A unique cultural and sporting spectacle, Tokyo's National Sumo Tournament is held only 6 times a year at the celebrated Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium, where sumo wrestlers grapple in an elevated ring made of clay covered in a layer of sand, to compete for top honours as sumo Grand Champion. The national sport of Japan, sumo is rich in history and tradition. Dating back over a thousand years, the sport of sumo was originally staged as entertainment for the Shinto gods. Over time, the rules and regulations evolved and developed, but the sumo seen today is very close to the one practiced in the Edo period, with many ancient traditions have been preserved, such as topknots and traditional Shinto dress code. The wrestling area or dohyō, is considered sacred and every time a wrestler enters the ring he must purify it with salt, and clap their hands to summon the gods and sip sacred water.
During tournaments, wrestlers participate in a variety of pre-bout rituals, such as shiko leg stomps and throwing salt to drive away evil spirits and purify the ring. Opponents face each other, crouch down and place their knuckles on the ground, staring at each other in a sort of mental battle, called niramiai. Sumo matches begins at the moment of 'tachiai', the initial clash when opponents rush at each other in synchrony with great force, and are often determined at this moment. A bout is lost if a wrestler steps or is forced out of the ring, or touches the ground with anything but the soles of his feet. After the match, both wrestlers again face each other on opposite sides of the ring and bow. Amazingly, Yokozuna Hakuho who won the tournament we saw, also won the 2018 Tokyo Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament a week later.
The sumo match begins at the moment of 'tachiai', the initial clash when opponents
rush at each other in synchrony with great force
The yobidashi intones the shikona (sumo wrestler's ring name) of each wrestler (rikishi)
while holding a traditional folding fan
Before the top two division matches begin, a traditional ritual known as the dohyō-iri or ‘entering the ring’ ceremony takes place with wrestlers wearing kesho-mawashi or ceremonial aprons
After the ritual, the sumo wrestlers leave the area and the bouts begin
Young sumo trainees sweep the ring periodically with straw brooms
to clear the salt and groom the surface
A bout is lost when a wrestler steps or is forced out of the ring, or touches the ground
with anything but the soles of his feet
As part of our pre-ordered set lunch, we were given a cold Asahi beer
The cold bottle of green tea was very tasty
Yakitori
Bento Box with Kaarage, steamed and pickles vegetables and rice
Going for a wander between bouts, we saw a Sumo wrestler watching the televised matches
in the lobby prior to competing later in the day
Stiffened silk fronds, called 'sagari' on the 'mawashi' loincloth are tucked to the side
before the bout begins
Dating back over a thousand years, many ancient traditions have been preserved such as topknots, and the referee dressed in kimono as a Shinto priest
The most coveted seats at sumo matches are tiny boxes which are very close to the action
With salt having been ceremoniously thrown onto the ring, the two wrestlers must crouch behind the white lines before starting the bout
Dressed in elaborate kimonos, the Gyōji's main task is to referee the bouts
between two sumo wrestlers
At the initial charge, both wrestlers must jump up from the crouch simultaneously after touching the surface of the ring with two fists at the start of the bout
Sitting at ringside in black kimonos are the officials judges, former sumo champions
that ratify the referees decisions
Just before the match, banners of corporate sponsors are paraded around the ring
Prior to the actual clash in the centre of the ring, the two wrestlers spend several minutes in a preparation ritual, extending their arms, stamping their feet, squatting, and glaring at each other
Komusubi Takakeisho (L) and Yokozuna Hakuho (R) with both fists on the ground are poised to compete for top honours on the last bout of the day
And the battle is on...
During the match, the gyōji move around the ring keeping a close eye on the match,
and even shout words of encouragement to the wrestlers
Equally matched, the two top sumo wrestlers of the day are engaged in a battle of will
Mongolian Yokozuna Hakuho closed the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament
with a perfect 15-0 record
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