The World of Sumo.

(From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI))

Byline: Hatakeyama Noboru

Just after I entered primary school, I was not too healthy. I was frequently absent from school. Did I get bored at home? No way. I was busy watching Sumo magazines every day. I can remember every result of the great tournament held in the spring of 1943 of each wrestler who belonged to the upper division (Maku-uchi). I learned many kanji (Chinese characters) through reading Sumo magazines. I have been a crazy fan of this national sport for more than 60 years and will continue to be. It is said that the history of Sumo dates back to the seventh century when it was introduced into the Imperial Court ceremony. Any technique other than using tools could be used at that time, including kicking down the opponent. According to the Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association), ju-jutsu whose technique formed the basis of judo, now an Olympic sport, derived from Sumo. I think the rules of Sumo are the simplest of any sport. As many of you know, two almost naked players wearing silk loinclothes (mawashi) fight each other in a circle with a diameter of less than five meters. To win, you have to push your opponent out of the circle or make him fall down in the circle. Falling down means touching the ground with any part of one's body other than one's soles. Japan's professional Sumo league started in the Edo period (1603-1867).

Partly because of its simple rules, Sumo has become quite international nowadays in terms of its players and fans. There are currently 695 professional Sumo wrestlers, including those in the lower ranked divisions. In professional Sumo, there are six divisions, with the Maku-uchi division at the top and Jonokuchi at the bottom. Generally speaking, a new wrestler starts in the bottom division. If he has more wins than defeats in grand tournament that is held six times a year, then he will be promoted to a higher position, including getting promoted to higher division. This system is similar to one used in professional American baseball. Maku-uchi is similar to the Major League and Juryo, one division below, resembles the 3A league. Of these 695 Sumo wrestlers, 53, or 7.6%, are non-Japanese. Since the ratio of foreigners living in Japan to the entire population is less than 2% at the most, the Sumo world, one of the most traditional in its way of life and culture is much more open than Japanese society in general. Of the 53 non-Japanese mentioned above, 35 are from Mongolia, four from Russia, three from China, two each from South Korea, Brazil and Tonga and one each from the other five ...