J. A. Sargeant

Sumo, Japan's spectacular national sport, conitinues to maintain its popularity despinte the inreAds made in recent years by baseball. Millions continue to be enthralled by the fifteen-day championship matches now helad six times a year in Japan's major citiss. The touranament halls are filled to capacity every day and nationawide televising now enalbles anyone to see sumo, adding further stimulus to the popularity of the sport. Mr. Sargeant, sports editor for the English-language Asahi Evening News, realized that there were many foreigner swho would enjoy sumo more if they knew more of the essential facts about it. Utilizing his knowledge and first-hand information on the sport, he produced this book to meet this need. Written in the humorous, easy-to-read fashion with which the many readers of his sports column will be pleasantly familiar, Mr. Sargeant has also given us a picture of the excitement of the sport, as well as technical aspects that are apt to escape the unitiated eye. The professional sumo wrestler is very much in the public eye, his activities, both in and out of the ring, being followed with eager interest by millions of fans via press, radio, and television. Here we are taken into the wrestler's life behind the scenes at a tournamant, at the gruelling training sessions in the various gymnasiums, and, in delightfully informal accounts, in moments of recreation and relaxation at home. Not neglected are the rich pageantry and historical associations of sumo. For behind the ritual posturing and gesturing that seem to constitute a major portion of the sumo contest and lead up to the sudden head-clashing of two gigantic figures, there lies a world of picturesque meaning and time-honored tradition that, properly understood, is bound to enhance the appeal of the sport to the non-Japanese reader and sports lover. black and white photographic plates and line drawings provide illustrations of sumo's various aspects. J. A. Sargeant's name is already a familiar one both to those enthusiastic sport fans and students of the English language who read his newspaper columns. Born in Lancaster, England, in 1903, Mr. Sargeant finished his education at Cambridge University. He is a long-time resident of Japan, having lived here since 1934, taking part in educational activities which included teaching English at the former Imperial Naval Academy, the Tokyo Foreign Language School, and Waseda University. He is presently lecturer in English at Tokyo University. Other activities prominent in his busy life include that of Sports Editor for the Asahi Evening News and writer of the popular language column 'Brush Up Your English' for the same newspaper. Previously pubished works by Mr. Sargeant include 'Brush Up Your English,' 'Polish Up Your English' and the co-authorship of a number of English textbooks. As an ardent and observant sumo fan himself, Mr. Sargeant is well qualified to present us with the vivid closeups in his column 'Sumo As I See It' and in this book. Contents In days gone by Bron sumoists The read to stardom Grand tournaments Sumo ranking 'Psychological warfare' The techniques of sumo Grand champions Pageantry The referee The honorable judges So clean and gentlemanly Sumo nomenclature 'Off duty' The charm of sumo Tokitsukaze, president of the Japan Sumo Association Preliminary to a bout Sumo in action Chiyo--no-yama performing the dohyo-iri Tochinishiki performing the dohyo-iri Sumo in action Sumo throws A former grand champion in action Former grand champions perfoming dohyo-iri Grand Champion Waka-no-hana and friends Sumo in action Bow-twirling ceremony… (lisätietoja)