Just before the turn of the millennium, Canadian Airlines International sponsored the Japanese Sumo Wrestlers team for their visit to Canada. It was their first time that the group travelled abroad. Along with the Sumo Wrestlers, the soil for their traditional platform was transported as well.
They made an appearance at the Colosseum in Vancouver.
One of the wrestlers stood out and left a lasting impression with me. It was the fact that he wasn’t Japanese and towered over the others with much longer legs.
Chadwick Rowan was born in Hawaii and stood 203 cm or 6’8” tall and weight 223 kg, or 492lb. In 1993 Chad Rowan who took on the name of Akebono Tarõ was promoted to Yokozuna. The first non-Japanese-born holding the rank of the Grand Champion and the highest achievement in Sumo, the national sport of Japan.
The opening ceremony was impressive with its blessings and rituals. The rules laid out and explained of this unusual game. Lots of grunting, grabbing, pushing and slapping and a few demonstrations of the match.
During the interval, there was a tea ceremony and of interest to us both to attend.
By the time we arrive at the ceremony, we were the last in the line-up. We patiently waited our turn and watched the lovely kimono-clad hostess present the tea. Then it was our turn, with my neighbour sitting next to me, we watched the arrival of a teapot, a teacup and finally a cookie, each time followed with a bow. At the last bow, the lady gently came forward and said, in my ear, HURRY UP!! I was so out of context that I burst out laughing. My friend is from France and she wasn’t going to let a tea hostess tell her to HURRY UP. There were plenty of questions to be asked and an interpreter was summoned and prolonging the tea ceremony.
We returned slightly late and missed out on a few more grunts and some sumo wedgies. It was an exciting day and we returned to our homes on the edge of the forest.
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