Journal of a Sabbatical

July 24, 1999

sumo

July 24, 1999
Watchemoket Cove

23 Canada geese
27 mute swans
2 common terns
2 herring gulls
5 mallards
1 great egret

Today's Starting Pitcher: Mark Portugal

Today's Reading: none

The ballroom at Newport Harbor Hotel on America's Cup Avenue was packed when we got there. Nancy had bought tickets in advance for what was billed as a "sumo demo and video presentation with narrative by Konishiki". We picked up our tickets at the desk and quickly jockeyed for the best available seats. We were pretty far back and I had to stand at times to get a better view of the demo. The sold out sign went up about 10 minutes after we got seated.

It was worth every minute of getting up early and driving to Newport in the scorching heat. The video of Konishiki's career, in which he has edited out all his defeats, has become a metaphor for us. Nancy and I talked about the video we'd make of our careers the whole drive home.

The best part was the question and answer session. Konishiki was extraordinarily generous with his time and extraordinarily candid and honest in his answers. I felt like I got a real glimpse into a really alien world. I think I need to let the experience settle in and write about it more later, because it affected me on a level that I wasn't expecting.

Afterwards I asked him for his autograph and had my picture taken with him by the guy waiting in the autograph line behind me. This is right up there with meeting Oil Can Boyd.

Since were were in Newport and still in a Japanophile mood, we went to dinner at Hisae's, near Nancy's office, where she knows the owners (John and Hisae). Nancy told them we had just been to see Konishiki and that I really like sumo, so John brought out a videotape of last week's 1999 Natsu Basho from Japan and slipped into a VCR on top of the sushi bar for us - making the sushi bar a sports bar! We ate vegetable tempura while I was riveted to the sight of Akebono losing match after match to a much younger and lower ranked guy.

A fitting way to celebrate "Japanese American Friendly Festival".