To the Japan Sumo Association:
I have yet to watch a sumo bout. It's one of the few unfulfilled goals I set for myself when I made a list of things to do while living in Japan. I've heard that sporting events in Japan are quite the experience, and that sumo is chief among them since it has held tight to its Shinto origins of purity and pageantry. It is supposed to be as much a cultural festival as a sporting event, and I think attending a tournament would be something I would really enjoy. Which is why I am somewhat saddened that I am, for all intents and purposes, boycotting sumo.
In the past few years sumo has been synonymous with scandal. Its bout-fixing and suspected yakuza ties prompted the cancellation of the 2011 spring tournament. But I am a sports fan, believe it or not, and am aware that rigging is nothing new to the world of sports. Admittedly the extent of the rigging does seem to suggest professional wrestling more than baseball, but I'll give sumo the benefit of the doubt and believe the JSA when it says that the majority of its matches are honest.