Up close & personal with sumo giants
CJSTer crashes press conference and more!

Earlier this month I received an E-mail from Parmesh Bhatt, the organizer of the basho, that there would be a press conference with some of the most famous contemporary rikishi (sumo wrestlers). My request to attend the conference was accepted and on June 4 I found myself at the Pan Pacific Hotel, press pass in hand, ready for the conference. My cover of being a being a professional media person was blown even before the conference started! I saw Konishiki in the lobby and raced to get his autograph.

Wakanohana, Akebono, Takanohana and Musashimaru face the press

During the conference I was lucky enough to be sitting in the middle of the front row just across from Akebono, Takanohana, and Wakanohana. I was so proud of myself for wangling my way in there that it became a challenge to sit there without a smirk. Being so close to Akebono you instantly realize that he is about the size of a door frame - just huge! As he is one of few rikishi who grew up (and out!) speaking English, most of the questions were directed towards him. One reporter asked him why he, an American, took up sumo instead of football. His reply, "I didn't like contact sports." When asked about his salary, Akebono retorted that he made a little more than a cameraman. Musashimaru, another Hawaiian, nodded off during the conference. I guess it wasn't as exciting for him as it was for me! I even wanted to take pictures of the audience. I was sitting right beside CBC-TV news reporter Terry Milewski, wondering how I could get his picture. I managed to sneak a photo when he stood up to ask a question.

After the formal questions we went up to the stage to talk with the rikishi. The reporters swarmed the two Hawaiians while I, with my limited Japanese, ventured off to talk to the others without waiting for an interpreter. What in the world was I going to say to these giants? "Ganbatte" and "Shashin o totte ii desu ka" ("Good luck, do your best" and "Can I take your picture?") were the only words that came to mind. Pretty pathetic, I know, but who would have fared better looking at a famous 6'8", 600 lb. sumo wrestler. The little voice in my mind kept screaming "Futoi ne!!!" ("Man, are you fat!") so anything else that came out could only sound better. I was now psyched for the actual sumo basho that would start two days later.

Margaret Buckworth Photo essay of Sumo Canada Basho 1998

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