#thien  pham

Short version: Scott reels from a bad breakup and moves to Japan to become a sumo wrestler.  At the dojo, they change everything about him from his hair color to his name, and in the process he changes himself.

What I thought: This was a sweet story, one of those “find your inner strength” sort of inspirational tales, but the fact that Scott is such a gentle giant really makes it genuine.  Sumo is an ancient sport, full of masculinity and raw power, neither of which is really part of Scott’s personality.  He’s the sort of person who gently lets fish go when he hooks them, and accepts punishments without even considering complaining.  Still, he finds a way to balance everything in a wonderfully Zen way, and finds real peace through taking control of his life.
I can’t say much after that, because this thing was really short, practically a pamphlet.  I loved the art, very simple stuff that only used color as a means of showing which setting Scott was in, blue for America, orange for the dojo, green for the fishing spot.  Still, the artist manages to show the reader exactly what the appeal of sumo is, which to an American eye can be hard to grasp.  It’s not just fat guys being near-naked, people.  These guys are athletes, and they command your respect.  So does all the pageantry of the rest of the sport.
I’d call this a good one for anyone considering a change in cultures.

Read if you liked: 47 Ronin by Sean Michael Wilson, The Lady or the Tiger? by Frank Stockton, Slothby Gilbert Hernandez, The Arrival Shaun Tan