Archive for February, 2011

Evidence of Sumo Bout Fixing

Surprise, surprise! Investigators have found evidence of widespread match-fixing within the Japan Sumo Association:

The evidence was found in e-mails on 13 wrestlers’ mobile phones, seized by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in its ongoing gambling investigation. About 50 e-mail exchanges from March through June last year indicate that the wrestlers bought and sold victories for sums in the hundreds of thousands of yen, as well as traded victories and losses from tournament to tournament — evidence directly at odds with the Japan Sumo Association (JSA)’s repeated denials of any bout fixing. The e-mails even apparently go so far as to list amounts to be paid and bank account numbers, as well as how exactly the fixed bouts would unfold in the ring.

Over the years, various allegations have come out regarding match fixing and the JSA has successfully sued publishers responsible for printing such stories. The JSA will likely try to claim that these match fixing e-mails are totally different and very recent development.

This news should come as no shock to those of you out there who have read the 2005 book Freakonomics, which contains a section about sumo wrestling:

One example of the authors’ use of economic theory involves demonstrating the existence of cheating among sumo wrestlers. In a sumo tournament, all wrestlers in the top division compete in 15 matches and face demotion if they do not win at least eight of them. The sumo community is very close-knit, and the wrestlers at the top levels tend to know each other well. The authors looked at the final match, and considered the case of a wrestler with seven wins, seven losses, and one fight to go, fighting against an 8-6 wrestler. Statistically, the 7-7 wrestler should have a slightly below even chance, since the 8-6 wrestler is slightly better. However, the 7-7 wrestler actually wins around 80% of the time. Levitt uses this statistic and other data gleaned from sumo wrestling matches, along with the effect that allegations of corruption have on match results, to conclude that those who already have 8 wins collude with those who are 7-7 and let them win, since they have already secured their position for the following tournament.

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Tiger Woods Blackface Act on Japanese TV – ಠ_ಠ

On Monday night’s episode of “Sekai Maru Mie TV,” somebody thought it would be hilarious to put black paint on the face of a Japanese guy so he could apparently look like Tiger Woods:

The character called himself Taraiga Woods, a pun on the golfer’s name and the Japanese word for tub (tarai). Celebrity guests would be asked to predict what would happen next in funny home videos. If someone answered incorrectly, the blackface Taraiga would drop a tub on his/her head.

At other times when face paint is used for Japanese impersonations of Black celebrities, they actually make a serious effort to match the appearance of the celebrity. A lot of people don’t think it’s proper to categorize those acts as blackface acts.

However, this case, like the case of the Obama Onsen blackface, is so crude that I think it is totally appropriate to call it a blackface act.

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Laughter Yoga in Japan

A reporter for Japan’s TBS network joins one of the Laughter Yoga sessions put on by the Tokyo Laughter Club:

Established by Mary Tadokoro and Lisa Booth in June of 2006, Tokyo Laughter Club (TLC) has the honor of being Japan’s first laughter club. Now run by Mary and Takashi Tadokoro, TLC serves as a home base for the laughter movement in Japan and is well attended by both leaders and long-term participants. Leaders trained by various teachers come to laugh, practice, and gain confidence in their LY skills. TLC has been the happy catalyst for the creation of many new clubs in Japan.

You can find out more about Laughter Yoga in Japan by visiting http://tokyolaughterclub.info or http://laughteryoga.jp/. They also have a Facebook group.

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Chinese Theme Park Brings Back Fake Gundam

With new alterations, the park is now more confident that the giant robot is their own original creation.

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Kobe Has Too Many Mascots

NTV’s “Bankisha” tells us about how the city of Kobe now has 42 different mascot characters:

The characters represent a wide variety of local government offices and government-sponsored campaigns. Some examples: pigs and cats that promote recycling, a heart character that encourages people to be friendlier, moles that promote sewage treatment, and a swan that promotes good smoking manners.

Random people quizzed on the street in Kobe have no idea their city has so many mascot characters. One woman is concerned about the amount of tax money is being spent on making mascots. According to NTV’s estimates, a mascot character suit can cost thousands of dollars to produce.

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Inside an Eho-maki Factory

According to custom, you are supposed to face towards this year’s lucky direction and eat the whole sushi roll without stopping. You are not allowed to talk until you’ve finished eating it.

2011′s lucky direction is South-Southeast (南南東). If you live in Japan and don’t feel like making your own Eho-maki, just head down to your local supermarket: they usually have plenty of pre-made rolls available.

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