From the sumo arena to the industrial front - this will be the course taken by the 150 husky members of the Futabayama and Tamanoumi training quarters as they follow their leaders to the collieries and shipyards at the end of the summer sumo tournament, now under way at the Korakuen stadium, says the Asahi.
    The Sumo Association has sent its members on circuit tours to various districts to entertain industrial workers and, at times, had organized labor corps for service on the production front. But, the temporary labor services had not proved entirely self satisfying to the wrestlers themselves. They felt that they could do more in way of serving the nation.
    On Friday, the fifth day of the summer tournament, the ardent desire for more thorough labor service assumed concrete shape in the Futabayama and Tamanoumi training quarters. Futabayama has decided that his powerful physique must be utilized to greater advantage on the labor front. He sounded out the opinions of 80 followers in his camp. They all agreed with him that they could devote the greater part of their time for action on the production front.
    The same idea of labor service has also germinated in the Nishogaseki training quarters under Tamanoumi. The 70 members were all determined as one to become industrial workers.
    The two wrestlers have some doubts as how the Sumo Association would regard their decision, as schedules had already been arranged for circuit tournaments. Futabayama and Tamanoumi approached the officials of the Sumo Association on the subject. The officials were deeply impressed by the firm and commendable determination of these wrestlers and their followers and on May 12, plans were completed by which Futabayama will lead his men to a coal mine in northern Kyushu. On the other hand, Tamanoumi will go with his men to a shipyard in the Kansai.
    At the spring and summer grand tournaments, the men will make their appearances before the sumo fans. Meanwhile, in spare moments from work, they will not neglect to do their duty toward the maintenance of the sumo art. Other training quarters have been influenced by the decision of these two wrestlers, and it is likely that they follow the example set by Futabayama and Tamanoumi.