Dec. 3rd, 2012 07:48 pm
KodoGuru S2 Ep.8: Drama Notes
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earth_colorsEp. 8: "
Episode Synopsis. Inogashira's next appointment is in the "Sumo Town" of Ryogoku. A fan of sumo, our solitary gourmand is eager to go sight-seeing around the area but gets sidetracked by "Ryogoku Kokugido" a shop that sells sweetened beans crackers and other sweet delights. Later, he goes to his "small sale" meeting but is surprised to see that there is nothing "small" about his client, an owner of a barber shop. Of course, after his meeting, he starts to crave for a Sumo style feast, and out of all the chanko shops in the area, he chooses "Oouchi" a restaurant that also offers single servings of traditional chanko....
(info and pic: tvtokyo)
Drama Notes:
Ryogoku, Sumida. This place is the heartland of sumo. Japan's national sumo stadium, Ryogoku Kokugikan is found here as well as many wrestling stables where sumo-tori train and live. Other sites to visit are the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Ryogoku Fireworks Museum.
(info: wapedia)
Eko-in. This temple was the site of all major sumo competitions during the late Edo Period to early Meiji era. Tournaments were then transferred to the original Ryogoku Kokugikan in 1909 in oder to accommodate the growing number of sumo-loving crowds.
(info and pic: wiki)
Taiho Koki. According to wiki, "He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971..."
(pic: sumo.goo)
Ranking in Sumo. Yokozuna is the highest rank in sumo. It "literally means "horizontal rope" and comes from the most visible symbol of their rank, the rope worn around the waist.." (see above pic of Taiho Koki). This rope looks the same as the shimenawa rope which is "used to mark off sacred areas in Shinto, and like the shimenawa it serves to purify and mark off its content. The rope, which may weigh up to 20 kilograms (44 lb), is not used during the matches themselves, but is worn during the yokozuna's dohyo-iri ring entrance ceremony." Next in rank is the Oozeki which is the champion rank. Before Yokuzuna ranking came about in 1600s-1700s, the Oozeki ranking was considered the highest.
(info: wiki)
Shohei Baba. Also known as "Giant Baba" or "Baba, The Giant." He played as baseball pitcher for Yomiuri Giants before becoming a well-known professional wrestler during the 60s and 70s.(info and pic: wiki)
Anko Arare. A delicacy of Ryogoku, made of red bean paste and rice crackers. It is also said to be a popular omiyage of sumo wrestlers when they return to their hometowns.
(info and pic: kotsu.metro)
Mitarashi dango. One theory says its name "Mitarashi" [御手洗団子] was taken from the mitarashi (purifying water at the entrance of a shrine). This pond is that of Shimogamo Shrine where Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) was said to have scooped some water when a bubble appeared, followed by four more. Covered in sweet soy sauce, these five dumplings on a stick are said to have been created in a tea house in that same area to resemble those bubbles.
(info and pic: wiki)
Chankonabe. What a sumo wrestler gorges on in order to gain weight (along with rice and beer for full caloric intake). Anyway, chanko is relatively a healthy dish with ingredients rich in protein (chicken or fish) and vegetables with chicken broth as soup base, sometimes flavored with sake or mirin. Many sumo wrestlers set up chanko restaurants in Ryogoku after retiring, explaining why there were so many of these shops in the area. If you're planning to sample chanko in Ryogoku, wikitravel advises "that this is usually fairly expensive, with sets starting around ¥2,500/person." You'll probably need to have at least one companion with you to share and help finish this meal. And if you happen to be in town during the grand tournament seasons (January, May, and September), better make reservations well in advance.
(info: wikitravel) (pic: sakurahostel)
"Miyoshi Sekai Nyudo" A character in Sanada Sandaiki's Edo period novel "Sanada Ten Warriors." He is a ninja who is also depicted in popular culture as a nyudo (monk).
