Sumo
12 Nov 2006
In Fukuoka the sumo tournament starts in November. It happens to coincide with Shichi Go San festival. This means “seven, five, three”. Kids that age go the shrine to pray for good health and growth. It makes for some great photo opportunities.
We are on time and have tickets for the opening day of the Fukuoka Sumo Tournament. Just like at the Kunchi festival in Nagasaki, this means that you get a square which fits four Japanese people. This time we are lucky, the places around us a free so we have an opportunity to stretch our legs and use the spaces around us.
We see the wrestlers come in. They are heroes and people stand in line to see them up close. The top wrestler gets the title “yokozuna” (meaning “grand champion”). This title is for life and the wrestler cannot loose the title. They are however expected to retire as soon as their results start to worsen. The average wrestler is between 20 and 35 years old. Besides working out they eat a lot. Often they go to bed right after eating in order to gain mass.
Sumo wrestling is accompanied by a lot of ceremony. It is an ancient ritual, meant to please the Shinto gods. The status of the sumo wrestlers determines the clothing of the referee. The more important the sumo wrestler, the more elaborate the referee is dressed.
The bouts take place all day and begin with the lower classes. The bleachers don’t fill up until the end, because most people only come to see the important wrestlers.
We are on time and have tickets for the opening day of the Fukuoka Sumo Tournament. Just like at the Kunchi festival in Nagasaki, this means that you get a square which fits four Japanese people. This time we are lucky, the places around us a free so we have an opportunity to stretch our legs and use the spaces around us.
We see the wrestlers come in. They are heroes and people stand in line to see them up close. The top wrestler gets the title “yokozuna” (meaning “grand champion”). This title is for life and the wrestler cannot loose the title. They are however expected to retire as soon as their results start to worsen. The average wrestler is between 20 and 35 years old. Besides working out they eat a lot. Often they go to bed right after eating in order to gain mass.
Sumo wrestling is accompanied by a lot of ceremony. It is an ancient ritual, meant to please the Shinto gods. The status of the sumo wrestlers determines the clothing of the referee. The more important the sumo wrestler, the more elaborate the referee is dressed.
The bouts take place all day and begin with the lower classes. The bleachers don’t fill up until the end, because most people only come to see the important wrestlers.