Who are the best sumo wrestlers in Japan?
Musashimaru Kōyō
- Ōrora Satoshi
- Konishiki Yasokichi The Hawaiian-born sumo champion Konishiki Yasokichi is popular in Japan. ...
- Yamamotoyama Ryūta Yamamotoyama Ryūta is a retired Japanese sumo wrestler in Saitama prefecture from Saitama City. ...
- Kenho Mitsuo Born on February 10, 1989, Ōsaki, Kenho Mitsuo is a Japanese Wrestler trained in Tokitsukaze stable. ...
What is the average salary of a sumo wrestler?
Wrestlers in the juryo and makuuchi divisions are known as sekitori. The average salary of a professionally ranked sekitori sumo wrestler is one million yen or 8,800 USD per month, plus additional perks and prize money. Juryo wrestlers compete 15 times per tournament, compared to the 7 bouts of the former ranks.
Who are some famous sumo wrestlers?
Understanding the 6 Ranks of Professional Sumo
- Jonokuchi. Sumo wrestlers start their careers in jonokuchi, the lowest division, after participating in at least one maezumo bout.
- Jonidan. Jonidan- ranked wrestlers now have some experience, but only the best are promoted. ...
- Sandanme. Wrestlers in sandanme are still not considered professionals. ...
- Makushita. ...
- Juryo. ...
- Makuuchi. ...
Who are the top sumo wrestlers?
What are the ranks of sumo wrestlers?
- List of the top ten most notable sumo wrestlers who have held world records
- Hakuho Sh is a Japanese proverb. Hakuho Sho began his sumo wrestling career in the year 2001 and has progressed to the level of an excellent professional sumo wrestler from ...
- Taiho Kiki is a fictional character created by author Taiho Kiki. ...
See more
Spectating a Sumo Match
Every year on the first Sunday of February, our students and the Coto Japanese Academy team get the chance to witness the annual Sumo Grand Tournament in Kokugikan, Tokyo’s indoor stadium where 3 out of the six yearly tournaments are held. 相撲 （ すもう ） dates back to 2000 years ago, but it really flourished as a spectator sport in the early 1600’s.
Sumo Terminologies
We’ve gathered a quick list of sumo terminology that will come in handy, but don’t worry about memorizing too much!
What is sumo wrestling?
"striking one another") is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a rikishi (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring ( dohyō) or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by throwing, shoving or pushing him down). Professional sumo excludes women from competition and ceremonies.
What is the life of a Sumo wrestler?
Life as a wrestler is highly regimented, with rules regulated by the Japan Sumo Association. Most sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal sumo training stables, known in Japanese as heya, where all aspects of their daily lives—from meals to their manner of dress—are dictated by strict tradition.
How does Sumo work?
The elementary principle of sumo is that a match is decided by a fighter first either touching the ground outside the circular dohyō (ring) with any part of the body, or touching the ground inside the ring with any part of the body other than the soles of the feet. The wrestlers try to achieve this by pushing, tossing, striking and often by outwitting the opponent. The Japan Sumo Association currently distinguishes 82 kimarite (winning techniques), some of which come from judo. Illegal moves are called kinjite, which include strangulation, hair-pulling, bending fingers, gripping the crotch area, kicking, poking eyes, punching and simultaneously striking both the opponent's ears. The most common basic forms are grabbing the opponent by the mawashi (belt) and then forcing him out, a style called yotsu-zumō (四つ相撲), or pushing the opponent out of the ring without a firm grip, a style called oshi-zumō (押し相撲) .
Why was Sumo banned in Edo?
Because sumo had become a nuisance due to wild fighting on the streets, particularly in Edo, sumo was temporarily banned in the city during the Edo period. In 1684, sumo was permitted to be held for charity events on the property of Shinto shrines, as was common in Kyoto and Osaka. The first sanctioned tournament took place in the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine at this time. An official sumo organization was developed, consisting of professional wrestlers at the disposal of the Edo administration. Many elements date from this period, such as the dohyō-iri, the heya system, the gyōji and the mawashi. The 18th century brought forth several notable wrestlers such as Raiden Tameemon, Onogawa Kisaburō and Tanikaze Kajinosuke, the first historical yokozuna .
How is Sumo ranked?
Professional sumo wrestling has a strict hierarchy based on sporting merit. The wrestlers are ranked according to a system that dates back to the Edo period. They are promoted or demoted according to their performance in six official tournaments held throughout the year, which are called honbasho. A carefully prepared banzuke listing the full hierarchy is published two weeks prior to each sumo tournament.
