Sunday 22 January 2017

Day 21, 21 Jan 2017: Knocked out by the nocturnal...

Day 21: ...almost

It was a long day into the night; or a hard day's night, or some such. If I was going to pay due attention to the incoming 'leader of the free world', it was a case of being awake at about 2am, Saturday early morning. I also had a 3am date with my New York reading group, via the internet, reading Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism. There is a link there...

I opted to make my main focus the reading group, the other we could catch up with later. 

It meant that my best-laid plans to get out today (for tomorrow I have a full day at work; more of that anon), were kind of depleted by about midday. 

So today, dear reader, I have been a bit slack, but in the interests of introducing a little bit of Japanese sports/culture, I have a few pics of the second last day of the sumo tournament. 

Now I wasn't there, exactly, I was in front of the TV, taking photos off the screen (NHK, the national broadcaster). It is sort of borderline in terms of this project, I guess...

First moves

A grapple

A throw and a win

Strength

Kisenosato, on the verge of his win

First moves

Grapple

The advantage of TV, the overhead view

Defeated. Previous champion Hakuho, has lost his chance to win here

An elated crowd

But today was quite significant. Even though the tournament finishes tomorrow, officially, the champion was decided today, a fellow I've followed for a little while, like the rest of Japan, awaiting his first win. Today was it. Tomorrow he is presented with his trophies. 

I have followed the sumo for many years now, from not understanding it at all initially, to appreciating the strength and tactics inherent in the sport. Th politics involved is quite intriguing. 

I must get myself to a tournament again one day, it is quite something to watch. Even when sleep-deprived. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 4.44pm-5.57pm; 21 January 2017]