(info: travelcnn, jnto) (pic: kuu.yukihutaru)
Chanko for One o
"f Ryogoku, Sumida Ward, Tokyo
Episode Synopsis. Inogashira's next appointment is in the "Sumo Town" of Ryogoku. A fan of sumo, our solitary gourmand is eager to go sight-seeing around the area but gets sidetracked by "Ryogoku Kokugido" a shop that sells sweetened beans crackers and other sweet delights. Later, he goes to his "small sale" meeting but is surprised to see that there is nothing "small" about his client, an owner of a barber shop. Of course, after his meeting, he starts to crave for a Sumo style feast, and out of all the chanko shops in the area, he chooses "Oouchi" a restaurant that also offers single servings of traditional chanko....
(info and pic: tvtokyo)
Drama Notes:
 | ..... |  |
| Featured Eatery: Chanko Restaurant Oouchi [割烹ちゃんこ 大内] Address: 2-9-6 Ryogoku, Sumida Ward, Tokyo Tel. no. 03-3635-5349 Nearest Station: 4 min walk from West Exit of JR Ryogoku Station More pix and info: tabelog (map) | Featured Sweets Shop: Ryoguku Kokugido [両国 國技堂 コクギドウ] Address: 2-17-3 Ryogoku Sumida Ward, Tokyo Tel. no: 03-3631-3856 Nearest Station: 2 min walk from East Exit of JR Ryogoku Station More pix and info: tabelog (map) |
(info: wapedia)
Eko-in. This temple was the site of all major sumo competitions during the late Edo Period to early Meiji era. Tournaments were then transferred to the original Ryogoku Kokugikan in 1909 in oder to accommodate the growing number of sumo-loving crowds.
(info and pic: wiki)
Taiho Koki. According to wiki, "He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971..."
(pic: sumo.goo)
Ranking in Sumo. Yokozuna is the highest rank in sumo. It "literally means "horizontal rope" and comes from the most visible symbol of their rank, the rope worn around the waist.." (see above pic of Taiho Koki). This rope looks the same as the shimenawa rope which is "used to mark off sacred areas in Shinto, and like the shimenawa it serves to purify and mark off its content. The rope, which may weigh up to 20 kilograms (44 lb), is not used during the matches themselves, but is worn during the yokozuna's dohyo-iri ring entrance ceremony." Next in rank is the Oozeki which is the champion rank. Before Yokuzuna ranking came about in 1600s-1700s, the Oozeki ranking was considered the highest.
(info: wiki)
Shohei Baba. Also known as "Giant Baba" or "Baba, The Giant." He played as baseball pitcher for Yomiuri Giants before becoming a well-known professional wrestler during the 60s and 70s.
Anko Arare. A delicacy of Ryogoku, made of red bean paste and rice crackers. It is also said to be a popular omiyage of sumo wrestlers when they return to their hometowns.
(info and pic: kotsu.metro)
Mitarashi dango. One theory says its name "Mitarashi" [御手洗団子] was taken from the mitarashi (purifying water at the entrance of a shrine). This pond is that of Shimogamo Shrine where Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) was said to have scooped some water when a bubble appeared, followed by four more. Covered in sweet soy sauce, these five dumplings on a stick are said to have been created in a tea house in that same area to resemble those bubbles.
(info and pic: wiki)
Chankonabe. What a sumo wrestler gorges on in order to gain weight (along with rice and beer for full caloric intake). Anyway, chanko is relatively a healthy dish with ingredients rich in protein (chicken or fish) and vegetables with chicken broth as soup base, sometimes flavored with sake or mirin. Many sumo wrestlers set up chanko restaurants in Ryogoku after retiring, explaining why there were so many of these shops in the area. If you're planning to sample chanko in Ryogoku, wikitravel advises "that this is usually fairly expensive, with sets starting around ¥2,500/person." You'll probably need to have at least one companion with you to share and help finish this meal. And if you happen to be in town during the grand tournament seasons (January, May, and September), better make reservations well in advance.
(info: wikitravel) (pic: sakurahostel)
"Miyoshi Sekai Nyudo" A character in Sanada Sandaiki's Edo period novel "Sanada Ten Warriors." He is a ninja who is also depicted in popular culture as a nyudo (monk).
(info: travelcnn, jnto) (pic: kuu.yukihutaru)
