Before the basho started, two weeks before the TV program's last day, I visited Kokonoe-beya's training spot in Nagoya, to watch the sumo guys practice. Instead of standing in the de facto viewing area, I lost my way around the place and inadvertently ended up at the foot of the temple that overviewed the practice ring. I came to watch at 7 AM. Chiyonofuji appeared and sat on top of the stairs at around nine. He was only a few feet away from me!
That was my very first time to see Chiyonofuji in person, so I guess I was staring. My jaw simply dropped and I stared and stared at him, all the while pinching myself reminding me to turn my head and pretend to watch the sumo guys practice. I somehow managed to look at the practicing guys, but every minute or so I would turn my head and to steal glimpses of the legend (Oh, okay, they lasted longer than that, so it must have been staring). Yes, it's rude to stare at anyone, legend or otherwise. But what the heck! I was so sure he wouldn't remember me at all after I left the practice area. I just wanted to look at him, and not bother him with photos or autographs or whatever. I was so sure I'd just be another totally forgettable henna gaijin (weirdo foreigner).
But two weeks later, at Nagoya TV, he looked around the studio and saw me. A spark of recognition lit his already smouldering eyes.
"Doshite soko ni iru no?" (What are you doing there?) he growled, looking straight at me! The greatest sumo guy to walk the face of the earth was a few meters away and addressing me, complete with knitted brows and dagger look.
I froze. Everyone in the studio turned to look at me--the commentator/announcer, the cameraman, the director, the studio hands, the members of Chiyo's brigade--a dozen pairs of eyes turned to stare at me.
I was so SHOCKED I sat up rod-straight. I thought my jaws would lock. But typical of me when taken by surprise, I panicked and blubbered and blurted and hemmed and hawed and stuttered like a complete fool.
"Uh, e, watashi wa...Chiyonofuji ga...daisuki desu kara...sumimasen!" (I, uh, um...because I...really like Chiyonofuji...Sorry!) I spluttered and then bowed, all the while wanting to evaporate into thin air. For that moment I thought that DEATH would be sweetest. And I thought I knew the meaning of the word "embarrassed"!
A look from the side of the set.
I had no choice but to sit there for the whole fourty or so minutes of filming, trying my damn hardest not to stare nor get in his line of sight. I had never been so mortified in my whole life.
After the filming, one of the studio hands brought out a point-and-shoot camera and asked to be photographed with Chiyo. Being the mortified mouse that I had become, I just sat there and looked, missing the chance to get his autograph, despite the fact that I had prepared a special shikishi (a square, thick piece of white cardboard) and a calligraphy pen just for that.
Now all I can do is kick myself for that stupid answer. It didn't even respond to his question correctly! What had my liking Chiyonofuji got to do with my sitting there in front of him, out of nowhere? I could have been more lucid. You know, say "Watashi wa Chiyonfoji no fan desu kara, nama no Chiyonofuji o ichido mitai to omoimashita. Gomeiwaku kakemashite, moushiwake arimasen" (I'm a Chiyonofuji fan and really wanted to see you in person, just once. I hope my presence doesn't bother you, sir). You know, something that makes sense.
Sigh.
Anyway, at this point, there's really no use crying over spilled milk. I had made a vow to run after him again after a few years, when, hopefully, my Nihonggo level would have improved to the point where my being mortified doesn't end up with the blurting out of stupid replies. But alas, it has been two years since that scary Chiyo experience, and I still haven't mustered the courage to go near him again and this time, make sure that I get his autograph and say a few sincere words of admiration. Man, talk about being a coward.
In March 2002 I will finally graduate from Nagoya Unviversity, and only heaven knows what befalls my future. Will I be able to find work in Japan? Will I go back to the Philippines? Will I end up in another country? Nothing is clear as of this writing, but I do know one thing. Call me hopeless, call me pathetic, call me dumb--I mean, geez, Chiyo would be really irked to see me "stalking" him again--but I don't want to leave Japan without getting Chiyo's autograph. Is there anyone out there who likes sumo and knows of the Chiyonofuji legend and would like to try running after the guy and his autograph? If so, let me know by emailing me at sumofan@claireworks.net. Your mere presence would give me the courage to face The Wolf and this time, finally manage to get that blasted autograph!
