#33 SUMO

05/28/07

I made it back to Japan.

Had a good time in the States. Got a chance to see and spend a little time with Eric and my Mom and Dad.

Pauline and I went to a Sumo match on Saturday. We had to take the "sleeper train" to Tokyo, which leaves the Kanazawa station at 12:00 midnight and arrives at 6:00 am. Only problem was the ticket agent didn't book us on the "sleeper train" so we had to sit up in "train" seats that recline about 1/16" farther back that an "Airplane" seat. On Sunday we went to the “After Sumo Dinner Party" with Lynn Matsuoka (look her up on the internet) where we got a chance to meet, get pictures and autographs from some of the wrestlers. These guys are really BIG.

This time on the way back we took the "Sleeper bus!!!" This leaves the Tokyo station at 11:00 pm and arrives at 7:00 am...These seats actually recline to a position that is almost but not entirely comfortable....that is if you are Japanese and considerably shorter that 5'2".

I'm hoping that sometime later next month my back may crack back into a less painful posture without the assistance of a major medical staff. My feet fell "Asleep" about 20 minutes into the drive, and I still have no feeling in them, not even that tingling sensation.

In case you're not aware of it but the Japanese have a "word" for every possible kind of way to win a Sumo match. I don't know the exact Japanese words but they translate into something like this. "Pushed out with left hand" or "Pulled down with right arm" or "Twisting throw down with right hand on left elbow"

Pauline has about one more year to go on her contract at the University and so we are starting to make plans to return to the States. With a little luck, we would like to go to Hawaii. Only problem is the cost of buying a house there. For a mere $500,000 we can get a single bedroom house. That is run down, dilapidated, in dire need of repair, and located only 25 feet from the free way...

Other than that not much is happening.

I forgot...You probably want to know who won the Sumo.

I can’t pronounce his name but he was the big fat guy with the red loin cloth. He beat this other not quite so fat guy wearing the blue loin cloth. He won by "Throw down by left hand while right foot was 6 inches off the mat, and right hand under honorable opponent loin cloth in position "not becoming of a Sumo wrestler"

Later

Lenny

Ps... Wow I think the sensation has returned to my big toe on my left foot...