Sumo

The Dohyo.


As my time in Japan draws to an end I am trying to cram in as many cultural must do and see as possible. This weekend I ticked off watching a sumo tournament from my list. The sport of sumo takes place in a ring called Dohyo which is about 15 feet in diametre. Above the ring a roof is hung from the ceiling which is supposed to represent a Shinto Shrine. The sumo players enter the ring and spend about 4 minutes psyching each other out and stretching , these movements are to cleanse the sumo players mind and body. Each player also scatters salt to purify the ring.

The actual wrestling is over in about 10 seconds, but all the ritual and glaring helped to build up the anticipation within the crowd. Exciting stuff especially when those heavy weights wrestled off the Dohyo and landed on a spectator who paid good money for those front row seats.

Unfortunately I lost 250 yen betting with Mr Baldwin, he bought himself a sumo mug with his winnings, alright for some!



Tania and I calm our nerves with some asahi beer.





The dohyo-iri "entering the ring" ceremony.

The ritual of glaring at each other.

Strrrrretch.