After e-mailing a friend in Ulaan Bataar this, he responded today with an update:
An Update: since the time of the story you sent me, Dagvadorj has become the youngest Grand Champion in Sumo history, the fastest to win the most tournaments ever, first in most tournaments won consecutively, 3rd on the list of most matches ever won at an age ten years younger than the other ranked champions of the past, and is on his way to become the greatest Sumo wrestler ever... by far. Except, one problem: Not the Japs, no, but the other 6 Mongols in the highest echelon of Sumo, one of whom, Davaajargal, lost the tournament that ended last Sunday to Dagvadorj in the 16th round (the tie-breaking round; normally there are only 15 rounds of wrestling but the two Khans were tied for first after the 15th). Davaajargal, who recently celebrated his 21st birthday, was nevertheless rewarded with the title of ozikaio - second only to Grand Champion - for his nearly loss free record in the last 4 tournaments.
One thing is necessary to stop a Mongol from becoming the greatest Sumo wrestler in Japanese history: a Mongol.
P.S. there are now two Russians, a Bulgarian, and a Georgian wrestling in the top tier, with more Mongols wrestling every tournament: Sumo wrestling schools have recently been established in Ulaanbaatar to ensure that a thorough shaming of the Japanese people is only a matter of time. Losing face on such a massive scale may cause the Japanese to commit hari kiri en masse.
P.P.S. I watched the penultimate day of the last tournament with Sukhbaatar (Axe hero), who was, some years ago, the wrestling coach of Davaajargal. We supported the Mongols so well that day it was difficult for me to pay attention on Sunday.
Andrew
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7 comments:
In Kyoto, as we speak, they are desperately praying in the temples for a second Divine Wind. It seems that Mongols squashing Nipponese has an ancient pedigree.
Yeah, what was the divine wind, like the 12th or 13th century? And its Anglo equivalent: the Protestant wind that repelled the Spanish Armada?
I don't think Sumo wrestling has any goddamn interest outside of Japan. How about let's talk about the fuckin Champions League?
Thanks for taking a reading off your Significance Barometer, jj. I was almost beginning to think that you were curious about global events.
Yeah, the great storm that slammed the Armada is a right equivalent to the Divine Wind that slammed the invading Mongol fleet. A lesser known fact is that some of the the mongol vessels did make it to northern Japan, where they spent a few weeks hewing and slaughtering and raping [not necessarily in that order] before the Japanese gathered enough men to force the invaders back to their ships. The quantity of their killing, even if confined to a locale and over a short span of time, was extraordinary to the Japanese....It was a lesson taken to heart, apparently.
Champions League, JJ? Bah, it's time to gear up for the World Cup.
From your perspective Champions' League might be boring. Heh.
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