Do you know what sumo means? What is the origin and history of sumo? How does Japan view this sport and its curiosities? In this article, we will see a complete guide on sumo, one of the most important and traditional sports in Japan.
Surely you have seen this ancient martial art practiced by few in some media. Sumo is a sport originating from Japan, being the only country that practices and supports it professionally. This sport is so important that some awards are given by the Prime Minister of Japan.
Some rules and rituals are established, but basically, the sport is quite simple. It consists of one wrestler trying to force the other out of the ring or make him touch the ring with any part of his body. Initially, it was a sport appreciated by powerful and wealthy people, but it eventually became popular among all social classes.
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ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF sumo
In romanized Japanese, it is written sumou [相撲] where the ideogram [相] means together and [撲] means to strike, which can be literally translated as to strike each other.
The sumo wrestlers are called rikishi [力士] which literally means strong or powerful man. It is interesting to highlight the ideogram [士] which also refers to a warrior or samurai.
Similar martial arts have been reported and practiced in many parts of the world for a long time. In Japan, the sport was already mentioned in Japanese history books written in the 8th century.
It is reported that at the time of planting rice, sumo was present. Sumo sessions were held as a form of prayer for a good harvest. In other periods, sumo became an event of the imperial court.
But much of what we see today in sumo is due to Shintoism. Sumo was often performed in rituals and festivals, with the aim of entertaining the gods. A certain legend says that these fights were originally practiced by the gods themselves.
THE RITUAL AND the duration of a sumo match
Many wonder how long a sumo match lasts. First, we need to understand a little about the rituals that take place before the matches. These rituals were adopted in the 17th century.
Before the match, a ritual takes place between the 2 players that consists of taking sacred water and throwing salt on the ring before the match. Upon entering the ring, the wrestlers stomp their feet to scare away demons and clap their hands to summon the gods.
Even the sand that covers the dohyo symbolizes purity in Shintoism. Those watching these matches do not leave their seats until the entire ritual is completed. The referee also dresses like a Shinto priest.
The ritual lasts longer than the match itself. The match itself is simple and quick, usually lasting no more than 30 seconds. The goal of the contest is to force the opponent out of the dohyo or make him touch the ground with any part except the soles of his feet.
curiosities about sumo
Never neglecting traditions, sumo today is not just something religious. There are six major tournaments held annually, called hon-basho. To reach such tournaments, the wrestlers called rikishi undergo rigorous training. They follow a reinforced diet of 16,000 calories daily (what a normal person eats in a week).
Rules include having a good diet, daily exercises, and even haircuts and the clothes they wear in public. The association has prohibited wrestlers from driving their own cars due to some incidents. The “thong” they wear in matches is called mawashi, and its color represents the wrestler’s region of origin.
There are 6 basic divisions in sumo that dictate the power and hierarchy of the wrestler. The highest division is Makuuchi and the lowest is Jonokuchi. For the wrestler to rise in rank, he just needs to win the majority of his matches in the main tournaments. The matches are held in a single round and usually last a few seconds.
Another interesting fact is that there is no weight separation in sumo. Thus, a wrestler can face another who weighs double his weight. There is not a good audience for TV broadcasts, as, by tradition, they are aired between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. It is at this time that most people are returning home or are at work.
There are many curiosities and even greater is the tradition of the sport in Japan. But today, few young people want to dedicate themselves to the lifestyle of sumo. Sports like soccer and baseball are much more popular.
Others blame the decline of the sport even on the trend of video games. Even so, sumo remains alive not only as part of Japan’s tradition and religion but also as a sport and a way of life.
It is obvious that Sumo goes far beyond what is addressed in the article. Therefore, you can expect to read more information about it on our website or in the recommended books below:
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