Samurai Dave: The Roving Ronin Report

Rambling Narrative of Travels, Thoughts, and Embellishments

Outdoor Sumo at Yasukuni Shrine

In April, sumo gets back to its roots at Yasukuni Shrine with an outdoor event. In olden times, sumo was generally held outdoors at shrines and temples or before gathered assemblies of august groups such as the shogun, daimyo (feudal lord), even the Emperor.

Hono Ozumo is a special ceremonial sumo event held at a shrine such as Yasukuni Shrine. Lower rank wrestlers (maku-shita) and top rank wrestlers (maku-uchi) compete. Even the yokozuna the highest rank in sumo compete at Hono Ozumo. If there is more than one yokozuna, they will compete against each other. Sumo can have several yokozuna at the same time but it is relatively rare to have more than two. Usually to see a yokozuna match between two yokozuna is a rare treat. Only on the last day of a tournament can one see this and it’s very difficult to get tickets for that day.

This year was a chance to see such a yokozuna match, the first in four years as Yokozuna Asashoryu retired in February of 2010. Hakuho has been the only yokozuna until September of 2012 when Harumafuji was promoted. This was their first yokozuna match at Yasukuni.

For more pics – click here. 

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May 7, 2013 - Posted by | japan, sumo, tokyo, yasukuni shrine | , , , , ,

22 Comments »

  1. Hello “Dave”….I see you cowardly have seen fit to block me from commenting on you Jap lover videos on Youtube…How is it you do not see how racist and arrogant the Japs are about their WW2 past? The Jap Prime Minister Abe continually denies any culpibility for his countries shame? His protest to the Koreans for erecting a memorial to the thousands of “comfort women” who he says were nothing but “paid hookers” is appalling, now we both know dam well thats a bold faced lie, those women were forcibly raped dozens of times and in most cases shot afterwards. Abe also says that his country was within Japanese law when it came to its conduct during the war, so Abe says that genocide of the millions of Chinese and the 200,000 Filipinos that were slaughtered was legal?…..genocide legal in Japan?….are you fucking kidding me?….I wonder why it is when a Japanese person from the age of about 20 to 45 years old says that the “Rape of Nanking” is nothing but “Western Propaganda” and that all the photographs of Japanese attroctities are US made fakes……why is that Dave?…do they not want their young people to know of the shame of their loss in the war and how savage and brutal they were?….and they still are today, they just kill dolphins now. They are a bloodthirsty race, who have no respect for anyone but themselves, they are arrogant, racists and downright greedy. I think its time you latch on to a new endeavor and leave that sickening society….and yes I do know about what I speak, I have studied WW2 history over 35 years and have been to Japan twice so I could make my own informed conclusions….what’s your problem?….Do you have your own Jap wife?….is that it?….I am married to a Filipina girl whose grandmother told me of the attrocities she witnessed by her own eyes as a young woman in Manila during the brutal Japanese occupation….as I said, “Dave”….open your eyes….

    Comment by Woody | September 9, 2013 | Reply

    • lol! I love the way you complain about Japanese racism then proceed to use the derogatory term “Jap” thru-out your ranting rambling diatribe.

      FYI I don’t remember you from youtube but I’m sure you must have posted something stupid like the above and I promptly blocked you because you were an annoying obsessive little twit who had nothing of worth to say.

      The subject of Japanese atrocities in WWII have better lucid spokespeople who have valid personal reasons for their indignation. You are just some nutjob parroting their rhetoric which resembles some crazy guy at a bus stop shouting at the top of his lungs about aliens in his underpants. You do those others a disservice by making their criticism seem unhinged and irrational by association.

      Furthermore, that you felt the need to post your rantings on an article about sumo posted by a guy in a samurai outfit who calls himself Samurai Dave and mainly posts about festivals shows that you are both a disturbed and disturbing individual. I suggest you seek professional help.

      Comment by samuraidave | September 9, 2013 | Reply

      • Oh wow “Dave”…everything I said was and is the truth. If you must know, yea, I have a problem with the Japanese (better?)….the Japanese politicians are the real problem, continually pushing aside cuplibility for their more numerous attrocities than there is room on this space. Its you that is the one who is indeed blind, you’re just like they are, you care not for anyone else, but your prescious Japanese you have seemingly have a strange interest in. Face it Dave, they are the most racist people in the world. I posted this here because you post nothing about their wartime past, so I just picked a comment board that was closest. So “Dave”, do you deny all the wartime attrocities the Japanese continue to deny they know they did? The same war crimes they keep from their population? I am not the only one who feels this way, your Youtube videos about the Yasukuni Shrine gives me all the credibility I need. Face it “Dave” these Japanese you have a hardon for are the most cruel and racist people since that of the ancients. Do you know how many outsiders they allow to take up permanant residency in Japan? Go ahead and research that, it will surprise you. They allow hardly any outsiders into their country to live there permanantly because they don’t want any outsiders into their RACIST country…

        I have one question I would like an answer from you…ready?

