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A scale showing the heights of the following rikishi, from left to right: Shakagatake Kumoemon, 5'11"; Ikuzuki Geitazaemon, 6' 0"; Oozora Buzaemon, 6' 0"; Ryuumon Yoshigoro, 6' 2"; Chiyonoyama Masanobu, 6' 3"; Oozutsu Manemon, 6' 6"; Yamakawa Toshio, 6' 6"; Hokuseiho Osamu, 6' 7"; Akashi Shiganosuke, 6' 7"; Kotooshu Katsunori, 6' 8"; Ouchiyama Heikichi, 6' 8"; Dewagatake Bunjiro, 6' 8"; Akebono Taro, 6' 8"; Fudoiwa Mitsuo, 7' 0".

Who Was the Tallest Rikishi in Japanese History?

On Jason’s All-Sumo YouTube channel, Jason wondered who might have been the tallest Japanese-native rikishi. My interest now piqued, down into the rabbit hole I dove.


July 14, 2022 0
Soccer broadcast setup showing a microphone, sound board, and laptop.

Five Key Differences Between Announcing and Broadcasting

Announcers and broadcasters play distinctly different roles at sports events. Use these five reminders to help keep them straight.


December 30, 2019 0

What I Have Learned About Announcing Soccer

The past few seasons of announcing men’s and women’s collegiate soccer have been a joyous ride, and every year I learn something new.


October 24, 2019 0
Gras, Allo, Yang, Hatchi, Robby, Ikku

A Viewer’s Guide to RobiHachi: Getting Started

On its surface, the gag anime RobiHachi [ロビハチ] directed by Shinji Takamatsu is filled with contemporary and pop cultural references. But the story and characters are inspired from a book series titled Tōkaidōchū Hizakurige written by Jippensha Ikku and published during the late Edo Period.


May 13, 2019 0
Antagonist, Togashi Saemon.

Made in Japan: Kanjinchō (The Subscription List)

I found a terrific video of a live kabuki performance of Kanjinchō 勧進帳 (The Subscription List),  which is a favorite of yours truly. The play is listed among the 18 Famous Kabuki Plays (歌舞伎十八番) in the kabuki repertoire and still hugely popular to this day. The leading character is a fierce warrior named Benkei, regarded an exemplar…
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September 25, 2018 0
Cartoon headshot of woman with long,dark hair and wearing glasses on her face and a demon mask on top of her head like a cap.

Made in America: Hey, How Are You Doing?

That breezy little greeting still gives me pause. During the fleeting seconds after hearing it, my mind races to come up with an answer. So why do I struggle over this simple conversation starter? The answer reveals much about the difference between American and Japanese communications.


September 9, 2018 0
Map of Edo showing Kaneiji Temple.

Behind the Story of Blood and Tears – Making a Map and Banners for the Battle of Ueno

Credit: sabakuINK CC BY-SA 4.0  Source: C.V. Starr East Asian Library, University of California, Berkeley   Episode 12 (13AUG) of Blood and Tears includes a map detailing troop movements during the Battle of Ueno. This graphic started with a woodblock print of Edo published in 1858—part of the Japanese Historical Map Collection housed at the…
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August 28, 2018 0
DVD cover of "American Pastime"

Made in America: Working in the film “American Pastime”

(Originally published in my blog, The Sporkball Journals, on July 20, 2008.) There is no small irony in the fact I now live just a 2-hour drive away from where my Grandparents, Father and Aunts were once imprisoned. On the other hand, you could call it a kind of fate


August 25, 2018 0
Yabaonna

Behind the Story of “Blood and Tears” – Yaba Onna

In Episode 2, Usaburo informs O-Bun that a yaba onna is not the type service worker she had in mind. yaba = archery range onna = woman


June 12, 2018 0
Dogs sleeping on a bed.

Kidney Disease in Pets and Enteric Dialysis

Chronic kidney disease in pets, usually dogs and cats, can be treated with a novel therapy called enteric dialysis to improve their quality of life and life span.


February 2, 2017 0

Protected: Generative AI in 3 Acts

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.


September 20, 2023 0
Julie Meyers and Juli Gillespie

Female Sports P.A. Announcers: A Rare Breed

This article originally appeared in the March 2020 issue of “The Voice“, the official newsletter of the National Association of Sports P.A. Announcers (NASPAA). Photo credits: (left) Jonathan Okanes, (right) University of Washington Recreation. Female Sports P.A. Announcers: A Rare Breed By Anita Y. Tsuchiya, CPAA Salt Lake Community College and University of Utah, Salt Lake…
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March 10, 2020 0
Headshot and NASPAA certificate

Now Open! P.A. Announcing and Emcee Services Page

I have reached a few professional milestones: creating of a PA Announcer landing page, Becoming a Certified Public Address Announcer (CPAA), and announcing a women’s basketball game at the University of Utah on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.


February 3, 2020 0