Aside from getting the flu for about 5 days, I've still managed to do a few things since my last post. Sensoji Temple was a day well spent. We were not the group that decided to visit this temple. The streets were packed with people headed to make a prayer or to buy some of the shopkeepers' wares. Here's some pictures from that trip. The guy with the golden hat stood still until I got a couple photos that I liked; what a nice guy!
Finally, a picture with me in it. I think this is the first picture that actually places me in Tokyo. I suppose I could have been faking my whole trip through google images. Here's a few shots from the day that I picked up my new bike. We went to Roppongi to get bikes at the store called Don Quixote. On the way I saw the strange 3-d armor building and at the entrance to the store was a 
fish tank with this giant fish.
Yesterday, we went to a Sumo Tournament in Ryokogu. This was pretty amazing. Sumo is a great example of Japanese tradition. The tournament didn't have any fancy announcers or jumbotrons to display the matches. Instead, we were in a big stadium where the wrestlers simply had a shoving match until one of the wrestlers touched the ground with something other than his feet or went out of bounds. There's a great deal ritual that goes into a sumo match: high leg kicks, salt throwing, stretching for the judges, and the like. We watched for about 4 hours and got to see the final bout, which turned out to be the best one - it lasted about 18 seconds.
During one of the matches a wrestler's wrap was coming undone so the ref stopped the match. But the wrestlers had to remain in position while the ref retied the wrestlers wrap. there is a picture here of that here. I even managed to pose as a Sumo wrestler in the cut-out (not really good lighting, but funny none the less).
During one of the matches a wrestler's wrap was coming undone so the ref stopped the match. But the wrestlers had to remain in position while the ref retied the wrestlers wrap. there is a picture here of that here. I even managed to pose as a Sumo wrestler in the cut-out (not really good lighting, but funny none the less).
2 comments:
Yo Hickory, it sux you got the flu, but fortunately for you, and your readers, you were able to make it to the sumo matches. Very cool pictures, and particularly interesting is the final match video.
hey hick, the sumo pics are very interesting and colorful. like the story about them staying put while the ref reties their garment. couldn't get the video to work tho; will try again later. miss u and love seeing you in front of the temple.
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