Travel to Japan : who is sumo wrestler and how do you participate in the tournament?

2019年 06月25日


The history
You may have been heard about the "Sumo". This sport is very popular in Japan, has a world-wide reputation today.

The Sumo, signifies "to hit conversely", has existed for several centuries, and it has been mentioned for the first time in 712, in "Records of Ancient Matters" called "Kojiki" in Japanese.
During the military dictatorship of Kamakura, in 1192, the sumo match used for a military training in order to enhance efficiency in the fight of the soldiers. Over time, the sport of traditionnal Japanese wrestling was being modernized and transformed as an entertainment for the wealthy class, in 1603 during the Edo period, a peaceful and an economical prosperity moment.

The sumo wrestlers
The wrestling sport, at a professional level, it is for men only, called "o sumô san" in Japanese.
All wrestlers have the fighting name, generally they keep their own first name, except for the fighters from abroad.

During the training of sumo
 


At the fights, the sumo wrestlers wear only a tight band, called "mawashi", wrapping the waist and the crotch is made by a single woven belt. The hair style is made by a well-defined code, the "chonmage", established at the Edo period.
It is carefully smoothed down with the hair oil and maintained in a bun.
During all their active carriers of Sumom they keep their hair long. At the retirement of an o sumo san, is marked by a big ceremony, called danpatsu-shiki, and at this ceremony, their chonmage is cut.

Stretching before the match
 

Entry tickets
The entrance fee of the tickets are varied according to the seating places accoring to the distance of dohyô, the ring in Japanese, which would be from 3899 yen to 40000 yen.

The wrestlers are generally positionned in the east and in the west. Other ceremonies are done faced to the north. So, it is important to pay attention to the orientation at the moment of your reservation.

The tickets buying with allocated places are started generally 1 month before the starting the tournament by telephone of the stadium organizing the match or by internet. It is also possible to buy the tickets if you go to the konbini (the abbreviation of the "covenience store" in Japanese, a small shop that we find everywhere in Japan).

Other places, not well positioned ones, are sold every morning of the tornament day from 8am in front of the entrance of the stadium.

Preparation for the final fight

 
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