The Japanese are among the proudest people of their cultural heritage. Many of their practices, creations, and traditions date back to the feudal era. Even if many of these are now mostly maintained for aesthetic appreciation, they are still largely relevant to the modern generation.
What kind of martial art and sport is sumo?
Sumo is a type of wrestling unique to Japan. It can be considered a niche sport because of the strict discipline it requires to achieve the ideal body and mindset. Although it’s not as popular as basketball and baseball, it is still a highly regarded sport where its top athletes often gain prestige in other industries. Such examples include Baruto Kaito who, after retiring from the sumo, participated in acting, politics, and being a brand ambassador for Baruto Casino.
While most martial arts favor toned body types and controlled weight class, sumo wrestlers have an iconic ideal figure. All practitioners of this art strive to have a round and heavy figure. While it can be mistaken as fat by the majority of the world, it is a healthy body build ideal for the type of martial art sumo.
Sumo has the most strict set of rules than most sports. Tradition must be followed from how matches are organized to the ritual preceding the battle between wrestlers. Discipline and determination are honed as early as upon joining the stables because it is the most important element of a wrestler’s arsenal.
How relevant is sumo to Japan’s culture?
Japan considers sumo a modern martial art although its practice dates back to ancient times. It is a competition religiously held to entertain the Shinto gods and gain their favor in the coming years of life. Practices from then continued to this day like the purification of the arena at the start of the match or prayer-like practices in training.
Today, it is a sport of glory where participants all aim to be the best in Japan. All who endured the unforgiving training at the stables fight with different motivations. A few wish to earn the glory and benefits given to a sumo wrestler in Japan and most are dedicated to seeking glory. Some treat sumo as a way to improve themselves as individuals both spiritually and mentally.
Sumo’s cultural importance is so significant that the government is directly supporting its association. Although it has a myriad of benefits, it also often results in heavier pressure on the practitioners of the art. An example of this in practice is how the Sumo Association banned all wrestlers from driving cars. This is both a safety measure as people with heavy bodies can’t fit in the driver’s seat and also a spiritual decision to maintain the purity of Rikishi.
How are tournaments organized for Sumo?
Several grand sumo tournaments are held across different stadiums in Japan every year. Each one starts on a Sunday and runs for 15 days, also ending on a Sunday. There are six such tournaments in total spread across every 2nd month starting in January. All matches must begin at 6 in the morning as per their training at the stables including early-morning chores.
A match begins with a few delicate steps that must be observed step-by-step. It includes purifying the arena with salt, touching the ring with two fists, and jumping simultaneously from the crouch. The referee, dressed in elaborate silk, can reset the bout if the wrestlers failed to follow all of the steps. Its importance is both a form of respect for discipline as well as a homage to the sport’s roots as a religious activity.
Are sumo wrestlers celebrities in Japan?
Sumo is treated with reverence in the country including the national government and the public. However, not all wrestlers can enjoy such attention. Royal treatment is typically only given to rikishi or professional sumo wrestlers. Trainees or amateur participants are not seen with the same level of reverence but they are still respected as athletes.
Reaching a top-division rank is often seen as a great achievement and reaching the top rank, Ozeki, is given a high social status within the Sumo Association. They also get the honor to participate in rituals and formal activities involving the sport and its organizers. Some sumo wrestlers become celebrities who explore creative outlets like acting. Many of them also become endorsers of products, goods, or services both inside and outside of Japan.
Is Sumo practice exclusive to the Japanese?
No. Many foreigners come to Japan primarily to pursue a career as a sumo wrestlers. The doors of stables across the country are open to everyone seeking to participate in this honorable sport. Among the most famous examples of a prominent foreign sumo wrestler is the Czech national Takanoyama Shuntaro.
Besides being a foreigner, he is also popular for going against the norm. Having a heavy body build is often favorable in sumo but it’s not a requirement. Weight and a dense body mass make the wrestler harder to push or pull out of the ring. Despite lacking such advantages, Shuntaro reached Maegashira in 2012 and he is known as ‘Skinny Sumo’.
The aforementioned Baruto Kaito is also a well-known Rikishi from Estonia. He reached Ozeki or champion rank, making him the most successful foreigner in sumo. Baruto carries his love for Sumo for most of his life even after retirement, making it his main theme in Baruto Casino games.
Celebrate the art of sumo when you visit Japan
Sumo is part of Japan’s identity and its practice remains strong with hundreds of participants joining every year and full support from various organizers. You can watch these events at different stadiums so check the calendar of sites near you. Alternatively, you can also become a Rikishi if you have what it takes to be a champion. Sumo will continue to prosper and remain one of Japan’s culturally rich practices and you may celebrate it with everyone.