Why do wrestlers put their hair in topknots?
Their hair is put in a topknot, and wax is used to get the hair to stay in shape. Wax is applied to sumo wrestlers' hair daily by sumo hairdressers ( Tokoyama ). The topknot is a type of Samurai hairstyle which was once popular in Japan during the Edo period. The topknot is hard for some foreigners' hair because their hair is not as coarse and straight as Japanese hair. Once a wrestler joins a stable, he is required to grow out his hair in order to form a topknot.
How long is the top division of Sumo?
The top division is given four minutes for shikiri, while the second division is given three, after which the timekeeping judge signals to the gyōji that time is up. Traditionally, sumo wrestlers are renowned for their great girth and body mass, which is often a winning factor in sumo.
THE HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF SUMO
Rikishi (the Japanese generic term for sumo wrestlers) are dedicated to this art from their youth. Usually entering the sumo training stables or "heya" around fifteen years old, they live in this community all day and night.
GIANTS WITH NIMBLE FEET
Stretching is essential; it's done in groups, to a precise and systematic rhythm. Power should not override the fact that sumo is primarily a technical sport. There are eighty-two different holds that the wrestlers practice every day in order to master them.
TITANS FROM THE DEPTHS OF TIME
According to ancient history, sumo started about 1,500 years ago. The first trace of its existence appears in 712 in Kokiji (literally "chronicle of old things"), one of the first works written in Japanese.
HOW TO ATTEND A SUMO TOURNAMENT?
It is completely possible to attend a Sumo tournament during your stay in Japan! But when and where are the tournaments organized? How to reserve places? How much does it cost? The world of Sumo remains mysterious and inaccessible for most travelers but Japan Experience can help you attend a fight, for an unforgettable trip ...
A NEW FACE FOR THE WORLD OF MODERN SUMO
Since the early 2000s, foreign wrestlers have been winning many of the biggest tournaments. From countries where fighting is important culturally, like Egypt, Mongolia and Bulgaria, wrestlers arrive and soon touch a deep part of Japan's essence. Foreigners are now commonplace at the top of the hierarchy in sumo.
What is Sumo wrestling?
Sumo wrestling is Japan’s national sport. Tokyo hosts three tournaments each year, involving hundreds of wrestlers from Japan and abroad, across six divisions. Fast paced, colorful and full of ritual, these tournaments are a fascinating glimpse into traditional Japanese culture and a fun part of any Tokyo itinerary.
When was Sumo wrestling invented?
With its origin in the Shinto religion, sumo wrestling is estimated to have begun in the third century. The first professional matches were used as a way to raise money for new temples and shrines in the 1600s.
What time do Sumo wrestlers start?
The big-name sumo wrestlers start arriving from around 2pm. The second division ( Juryo) matches start at 2:20pm and top division ( Makuuchi) matches at 4:20pm, which are the very best sumo wrestlers in Japan. The highest-ranked wrestlers are always the last to compete.
How many Sumo tournaments are there in Japan?
There are six sumo tournaments a year in Japan, three in Tokyo (January, May and September) and one each in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July) and Fukuoka (November). Tickets go on sale three weeks before the start of the tournament and often sell out.
Where do Sumo wrestlers live?
The wrestlers. Sumo wrestlers live in heya (training stables) where they follow strict traditions that dictate their daily lives, from what they wear to what they eat. The top sumo wrestlers are celebrities in Japan; they earn thousands of dollars a month, have fan clubs and retain their prestigious titles for life.
What do the wrestlers do before they leave the ring?
There’s a short ceremony before each of these sets. The wrestlers, dressed in colorful ceremonial aprons, walk around the ring and then clap before exiting again , a symbolic gesture of getting attention from the Shinto gods.
Is weight class important in sumo?
There are no weight classes in sumo, so weight gain is an important part of training. There’s often a big difference in weight between the opponents, but it’s not always the biggest wrestler who’ll win.
What is amateur sumo?
Amateur sumo, consisting of bouts between non-professionals, ex-professionals, or people otherwise ineligible to compete professionally such as women and minors. Includes individual and team competition at the international level.
When is the Sumo ranking released?
It is written out in a particular calligraphy and usually released on the Monday 13 days prior to the first day of the tournament.
How long does a gyoji break?
