11.(51-52) Tokyo's Big Store and Some Sumo Wisdom

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51. The Big Store

Out on street, Takeshi turns to Ken. “Well, you are the movie critic? What message?”

   Ken says “Happy Valley is Japan just before the Meiji Period (pre 1868), and Farmer’s son is the military class, and Corrupt Lord who sponsors him is the Emperor system, and the end is what we are getting into here.”

   Takeshi does not respond. Kimi decides to change subject. Pointing to department store across street where big banner proclaims Consumer Exchange Day, she suggests tour and they plunge into crowds of barter-laden would-be swappers and push through the people. Lobby is filled with tables covered with goods for swap. Between the tables, body-to-body humans flow steadily forward with an individual here and there detaching to grab something of interest. Within the high-wall hall, a babble rises to the white plaster ceiling: Here a harried housewife with sleeping baby strapped to back, and hyperactive toddler pulling at kimono, bargains with gray-faced old man for battered sewing machine, offering family prayer altar because the still good machine can make money for her to feed family but an altar is good for nothing; there a white-hair matron haggles with Korean centenarian over how many cans of pickled tangerines she can swap for her dead son’s samurai sword; and over in a corner an overly cosmeticized public woman exhibits her stuff to swap for candy-bars and other eatables and drinkables, her 12-year-old daughter writing down later times and places.

   With Kimi leading, her right hand clasping Ken's left, and Ken lending his right hand to Yo's left while Yo gives her free hand for Takeshi to have and hold, they walk across the swap floor from corner to corner and after 15 minutes are again on street behind where they entered.

52. Sumo

Takeshi glances at watch. “Two pm.  Time for sumo. I got free passes. Let's go! The matches start in fifteen minutes.”

   The Sumo hall is nearby. Despite living in Tokyo, Kimi is new to sumo. Kimura disliked it, Olga and Harumi were baseball fans, and it was foreign to Tommy’s interests.
   Seats are up front. The vast circle of rows of wood benches, separated into four sections by aisles that reach a cross point at the sumo ring, is filled with fans, many in uniform and mostly men. In ringside rows some geisha could be colorfully sketched were an interested artist present. They sit in favored seats each with a patron, mostly military officers. Sumo with its militaristic-religious origin is favored for teaching samurai warrior virtues.

   Once the bout begins the crowd is shouting furiously. Above, 2 fleshy men squat facing in mid ring, each one's gigantic abdomen almost touching the ground, huge buttocks obscenely exposed, private parts hidden from view by loincloth. The Shinto priest referee signals Hajimete (Start!) and the 2 giants hurtle at each other with surprising speed for men so fat; each trying to upend or push the other out of the ring.

   Takeshi, Ken and Yo are up on their toes, screaming with the crowd as one wrestler loses balance and crashes to canvas but Kimi, her spirit surging to a different drum, starts her applause as the victor extends his hand to the vanquished and helps him up.

   “What an odd time to applaud,” Takeshi observes, lighting cigarette and handing it to Yo who is rapidly learning to like his bad habit. Kimi replies with her special smile. In her mind is a poem Sanya had recited.

When a man knocks another man down

All the crowd will roar with glee

But when a man helps another man up

He is the hero for me

Next a surprisingly lean yet muscular Sumo wrestler goes against a grotesquely fat one and Kimi learns sumo is more than brute pushing. It is matador versus bull and ends with sharp suddenness. Big man rushes wiry opponent to ring edge but Mr. Lean steps to one side and the rushing 180 kilograms of flesh hurtles out of ring by its own inertia.

   Kimi is getting a grudging respect for sumo. Revolted at first by the fatness and brute strength she is starting to see sumo as science of maneuver, of shift & feint, of counterbalance, of timing. It is model of test of skill at striving against another with body contact but without anger and above all with courtesy and caring for opponent feelings. It proves the power of rules and, when it is over, a sensitive observer understands what it means to be human in a good way.

  

So ends Kimi’s and Yo’s On the Town.

   For next, click 11.(53-54) The Days Wind Down to a Precious Few Be...