Sumo Wrestling

Living in Fukuoka I’m extremely lucky as each year in November there is a Sumo event. I’ve been to this event twice since I moved to Japan. You can also go to Sumo events in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya at different times of the year.

On the two occasions I’ve gone to Sumo I have purchased box tickets, these boxes normally hold 4-6 people. Shoes are removed before you enter the box and you are seated on cushions on the floor. When buying tickets you buy the box rather than individual seats. You can bring your own food and drinks to the match, and you can also buy bento and drinks at the stadium.

Sumo has been practiced in Japan for 2000 years. Due to its deep history, Sumo has many traditional features. Only men practice Sumo, Sumo wrestlers are known as Rikishi (力士 which means a gentleman of strength). While wrestling Rikishi wear only a loincloth which is called a Mawashi.

The ring is called the Dohyo. Before every match the Dohyo is cleansed to pray for the safety of the wrestlers. Salt and rice are used to cleanse the Dohyo. Rikishi are often seen throwing salt into the ring before a match.

When the Rikishi enter the Dohyo they perform the Shiko. This is an exercise which involves raising a leg high in the air and stomping down. The Rikishi do this to remove any evil spirits from the ring. The Rikishi also cleanse their hands and their mouths before the fight. This is similar to the tradition at temples in Japan where you wash your hands and your mouth when entering a sacred place.

The fight will start when both Rikishi crouch down and touch the floor with both hands. The objective is to force your opponent out of the ring. Also, if any part other than the soles of the Rikishi’s feet touches the ground the opponent is declared the winner. The fight itself usually lasts a few seconds but can last for over one minute.

 

Rikishi are paid by businesses that sponsor the match. Each sponsor pays about 60,000 yen (600 euro). Half of the money is given immediately to the winner of the match. The other half is kept by the Sumo Association and given to the winner when he retires. Generally at the beginning of the match the sponsors are shown via Kensho. These are brightly colored banners showing the business name. Most of the matches from the top division can have between 3 - 5 Kensho however the more popular matches can have 20 - 50 Kensho.

Rikishi eat high calorie foods to help them gain weight. One famous dish they often eat is called chanko nabe, which is a beef stew with vegetables. To become a Rikishi you must leave your home and live at a sumo training stable. Normally they join a stable after finishing Junior high school, at the age of 14 or 15. They cannot wear normal clothes in public; they are often seen wearing a yukata or a kimono with wooden sandals. They must wear their hair in the traditional way, in a topknot, at all times.

Sumo is interesting as it is a sport that has very traditional roots. From learning more about the sport I realized it is not just about athleticism like most sports we know today. To be a Sumo wrestler is taking on a whole lifestyle. Despite its traditionally Japanese roots there are some famous international sumo wrestlers more commonly from Bulgaria, Mongolia and Hawaii.

Given the opportunity I would definitely go to another Sumo event. If you enjoy sports I’d definitely look into it if you plan to visit Japan. Tickets can be difficult to get so you should try to buy them as soon as they go available as they often sell out. 

*Special thanks to my friend Robyn for the amazing photos used in this blog post.