19th May 2007

Today was brilliant!!! We got up at 7.30am, suprisingly early for once! Think the jetlag phase may have passed! woo! Up early as we went to watch a Sumo Wrestling tournament!! It was ACE! The Kokugikan stadium was only about a 20min walk away from our hostel so great location! It cost us about 11quid each but it lasted the whole day. From about half 8 til 6pm, so got our money's worth. There are 6 Grand Tournaments a year, three are held in Tokyo, one in Osaka, Nagoya and Kyushu. So we were pretty lucky to get to see one! A tournament lasts for 15 days each 'rikishi' (wrestler) fighting once every day with a different opponent. Some of the sumos were absolutely massive!! And at lunchtime we got a few photos of them. There were different ranks of sumo such as 'Jonokuchi' - the lowest rank moving up in seniority to 'Makus***a' - the junior grade. The intermediate division - 'Juryo' wrestlers at this rank and above, are considered full-fledged salaried sumo professionals. Then you got the massive dudes - 'Yokozuna' - these guys are the Grand Champions and are MASSIVE! But it was a great day and experience - one i'll probably never get chance to do again! There was a restaurant inside the stadium, again serving only japanese food and there was 'Chanko' on the menu - which is the strict diet that the sumos are on. So i thought not to try it, as i dont wanna be that fat!! hehe. Although we went to McDonalds for lunch and there was a sumo in there with a large drink, large fries, a tex mex burger, quarter pounder and a big mac!! oh yeah and he had a fag on as wel! So not sure 'Chanko' was his thing! haha tres healthy! ah well i cant talk! Anyway now back at the hostel, and praying the FA Cup final is gonna be on either here or Bar Smile - the main bit of Khaosan Hostel. Please please please, i cannot miss my reds panning the arse of those Chelsea Rent Boys!!! C'MON UNITED!!!