Sumo: The Story of Japan's Oldest Sport

Sumo, the national (and oldest) sport in Japan is deceptively simple. The significance and history surrounding the rituals and traditions of the sport date back hundreds of years and go deeper than what they might appear at first glance. Let’s take a look at the history of sumo and what makes it so special!

History of Sumo

The origins of sumo aren’t quite clear. All that historians know is that the basic premise has existed since ancient times and was codified into a sport in the 1600s. It’s been competed in professionally since then! Originally it is thought that sumo was a performance made to entertain the Shinto deities. Many of the rituals and traditions from sumo’s religious past still live on to this day. Matches still take place on a dohyo, or an elevated ring made of clay and covered with sand. This space is considered sacred and wrestlers toss salt into the ring for purification before each bout.

The Rules and Rankings of Sumo

The rules of sumo are quite simple: the first wrestler to toss his opponent out of the ring or force him to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of his feet is the winner. Matches usually last mere seconds, but can sometimes last a few minutes.

Six tournaments are held throughout the year: three in Tokyo in January, May, and September, and one each in Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka in March, July, and November respectively. These tournaments last for 15 days in which time each wrestler competes in one bout, or fewer for lower-ranking wrestlers.

The ranking system or hierarchy is known as the banzuke, and is updated after each tournament. 

Wrestlers who win more matches than they lose and end with a positive record move up the rankings, while those who have more losses than wins move down. The division at the top of the hierarchy is called the Makunouchi, the division below that is the Juryo, and the grand champion is the Yokozuna. Yokozuna don’t move down in the rankings with losses but rather are expected to retire when their performance declines.

The Life of a Sumo Wrestler

There are few sports in the world with athletes as imposing as those who participate in sumo. Weighing an incredible 330 pounds on average, rikishi, or sumo wrestlers, are serious athletes as well as serious eaters. There is no weight-class system in the sport, so wrestlers can easily find themselves matched against an opponent that weighs significantly more than they do. For this reason, diet is a big part of a rikishi’s life. Hearty nabe hot pots and meals dense with calories and nutrition are a regular part of life at a stable where wrestlers live and practice.

Watching a Live Tournament

If you’re lucky enough to snag highly sought-after (and expensive) tickets to a tournament, you’ll find yourself sitting ringside in Japanese-style box seats that feature floor seating for around 4 spectators.  Be on the lookout during the matches if you have ringside seats as there is a high risk of one of the massive wrestlers being flung upon you! Or perhaps tickets for the second-floor balcony where there are Western-style seats are more your vibe. Wherever you manage to watch from, it is sure to be an event full of excitement and culture! And if you get there early on, be prepared to watch the stadium slowly fill as the Makunouchi bouts approach later in the day.

About the author: 

Kevin Kilcoyne

The spark that lit Kevin Kilcoyne’s interest in Japanese culture began in elementary school through a friendship with his then classmate Keisuke. Since then, that passion has evolved and bloomed to encompass more than just video games and manga, leading Kevin to live in Japan as a participant of the JET program. During his time in Japan, Kevin sought out as many foods as he could, the experiences and taste memories lingering long after they had gone. Now he is forging a path to link his passions for Japanese food, history, and visual culture and is planning for his return to live in Japan once again. For now, you can find Kevin on Instagram (@waruishouten) where he posts his photography and illustration work. Keep an eye out for more posts and updates as Kevin delves more deeply into his passions for writing and food.