THE SHARPE BROTHERS ruined Sumo wrestling for Japan, according to columnist Jack McDonald of the Call-Bulletin who interviewed Big Ben and Mike on their return last week from the Land of the Rising Sun --- interest in the Sharpes on their arrival in Tokyo was heightened by the fact Japan is currently in the throes of a big wrestling rebellion against the centuries-old Sumo type --- The younger generation is tired of watching the 380-pound Sumo wrestlers with big pot ellybays push and maul each other around --- They want more action and rough stuff --- Ben and Mike hit Japan just at the right time and gave it to them --- when they arrived some of the Sumo diehards predicted they wouldn't draw flies --- but, after 15 matches in 18 days, before crowds of 20,000 sitting on the floor, they changed their tune --- The Sharpes set a record for any sports event held at the Sumo Arena in Tokyo --- For a match not scheduled to be held until March 9, tickets were put on sale at 7 o'clock in the morning of February 16, three weeks in advance --- By five that evening the place was sold out and scalpers were making a fortune selling ringside tickets for 10,000 yen, or 40 bucks apiece --- The Sharpes believed they made converts of their style of wrestling out of thousands of older Japanese fans who had watched Sumo all their lives --- And scores of Sumo wrestlers, seeing how excited the crowds got when the Sharpes performed, sought them out wanting to change their style and asked how to go about it --- "First thing they'll have to do is get rid of their bay windows," Ben says he told them "It seems to be part of the Sumo tradition to have big stomachs. They believe their stature as wrestlers is gauged by the measurement of their waistlines. The Japanese will never be successful wrestling our way unless they trim down. They'd never be able to stand the pace. They aren't big boned men to start with" --- It is hard to believe, but the Sharpes actually received more notice in Tokyo than Joe and Marilyn DiMaggio, visiting there at the same time they were mobbed by thousands at the airport and received a ticker tape shower during an hour long parade through the city.