        Why do Japanese people of the age of about 20 to about 50 deny the “Rape of Nanking” ever really happend?….answer that “Dave”…if you can…

        Comment by Woody | September 9, 2013

      • Why do Japanese people of the age of about 20 to about 50 deny the “Rape of Nanking” ever really happend?….answer that “Dave”…if you can…

        Considering I’m not Japanese, why don’t you actually ask someone who is Japanese of the age about (work on your grammar) 20 to about 50 this question? I’m betting that the reason you do not is that you lack both the courage and sanity to do so.

        Face it Dave, they are the most racist people in the world.

        What I am facing is a lunatic posting racist rambling rantings.

        You need help. Get some before it’s too late.

        Comment by samuraidave | September 9, 2013

      • I have asked Japanese people that very same question, I went to the Prime Minister Abe page on Facebook and had debates and discussions with a few Japanese people, and all of them tell me that the “Rape of Nanking” never happened and that its all “Western Propaganda” and that all the photographs are US made fakes. Now why would your prescious Japanese people think this way? Do you deny that it happened? Are you like those holocaust deniers like the Muslims are? Are you a Japanese apologist?……I can tell you that when you keep saying I need help its you that is scared to answer the one question I have posed, c’mon “Dave”, answer that one question I asked of you….don’t be scared, you can do it,,,

        Comment by Woody | September 9, 2013

      • I told you to get help because it’s obvious you need it. Seriously, try to see how crazy you come off. Look at your writing style. It screams of someone mentally unbalanced.

        Do you not see how silly and crazy you look trying to get a serious response on a serious issue from a guy who posts festival videos and has a pic of himself in samurai garb? You might as well harangue Schnappi over the Nazis.

        Why do you even give a fuck what I think? And why the fuck do you think I should give a fuck in what you think? You attack me and you want me to give you an answer? Fuck you, you disrespectful deranged asshole! Learn how to talk like a fucking human being and maybe just maybe people will give you some respect or at least not call the local mental ward and check to see if they are short a patient.

        Comment by samuraidave | September 9, 2013

      • Sounds like someone needs a nap…..wow, going off on cussing tirades only shows me that its you that might need medication. Ok “Dave”….how about this approach……

        Mr “Dave”….will you please answer the question?….I asked politely….just relax pal, I assure you I am quite sane. I just wonder why you keep dodging the question, seems like Abe and his tactics have rubbed off on you in the way you keep doing your best not to answer. I am not going anywhere anytime soon. I am doing this because I am getting back at you for blocking me from your Youtube Channel because you don’t want to hear about the savage past of this land of racists you have adopted as your own, you’re of European heritidge you know…you are not Japanese…I suppose you’ll block me from here too, but the question remains….chickenshit…

        Comment by Woody | September 9, 2013

      • You did not ask politely nor are you now. You don’t deserve an answer or any respect. The only thing you deserve is a glass of warm milk spiked with tranquilizers and a straightjacket.

        I am doing this because I am getting back at you for blocking me from your Youtube Channel

        Awwww… did we hurt the poor liddle man because we blocky-wocky himmy-wimmy from our youtube channel-whannel? Grow the fuck up, you sad little man!

        The only reason I haven’t blocked you yet is because you are amusing me with your deranged behavior and I am currently showing several people this thread as humorous evidence of the type of insane people who haunt the internet.

        I want to see how long you will keep this little tirade up until it sinks into your demented skull that I will never entertain the notion of answering your question and will only keep deriding you until I grow bored and I block you once you become tiresome. In the end, you will lose in the same way you have already lost your mind.

