Edited November 19 by nutzername Gyoji are also graded, and their rank can be determined by the color of the tassel on his fan. sumo's popularity grew, the number of major tournaments increased to four basho a year and then in 1958, the current six-basho-a-year format was established. In contrast, tours held between hon-basho are called jungyo (巡業). The Grand Sumo Tournament (Bash) is held, yearly, in Tokyo. Forbidden moves in sumo are called kinjite (禁じ手), which include punching an opponent in the face, pulling an opponent’s hair, or grabbing their sack *ahem* crotch area. The word itself means "way of the gods." Interesting. The fight begins when both rikishi have their fists resting on or behind their respective shikiri-sen (white lines indicating their half of the ring). Chicken is considered a good luck food among sumo wrestlers. Commonly used techniques are: You can see the full illustrated list of tactics on the Japan Sumo Association website. During the Makuuchi ring ceremony, the Yokozuna are notably absent from the group as they must perform their own individual ring ceremonies. Press Esc to cancel. //--> Rikishi are free to do their laundry, read, train, or go shopping, as long as they return by their curfew. The banzuke also determines a sumo wrestler’s salary and the types of privileges he is entitled to. The tournament months and sites are as follows: January-Tokyo, March-Osaka, May-Tokyo, July-Nagoya, September-Tokyo, and November-Fukuoka. Most people go for the top-division bouts, which means the stadium is virtually empty until around lunchtime (top-division matches usually start around 3:30 pm and end at around 6:00 pm). 11:00 am Lunch time! With the basic structure in place, sumo gradually transformed into one of the nation’s most popular forms of entertainment. 2:00 pm Nap time! The sport of giants we so fondly love today, came into being over two thousand years ago when two Kami (Shinto gods) clashed in a tumultuous battle for the fate of Japan. The amount of salt used in a day during hon-basho tournaments is roughly 45 kg. We hope this post has answered your questions about sumo and inspired you to watch sumo wrestlers in action! Practice begins around 5:00 am for the lowest ranked rikishi and starts with stretching followed by actual practice bouts in a makeshift ring. Basically the rules are very simple: the wrestler who first steps out of the ring or touches the ground with any part of his body besides the bottom of his feet is the loser. Hon-basho tournaments are the only way rikishi (sumo wrestlers) can get promoted or demoted in the ranking system, which is known as the banzuke (番付). Chanko-nabe is eaten with rice and washed down with bottles of beer. The official ranking list is issued by the Japan Sumo Association (Nihon Sumo Kyokai) and printed in ancient, stylized calligraphy. Before the juryo and makuuchi bouts commence, wrestlers must first perform a traditional ceremony called dohyo-iri. For those unfamiliar with sumo, no sport may seem quite as bizarre at first: huge, portly men shoving each other, sometimes making a grab for what seems like a massive thong around their waist. Most of the Shinto that we see in sumo occurs symbolically. In between basho, the rikishi constantly keep busy by touring the outskirts of Japan giving exhibitions for fans who might otherwise not get a chance to see the sport up close and live. In order to bulk up, sleep is just as important as food and training. History: From Sacred Ritual to Public Spectacle, Hate Walking? Home  |  //-->, The Each tournament starts on a Sunday and lasts for 15 days. Another thing to note is that if you want to get a good view of the match, you’ll most likely end up with traditional tatami seating. The four tassels on each corner of the canopy represent the four seasons, the white one as autumn, black as winter, green as spring and red as summer. google_ad_slot = "6173849569"; Still no basho thread, so I have to make a first one The gomen-fuda was put in place today at the kokugikan for the Non-Kyushu November basho o On 15/10/2020 at 14:55, Akinomaki said: Travel agencies already offer tours to the non-Kyushu basho intended for 2 … google_ad_width = 120; Presently, sumo consists of six major tournaments a year called hon-basho. Terunofuji takes down ozeki Asanoyama on Day 2. Links  |  Home of the three-basho Sumo scorecard! The purple bunting around the roof symbolizes the drifting of the clouds and the rotation of the seasons. Originally scheduled to take place at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on 5–19 July due to avoid scheduling conflict with the 2020 Summer Olympics, the tournament was moved to Tokyo by … Another fascinating aspect of sumo are the daily practice sessions (called keiko) just prior to and during the major tournaments. On the front of all mawashi are sagari, which are fringes of twisted string tucked into the belt, and they represent the sacred ropes in front of shrines. Sumo as part of Shinto ritual dates as far back as the Tumulus period (250-552), but it wasn't until the 17th century that it began adopting the intense purification rituals that we see in sumo today. View location in Google Maps. The road to Yokozuna is not an easy one. If you’re not accustomed to sitting on the floor for extended periods of time, you may want to start practicing or bring extra cushions to keep you comfortable. Sumo wrestlers were invited from all over the country to perform at imperial courts. Like any other social group in Japan, there are strict rules and traditions that are observed throughout the sport. Sumo Beya Guide.