This and That
Under the conditions of late capitalism, Tokyo in the summer of 2009 is apparently undergoing invasion by giant dinosaurs and robots. The Owl of Minerva, perhaps?
In the meanwhile, over in Nagoya, Hakuho (13-1) has the sumo tournament just about wrapped up, if he can just knock off fellow yokozuna Asashoryu (11-3) in the final match tomorrow. The latter pulled off a remarkable win over Harumafuji on Day 13 using the spectacular kimarite (technique) “yaguranage,” last seen in 1975.
Meanwhile, there’s a very nice profile of retired sumo wrestler Konishiki in the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper.
No robots, dinosaurs, or sumo wrestlers here in Chicago: just lovely summer weather. Our backyard patio reconstruction project is nearing completion, meaning it will soon be time to fire up the barbecue grill again. In the meanwhile, I’m enjoying reading Jim Harrison’s comic novel The English Major and (for the first time in Japanese) Oe Kenzaburo’s Kojinteki na taiken (A Personal Matter). What are you reading this summer?