        Comment by samuraidave | September 9, 2013

      • I am fully grown, married and have all I need all set up, a beautiful Filipino wife, believe me, I just said that about getting back at ya just to get a rise out of ya, I actually laughed when you blocked me. I knew when you blocked me I hit a nerve and was dead-on correct, I know I am right about the Japanese, you know it too but are too much of a “Japanese-o’phile” to ever admit it. What is your fascination with the Japan? You do know they are extremely racist don’t you? …You do know they murdered, massacred, slaughtered as many, if not more innocent people than Nazi Germany?. I find your Japan fetish somewhat unhealthy…..again, answer the question….if you can…but I feel you will just dodge it like your messiah Abe….until later…..c-ya…

        Comment by Woody | September 10, 2013

  2. Calling yourself a grown man and acting like a grown man are two different things but I don’t recall asking for your life’s story or current situation which in no way helps your “argument” (if one could call it as such) nor does it refute my assertion that you are 52 cards short of a deck (if anything it supports my argument).

    In your comments you have revealed yourself to be a very petty man with serious aggression issues who can’t take a blocking like a man. I seriously don’t remember you from Youtube but I’m sure I blocked you for the same reason I block others – you started becoming an obsessive annoying twit with delusions which have shown here.

    I just got one question for you, Nutty Crazypants McNutterson, why do you even care what I – some joe blow you don’t even know – have to say on the matter?

    “I find your Japan fetish somewhat unhealthy”

    I find your fetish in me extremely unhealthy. Get some help.

    Comment by samuraidave | September 10, 2013 | Reply

    • Just as I thought you would, attacking me and dodging the question….I think its you that needs help with you J-pan fetish…and I have no such fetish of you, I only want you to answer the question truthfully…and I’ll go away…

      Comment by Woody | September 10, 2013 | Reply

  3. Oh and by the way….why do you play Samarai dress up in that profile pic of yours?…

    Comment by Woody | September 10, 2013 | Reply

  4. Of course I’m dodging the question, you obsessive moron! I already told you that you don’t deserve and answer or any respect with your racist overtones and your insane ramblings. Yet you still persist! LOL! Seriously, WTF is wrong with you?

    And you answer my question – why do you give a shit about the opinion of someone you don’t know? Can you not see how ridiculous you look badgering a guy who mainly post Japanese festival videos about Japanese atrocities in WWII? I seriously want you to show this thread to other people and see if they think you are sane in pursuing this course of action. I’ve already done so and so far everyone I have shown it to here and in the US thinks you are crazy.

    YOU NEED HELP

    Comment by samuraidave | September 10, 2013 | Reply

    • I will show it to others….I will show to others when you answer the question….”Dave”….you’re the one who has an obsession, you have two actually….J-pan and me thinking I need some sort of help, the only help I need is you to answer the question…and I won’t post here again, then delete all my posts, ban me or whatever you think you need to do….ok?…until later….c-ya “Dave”….

      Comment by Woody | September 11, 2013 | Reply

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  6. Still evading the question Huh Dave?….

    Comment by Woody | June 30, 2014 | Reply

  7. Hi Dave….ready to answer the question yet?…its been over a year now to have got your thoughts together…so give an answer already….

    Comment by Woody | July 25, 2014 | Reply

  8. I am still waiting Dave….I now have a friend I met thru the WW2 history page on Facebook I have adminned almost 5 years now, he teaches english in Osaka and he is American and showed me a typical Japanese history textbook, and it, and as I suspected the book downplays the hundreds of thousands of innocent people they slaughtered during the terror war they (japs) perpetrated on Greater Asia, and then this book (revised by the Japanese Education Ministry) portrays Japan as vicitms of the US in a war Japan started…hmm, strange that Japan considers themselves vicitms of war that Japan themselves started. Since it been quite awhile since I posted here I was hoping you would PLEASE answer that question I asked of you sometime ago…..can you?…will you?…..c-ya around Dave…oh by the way, on my way to the Philippines I had a layover in Narita, Japan, so I took a taxi to have a look around, there are still WW2 sites in japan. I found an old airstrip used by kamikaze pilots. I took a bunch of pics if you would like to see them. All the pics I took are quite interesting, there are Japanese people actually living at the site that has barred off bunkers and tunnels, the airstrip itself is the main road for the 7-8 houses…have a great day Dave….

    Comment by Woody | November 28, 2014 | Reply

  9. First and foremost, WASP have absolutely no right to give lessons about racism to anybody, even the Nazi. USA are the most hypocrite country in the World History when it comes to human rights and war crimes. How many people the US killed in wars since post-WWII ? Approximately 30 Millions. Only Mao Zedong Runzhi beat you, guys, think about it.

    In fact, Human Rights and crimes against humaniry were created especially for a kind of war trials. After the accursed facts those trials wanted to judge. And never really respected by any one in the world. Proof is even today, we know far more about Femen breasts than so-caled human rights. 🙂

    Period.

