How to Watch Sumo in Japan for May 2023
Enjoying Sumo tournaments, wrestlers training and tours in Japan
Sumo wrestling. It is arguably one of the first things that will pop up in your head when you hear “Japan”. It is extremely popular among foreign visitors, and for a good reason. It is such a unique and odd sport in comparison to any other contemporary sport around.
It is the Japanese national sport, and although there are countries where you can see Sumo wrestling be played at an amateur level, you will be able to see a professional Sumo match only in Japan.
It has a long history and strong ties with the Shinto religion. Many of its rituals which can still be seen when going to a Sumo match.
In this article, I will show you the basics of Sumo wrestling such as history, culture, and rules. And for those who are interested in going to a Sumo tournament, I will also show you the schedule, the venues, and how to get tickets.
I Hope you enjoy!
<<Book here for Tokyo Sumo Tournament Tour in May 2023!!>>
1. History
As I stated previously, Sumo wrestling has a very long history with strong ties to the Shinto religion.
There can be found mentions of the origins of Sumo in the “Kojiki”(古事記) and “Nihon Shoki”(日本書紀) which are the oldest literary works in Japan, believed to be written during the early 8th century.
What is written here is basically Japanese mythology, describing a battle between “Kami” (Shinto gods) to decide possession of territories, but there are also records about ritual fights between mortals taking place as far back as 23 B.C. In prehistoric times, these fights were held in front of the emperor and said to be held until one of the fighters died.
But along with the passing of time, the format of Sumo also went changing(no more killing). In the 8th century, Sumo tournaments were held once a year as a trial for selecting royal guards. But at the same time, Sumo matches were also held as a ritual in Shinto shrines to predict the upcoming agricultural and fishery outcome.
This duality of “Physical strength” and “Shinto ritual” between these two types of Sumo was apparent at first but started to blend together, especially around the Edo-period. Sumo wrestling had changed from a “force recruiting method” for the Daimyo(lords) to an “entertainment event” for the masses. All this while incorporating the Shinto rituals.
Most of what Sumo is as we know it now was created around this time.
Nowadays, Sumo is known for both the athletic competitive side as the national sport as well as the Shinto ritual side as one of the most important Japanese culture. It is because of this duality that Sumo has become one of the most popular attraction points in Japan for foreign visitors.
2. Rules
For those who are not very familiar with how Sumo wrestling works, here are the basic rules.
First, let’s talk about appearances. A Sumo wrestler, known in Japan as “Rikishi”(力士), can only wear a “Mawashi” (廻し) during a match. A Mawashi is a silk belt that is about 30 feet long that is wrapped around your waist.
A Rikishi’s hairstyle is also predetermined. the hairstyle that you see on Rikishi or in samurai movies is called “Mage”(髷). There are two types of Mage in Sumo which are “Oicho-mage” for high-ranked Rikishi, and “Chon-mage” for lower-ranked Rikishi.
Now let’s talk about the match rules. A Sumo match consists of only 1 round with no time limit. The matches are always 1 vs 1. Whoever steps out of the “Dohyo”(ring of 4.55 m of diameter) first, or touches the ground with any part of the body other than their feet, loses. A Sumo match usually lasts a few seconds.
The techniques used to defeat the opponent are by throwing, shoving, or pushing the opponent. There are officially 82 “Kimarite”(決まり手) which means “ways of beating an opponent”. You cannot punch(use a closed fist), pull the hair, poke the eyes, or grab the opponent’s throat.
Other ways of being disqualified from a match are by not appearing to the match or by not wearing your Mawashi in a proper way.
How to get tickets
You can join this Tokyo Sumo Tournament Tour in May 2023 (including tickets).
<<Book here for Tokyo Sumo Tournament Tour in May 2023!!>>
Watch the Japanese national sport, sumo wrestling in Tokyo with a professional guide!
To ensure that you understand the sumo matches and the sport itself, watch the sumo with a knowledgeable and passionate guide on this tour! You can also visit the Sumo Museum, located inside the Ryogoku Kokugikan, which displays a wide range of exhibitions on the history of sumo and the ceremonial goods of the great rikishi of the past.
Sumo tournaments take place six times a year, and Tokyo hosts the tournament in January, May, and September. Tickets are likely sold out quickly but with our tour, you don't have to worry about it, as they are included!