Evening star., 1951-11-01
LITTLE SPORT
By Burton Howkins

They call 1t Sumo-wrestling.
Japanese style-and to describe it,
American style, requires the imag-
nation to amble innocently into
a Turkish bath and there gaze
upon an intense squabble Of wom-
en- who long since have abandoned
the battle with calorieS.
It probably was more embar-
RAISING than enjoyable to fewer
than 600 fans WHO strayed into
Turner's Arena last night. There
was respectful silence when AL
Richardson. commanding the four
barrels of Oriental lard, delivered
a pre-match speech intended to
enlighten the customers on the
overfed Sunos' ritual which pre-
ceded their wrangling.
Then came the ritual. In
marched three blubbery imports,
accompanied by kimono-clad
referee. The Sumos had bath
mats, or their equivalents, draped
from their midsections. In front.
that Is. Their poSteriors' were
somewhat inadequately protected.
It's Rather Confusing.
They lined up in T formation.
half-squatted, and, In unison,
lifted their right legs, listed their
bodies to port, then slammed those
elevated legs ponderously to the
mat. This maneuver, calculated
to break any apartment lease.
was reversed and, for some reason
Mr.. Richardson failed to explain,
the Japanese wreStlers injected
handclapping into the proceedings.
This was greeted with nervous
Ititters at first. Then an unidenti-
fled woman squealed as follows.
"Whee, he, he, he, he. wheel. if
7 remember the quote correctly,
and that soprano shrek induced
more laughter. Yoshimi 1mai, q
California born Japanese who
functions as referee and inter-
prefer. was the only one among
those in the ring who could COM
lprehend English. but at that point
international embarrassment ap-
Iparently bridged 10000 miles, for
the japanese bluShed.
The symbols were mystifying.
Mayedayama. a 320-pounder. was
given the equal of Sumo's 2l-gun
salute. One of his chums lugged
Ia sheathed sword. another what
appeared to be a miniature base
ball bat. And Mayedayama SEEM
ingly had stolen some rope from
the Queen Mary. wrapped it
around his middle and tied 1t
back so it extended toward his
neck. 1t was rope suitable for
flassoing the Empire State Build
ing.
Let Go With Laughter.
They took time out for change
Of costume. during which Ameri-
can style hero-villain make-believe
wrestling occupied some minutes.
Then the Sumos returned and
now the laughter no longer was
restrained.
| Fujitayama. a bald, round 300
FOUNDER. confronted Onoumi, a
mere 270-pounder. After a half
dozen knee-bends. plus a position
taken by offensive football line
men, had been presented to the
referee for examination, they
clashed.
The object was to bump the
other guy out of a 15-foot circle
or toss him. They collided, as
two swinging sides of beef would
thump in a cold-storage plant.
They neaved tugged and pushed,
occasionally compiling Oriental
harumphs Fujitayama twice
Tipped Al.oumi then 360-pound
/ Yakatayana-named after high
school cheer. no doubt-came
along to toss Fuji twice.
So it was Yakatayama against
Mayedayama in the final and this
was exciting. Mayedayama's ma
washi was about to become un-
hinged several times in this strug-
gle. A mawashi, incidentally, is
Ia loin cloth about 2la feet wide
It is folded in four and encircles
, the wrestler frcm three to seven
. times, always sufficiently hori-