    2nd point, war crimes and war trials are ALWAYS set up by the Victor against the defeated one. Everyone outside of American Continent knows it, and in fact, even some American like General LeMay knew it, proof is he publicly said that if (and only “if”) US lost the War he would have been passed on trials for war crimes, for bombing of civilians. How many US and allied generals and politicians passed on trials ? None. Only the defeated. But when a war occurs, it’s always both factions who are in the wrong. If one can’t say it, and think it has true, then one has absolutely no right to calls himself a pacifist. Condition sine qua non.
    You, Woody, deny that simple fact, in the “holly” name of polliticaly correct. You are a bien-pensant and a conformist. Meaning your research were completely useless.
    Shamefuru disupureru.

    Period.

    3rd point, the US Government tried for years, at the demand of South Korea, to find proofs about the Comfort Women. They spent millions of dollars to finance this study – en pure perte. They found nothing. K-pop Government issued no apologies and continued it’s xenophobic policies. A fake comfort woman the korean youth almost deified provided testimony of soldiers cuting her clothes with a baïonnette… which is impossible, since they are thrusting weapons, and their is no gigantic scars of her skin. US military report also said korean women are not pretty (ie. ugly) according to japanese and caucasian standards. It says also they are stupid ego-centrist bitches. Is that what you would like to rape, Woody ? Are they your kind of women ? Would you do it to the over and over again ? No ? Japanese soldiers too.

    Period.

    4th point, the so-called Rape of Nanking. Tell me, good sir, do you happen to know what is Nuke Map ? Give it a try, launch a nuke to modern Nanking. If you compare with the imaginary Rape event and chinese estimation of the number of victims, it would make the IJA far more effiscient than nukes, with their dull Shôwa-tô and one-shoot guns. Yeah, Japanese Soliders are badass ! I too think so. x)
    So, the fact is, never anyone claimed the Imperial Japanese Army killed everybody living in the city, then resurected them to kill them again (since Shôwa-Tennô is not Jesus… or a god, like WASP people like to say to pretty much everyone even though they don’t know what is a god). Meaning they couldn’t possibly have killed 200 000 people in Nanjing (nor 400 000, obviously). 100 000 maximum, dead and missing includes.

    Period.

    5th point. The most racist and xenophobic country in the World in South Korea. Their is countless undeniable proofs, ancient and modern. They are so much racist against Japanese that they maked it an official national Policy, and the current president can’t retract it, even though she is the child of a “collaborator” who became President of SK. On internet, Koreans use the word “monkey” to talk about Japanese, then many web sites banned the word “monkey”. How fucked up and retarded is that ?
    In fact, they are the most far-rightist and nationalist country in all of Asia, even more than countries who are still Monarchies like Japan or Thailand. Even though their is barely anything to be proud of in Korean History, unlike Japanese and Chinese History. Even though Koreans are shameless liars, rapists, hookers, hopelessly greedy people.
    70% of Korean population has at least 1 mental trouble / illness, like Paranoïa. Number of lies in trials in hundreds of times greater than in Japan. Rapes, suicides, prostitution are far more numerous in Korea than in Japan (with it’s low crime rate). Sources ? Chosun Ilbo. So shut up.
    And remember, Vietnam know the sins of South Korea and will remember them. Especially since Korea never apologied in anyway. Unlike Japan.

    Period.

    6th point. Anyone in a so-called democracy has the right to vote for whatever he want, and have his own political opinion. I presume you are pro-Democracy ? Well, I, myself, am not. But the fact is neither you, nor China, nor South Korea has the right to be bitching about that.
    And it also goes for religious opinion. Especially if it’s in another country.

    Period.

    7th point. Most arguments used by people arguing in any debate are Sophistry (in fact, Sophistry is the most common in any political debate, especially on TV for elections). And when it comes to cases like Japanese War Crimes, this one is the most frequent kind of deceit :
    In atrocissimis, leviores conjecturae sufficiunt et licit judici jura transgredi.
    People like Woody who don’t know what it means have no right to judge anything. But fret not, most modern judges, lawyers and law makers don’t know either, since they are mentaly retarded (well, in fact, you should fret lol).
    It is also well known that more protagonists and factions, and more wars and conflicts you will get. Maths.
    Funding Fathers of US also stated that Democracy is the bloodiest and greediest kind of political regime (far more than any Monarchy or Aristocracy, even those with the most infamous), and the less stable and less durable of them all. Meaning, a Democracy who creates Democracies have no right to accuse a Monarchy to be violent or something along the line. It does include the US and it’s citizens.
    You, Woody, can deceit yourself. Not me.

