Less cushion for the sumo pushin'

In Japan, if there is a big upset at a sumo event, the fans pick up and fling their seat cushions. This didn't happen at the sumo event I attended in 2004, but I saw video of it a few times when I was over there and it looks pretty cool. Essentially it's the sumo equivalent of throwing hats on the ice at a hockey game after a player scores a hat trick, or throwing hot dogs at Chuck Knoblauch or the Chicago WhiteSox during dollar dog night at the Dome.

So I was saddened to read this article about how the Japan Sumo Association is putting a stop to cushion throwing. I liked the idea of starting a little pillow fight after watching two behemoths slam, push, choke, gouge, and throw each other around. The world really is going to Hell when Japan does stuff to be less fun.