old and battling both back problems and demotion.I'm also looking forward to seeing Baruto and Hakuho, who is aiming for promotion to yokozuna, but lost his first bout yesterday.
The photo today shows some of my past tickets and sumo programs.
You can get daily reports and information at www.sumo.or.jp/eng/

Tanabata July 7th.
The Tanabata or Star Festival is held on July 7th each year and celebrates the meeting of two lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi once a year.The Milky Way as legend has it is a river made from stars that crosses the sky and separated the two lovers who could only meet once a year.This special day is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.People generally celebrate this day by writing their wishes on small pieces of paper or "tanzaku" and hanging them on bamboo branches.Many areas also have their own local traditions and customs.

World Cup Football Finals 2006
Well what a month of soccer.I started out watching some first round games in New York and watched the final here at 3a.m in Nagoya.
Before the final,there was the mens final from Wimbledon to watch from 10pm to around 1a.m followed by the sumo highlights of the opening day and then the soccer which finished up round 6.30a.m.
Needless to say I was a little sleepy today and lacking energy and sleep.Onward to South Africa in four years time...

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