Rikishi humor..
Moti Dichne
It's often said that when two people from Osaka, or Kansai, get together, they can turn it into a comedy routine. They know exactly when to interject and get a laugh, and they do it skillfully. Laughter is the lubricant of life, the vitamin of life. But the timing of that interjection is difficult. One wrong move and you could offend the other person and it could turn into a fight. Why are people from Osaka so good at getting laughs? Rikishi are often thought of as taciturn and not very quick-witted, but that's not the case at all. There are plenty of rikishi who can have a conversation that puts even Osaka locals to shame. What kind of sense of humor do they have? Well, just listen. And laugh.
Have you ever made a wish to the heavens? Rikishi are always self-reliant. They forge their own destiny with their own strength. Perhaps that's why, when they do make a wish, something incredible happens. Although it was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, every year at the Nagoya basho held during the Tanabata season, bamboo branches are decorated at the entrance, and it is customary for the rikishi to hang strips of paper on which they have written their wishes. Here are two masterpieces among them. In 2018, when he was still a Sekiwake, Mitakeumi wrote: "I want to become handsome." It's understandable, but let's not delve too deeply into it as it may hurt his feelings. However, on the 13th day of that tournament, after defeating Ozeki Goueidou and putting himself one win away from his first yusho, Mitakeumi did indeed become handsome. Mitakeumi explained this "handsome man" as follows: "A handsome man is someone who is cool when he rises in rank and wins. I wanted to see myself looking cool (so I wrote it). Nobody wants to see Ultraman lose, right?"
The tanzaku written by Chiyotairyuu the following year, 2019, was even more outrageous: "I want an oil tycoon as my patron." Chiyotairyuu commented on this rather blunt tanzaku as follows: "It's a genuine wish, to be honest." I'm sure everyone thinks so
*OK, maybe humor is a geographical thing- I'm just the translator..
Moti
Well Moti it is cultural. Have you not noticed the issues that stand up comediants have in Japan? Better not try the Jewish homor when you visit. Well, they might lough, because they are polite...I must add that I enjoy Jewish humor. It started with Ephraim Kishon, many decades ago, to late Larry David from tv......Kind regards, Iztok
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