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In terms
of English-language books on sumo, Mina Hall's The Big Book of Sumo:
History, Practice, Ritual, Fight doesn't cover anything new, but it
does provide a practical, up-to-date, informative beginner's guide
to the ancient sport.
The book reads like a long term-paper - Hall's writing style
is adolescent, but at the same time, easy to understand and she's
got all her facts straight. She does tackle some meaty topics (besides
the bods of these behemoths) - a brief history of the sport, how it
is organized, common techniques and sumo jargon. Others have gone
deeper into these subjects, but Hall's purpose is simply to provide
an introduction to sumo, and on this level, she succeeds quite well.
Her love of the sport is infectious.
One of the inherent risks of writing this type of book is that
it almost becomes obsolete from the moment it is published - rikishi
hang up their mawashi, oyakata drop dead, small stables close, etc.
So the author wisely focuses on facts and figures that have a relatively
long shelf life, like the daily schedule during the tournaments, the
salaries for various sumo association positions, and the location
of popular stables.
Hall ignores the current crop of Japanese rikishi, but does
provide nice bios on the foreigners in the sport, focusing on the
men from Hawaii. Undoubtedly, the book's strong point is as a guide
for those who want to check out the action, but couldn't tell Ryogoku
from Chugoku - whether it be a sumo practice, an authentic chanko-nabe
restaurant, or the real deal, an actual tournament. She names names
- and addresses and phone numbers. She even includes tips on where
to stand to get the best view of the rikishi as they enter the sumo
stadium. The maps aren't very helpful - but hey, you're an adult -
you can figure it out.
There's a cuteness to the book that readers on a low-sugar
diet may have trouble digesting - a cartoon character named "Sumo
Boy" makes his way onto nearly every page. But I do like his
motto - "Train hard, eat plenty." That's how I'd like to
live my life and, I suspect, how many sumo fans out there would like
to live theirs.
Overall, this book has something to offer for every fan, whether
he or she lives in Japan or is just planning to visit. If you like
sumo, it's certainly worth the $19.95 investment.
Reviewed by Ross Mihara, English-language sumo commentator on NHK
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