Tokyo Trip Part 2 (Sumo)

After our lunch it was time to meet up with the group and head to the Sumo Tournament! Here's a couple shots from the bus...

Front of ticket.

Back of ticket...No entry is allowed for gangsters! Haha!

This was the location of the tournament. It's called Ryogoku Kokugikan. 

Now for a little about Sumo...
1. It's the national sport of Japan. 
2. The sport has been in existence for at least 1500 years. 
3. The ring is called the dohyo. 
4. The objective is to force your opponent to fall or to force them out of the circle. 
5. Most matches only last a few seconds. 
6. There are 6 Grand Sumo Tournaments each year. Each tournament is 15 days. 
7. The athletes (Rikishi) are divided into divisions and ranked based on their performance. Rankings are adjusted after each tournament, but once you've reached the highest ranking of yokozuna (Grand Champion) you can never be demoted. If a yokozuna's performance declines he is expected to retire. There have only been 69 yokozuna's in the 300 years since the title was created.
8. Rikishi belong to training stables and have to live a very regimented lifestyle.
9. The top 2 divisions (about 70 wrestlers) are considered professionals and get salaries ranging from $10,000-$30,000 per month. Lower divisions get smaller allowances. There are opportunities for several bonuses at tournaments.
10. There are no weight classes.
11. Sumo is rooted in Shinto religion.

We didn't exactly have front row seats...and notice how
many open seats there are during the lower division matches.

I'm sure you're wondering about that "thong" thing they wear...it's called a mawashi. It's a piece of silk approximately 10 yards long and 2 feet wide, folded and wrapped in a specific way.

Before the Juryo and Makuuchi (top 2 divisions) there are ceremonial entrances where the Rikishi wear kesho-mawashi (elaborately designed aprons) that cost 400,000-500,000+ yen ($4,000-$5,000+) each.

Entrance ceremony for Juryo division

A few more spectators have arrived...

Makuuchi entrance ceremony

Yokozuna's enter individually and have their own ceremonies. Currently there are 2 yokozunas. 

Yokozuna is in the center.

Some matches are sponsored by companies, so their banners are paraded around prior to the match. The winner gets a monetary bonus when they win a sponsored match, I believe each banner is worth about $300 to the winner. Bonuses for winning your division range from $1,000 in lower division to $100,000 for the highest division. Sounds like a lot of money, but have to keep in mind how expensive it can be to live in a city like Tokyo...

Here's a video clip of a match...prior to the match they have rituals they follow. They go back and forth between the circle and their corners several times and throw salt to purify the ring. http://youtu.be/nWLE8ylVNfI

This video clip is of a match that lasts a slightly longer... http://youtu.be/saJh7R047dA

Video 3 is of a very close match where the referees had to meet to discuss their decision. http://youtu.be/Lrre2NgxNCI

Here's what I had for supper...french fries, a bacon hamburger, water and beer (not pictured).

My "bacon burger" did not include a burger, just 2 pieces of bacon!
Haha!

A final video clip of the closing ceremony. One of the Rikishi performs a bow dance called yumitori-shiki. http://youtu.be/Q4xM2xbS6oc

If you really want to know more about Sumo check out these links:

http://www.sumo.or.jp/en/  (Especially the What's "Sumo" section)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo 

Up Next: Night 2 in Tokyo