when Tdub and i got the word that we would be moving to Japan, i was quickly reminded by my friend Bernie that Sumo was their national sport.
yes.
going to watch sumo wrestling climbed to the tippy top of our list of things we would want to witness while we were here. Monday, the 18th, was the big day. it took me about a week of trying to get the tickets. 4 stops later, playing charades with Japanese people to try and communicate (i have gotten very good at charades. you want me on your team in Gestures is all i'm gonna say.), traveling on the train to another town and then playing charades again to pick the seats...i was able to finally purchase the tickets for us and 13 other friends! we were on the third row in the chair seats, apparently only the "hard core fans", as told to me my a Japanese woman, sit in the "box seats" on the floor. they were perfect. we had a great view. and could see all the action and my zoom lens worked as binoculars for all of us when we wanted to get close and personal with the competitors.
this sport is rich in meaning and tradition. everything they do has a purpose, from throwing salt, to the way the position they wear their hair knot, to the ceremonies and dances, and the way they lift their leg. we found the ritual of it completely interesting and intriguing. there are like 84 winning moves, so even the smallest motion can make you a winner. a bout is won by forcing the opponent out of the inner circle, throwing him into the crowd, of if your opponent touches the round with any part of his body, a knee, the tip of his finger or top of his hair knot. there are no weight limits in sumo, like in boxing or wrestling so it is possible for a rikishi (the competitor) to find himself across the ring from an opponent twice his own weight. eek. there are only six grand tournaments a year, each lasting 15 days. (more sumo trivia is listed below with the pictures.)
another highlight is you can bring in all your own food and drinks in to really any sporting event in Japan. take that America and your over priced coca cola! "sorry sweetie, you actually can't go to college, we spent your college savings on a hot dog and coke at the Spurs game." tdub did splurge for a bowl of "Sumo Stew" for Y250, the contents included: sausage, bacon, squid, several kinds of mushrooms and cabbage (oh good they do eat veggies). the big boys apparently eat this ALL the time. and by the pictures you are about to see they for sure eat this...and a whole lot more. really quite remarkable.
i took way too many pictures and will post more than i need to i am sure. sorry!
**the pictures you are about to see could be harmful for little children's eyes, or your own. if you are not ok with big naked bunners, don't scroll down. and you thought you had cellulite. :)**
all the competetors enter the ring for this ceremony...their ceremony aprons on an average cost $20,000 - gold and silver thread, with precious stones sewn about.
the top sumo wrestler (the yokozuna) from the east and from the west come out and give a little ceremonial dance.
they have up to 4 minutes to actually begin the bout. (in early sumo the start of the match could be delayed indefinetly...boring!) so they spend that time staring at one another, getting up, slapping their legs, throwing salt...they are apparently waiting for the "psychological moment" when they both feel ready.
ready to rumble...
the progression of the next three pictures is really funny!
bottoms up!
don't be jealous...we got our picture with the guy on the left. p.s. he won his bout.
our friend Jeremy and our new Aussie friend we met there, Scott, enjoy the bouts!
throwing salt before the bout "purifies" the ring.
the yokozuna that wins the top bout for the day comes out and gives another ceremonial dance...
every sport has fans that are obnoxious.
guilty as charged.