    Period.

    8th point. Yasukuni-jinja also enshrines american soldiers, koreans soldiers and taiwanese soldiers. So-called war criminals are few. The most emblematic one is the fake dictator Tojo Hideki. General Tojo was absolutely not a dictator. It is well known that he sacrificed himself to protect the Emperor against any possible retaliation in those war trials. The truth is Tojo did only three things wrong :
    First, he didn’t practiced Seppuku but shot himself in the chest like a cowardly peon. That’s no way to die for a true Mono-no-fu, not to aton for his sins.
    Second, he didn’t fought in the frontlines with his men. What ? Nowadays every generals and statesmen do it, but they are all in the wrong. They go to war if the lives of the others only, that is what a War Crime really is. But misteriously, I alone am bitching about it.
    Third, Tojo lost the war, partly because of a not good enough strategy. Which is the case for all generals in History who ever lost a fucking war. Would you, good sir, make a trial for Hannibal Barca or cries like a pussy ass anytime their is an event related to him ? No ? I knew it, somehow !!!! Maybe I’m a prophet and you should be worshiping me. 😉

    Period.

    9th point. If RoninDave pay tribute to Japanese Civlisation, it’s his business and his right. Plus, it’s a better, older, and more mature Civilisation than modern American Civilization, with it’s 3G, fat asses, Junk food, green monopoly toilet paper (sorry, it seems you calls that “money” but I’m not sure), pollution, mass bombing of random muslim countries, et caetera, et caetera, et caetera.

    Well… it took long enough. But I like Samurai Dave / Ronin Dave and Japanese culture, even though it’s the first time I post a comment. And someone had to try to correct this bien-pensant, even if it’s probably too late. 😉

    And since I bothered, thanks me wharmly. 😛

    Comment by Jin Yu En | February 26, 2015 | Reply

    • To Jin Yu En…

      Since you deny The Rape of Nanking, and the Japanese use of comfort women you really do not deserve the honor of a reply from me, but I will anyway because I love a deabte/argument. The number commonly thought correct of 200,000 I will admit is probably half of that or maybe a little less, but if you deny the use of “comfort women” by Japanese soldiers then you are a complete ignorant fool. I married a Filipino woman (I am an American) and lived in the Philippines for a time and I found out that my wife’s grandmother was raped multiple times as a young woman ( I was told this directly by my wife’s Grandmother) in Manila during the extremely brutal Japanese occupation during WW2, which is something you arrogant and racist Japanese continually deny. Why at the begining of the war did the Japanese government say “We hold no hostilities towards Asians”…yet every Asian country Japanese invaded were turned into absolute bloodbaths by Japanese soldiers and the Kempetai? The known truth that at the end of the war, the Japanese government sent word to every corner of Japan to always deny/downplay the massive amounts of attrocities and to always present the Japanese as the victims of the US. The Japanese government has since the end of the war kept the truth from the people of Japan of what actually transpired, all you have to do is look around the internet, even use non-American books or websites to learn the ghastly truth of Japanese conduct from 1933 to 1945, to be truthful, the Japanese of WW2 are one of histories greatest purveyers of death and destruction since any regime since the ancients, and on par with the Nazis in Europe….the problem with Japan and the Japanese people is that they THINK they know the truth, you only really know about 20% of what really happend and why. I also realize the Koreans and Chinese are trying to drive a wedge between the Japanese and American relations. If you want to understand my anger over Japanese denials I would ask you to look up these topics….then you may understand my views a little better…these topics are just a few instances Japan has never apologized for or even aknowledged…

      1…Palawan Island in the Philippines during WW2…
      2…Bataan Death March…
      3…Alexander Hospitol in Sinapore…

      Just look up these 3 topics I posted for you….

      Thank you…..Woody…

      Comment by Woody | February 27, 2015 | Reply

  10. This is a great article! Would you know how early we should be at the festival to ensure that we get to watch this event? What time should we be at the shrine?
    Thank you!!

    Comment by Cindy | March 5, 2016 | Reply

  11. Hi Davey….ready to answer the question yet?..,,as you can see I have my own blog here on WordPress…..answer the question Davey….it will do you good….

    Woody…

    Comment by WW2 History - Pacific Theater... | March 6, 2016 | Reply


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