Water break. When a match goes on for around 4 minutes, the gyoji will stop the match for a water break for the safety of the wrestlers. In the two sekitori divisions, he will then place them back in exactly the same position to resume the match, while lower division bouts are restarted from the tachi-ai.
How many shimpan are there in Sumo?
Ringside judges or umpires who may issue final rulings on any disputed decision. There are five shimpan for each bout, drawn from senior members of the Nihon Sumo Kyokai, and wearing traditional formal kimono.
How many wins does a Sekitori wrestler have?
More wins than losses for a wrestler in a tournament. This is eight wins for a sekitori with fifteen bouts in a tournament, and four wins for lower-ranked wrestlers with seven bouts in a tournament. Gaining kachi-koshi generally results in promotion. The opposite is make-koshi.
What is power water in wrestling?
Power-water. The ladleful of water with which a wrestler will ceremonially rinse out his mouth prior to a bout. It must be handed to him by a wrestler not tainted with a loss on that day, so it is either handed to him by the victorious wrestler of the previous bout if he was on the same side of the dohyo, or if that wrestler was defeated, by the wrestler who will fight in the bout following. This system works well until the last match of the day (musubi no ichiban, 結びの一番) when one side will not have someone to give them the power water. This is due to the fact that one of the sides from the previous match lost and there is no next match, so there is neither a winner from the previous match, nor a next wrestler to give them the water. In this case a winner from two or three prior matches will be the one to give them the power water. This wrestler is known as the kachi-nokori (勝ち残り), which means the winner who remains.
How to force out an opponent?
Grabbing the front of the opponent's belt, placing one's head against their chest, and lowering one's hips in an effort to lower one's center of gravity in order to force out an opponent .
What is the tradition of sumo wrestling?
Another interesting tradition that you may have noticed before a sumo wrestling match begins is that both sumos clap their hands together loudly and powerfully. Apart from setting the tone for the impending destruction, though, it also has a spiritual purpose and a technical purpose.
When was Sumo wrestling first introduced?
Japan is the only country in the world where Sumo Wrestling is practiced and recognized. It was said to have started around the Heian Period between 794 and 1192 C.E. It is thought that Japanese royalty would watch the games as an early form of entertainment. However, the sport did not become widely recognized and popularized until the Edo Period, ranging from 1603 to 1868. The Edo Period is where most of the traditional sumo wrestling law, dress, culture, and rules stem from.
How to make a sumo wrestler stronger?
When combined with their standard bodyweight exercise routine and their high-protein diet, weight training can make for a sumo wrestler who is incredibly huge and strong.
What was the first practice of Sumo?
In the early days of sumo, lifting weights was not standard practice. Dumbbells and weight bars didn’t exist, so sumo wrestlers primarily focused on bodyweight exercise. The mere fact that they weighed more than most men meant that their bodyweight exercises and calisthenics were just as intense as a skinnier person’s weight training routine.
What do Sumo wrestlers eat?
They traditionally eat large amounts of protein-rich stew and huge sides of rice to help them put on fat and provide them with energy for their intense training sessions. Drinking and athleticism don’t necessarily go hand in hand, though, at least in regards to western sports.
How old do Sumo wrestlers live?
Sumo wrestlers typically don’t live past 60 to 65 years old, and this is largely due to the extreme toll that their lifestyle takes on their bodies. Although some sumo wrestlers are able to lose weight and switch to a healthier lifestyle, decades of hard work and habits typically prevent this from happening.
How much does a sumo wrestler weigh?
As we’ve discussed, sumo wrestlers are quite large, and many of them weigh a hefty 300 pounds or more. Despite how large the stomach and glutes grow, however, a human’s arms never “grow longer” to accommodate the extra weight. As you can imagine, this can make it very difficult to clean well down there.
What is Sumo wrestling?
The national sport of Japan, Sumo is known to most people as a modern Japanese martial art. However, the origins of Sumo date back several centuries, when the sport was developed as a way of preserving the ancient traditions of Shinto, a Japanese ethnic religion. Today, elements of the Shinto religion remain an integral part of Sumo wrestling, while the sport’s greatest contenders are elevated to celebrity status. We take a look at the life and times of the biggest names in Sumo.
Who is the greatest Sumo wrestler?
Taiho. Taiho is a legend in Japan. Considered by locals to be the greatest Sumo wrestler of all time, he achieved the rank of yokozuna (the highest in the sport) at the young age of 21. He also carries the distinction of having won 45 consecutive matches between 1968 and 1969.
How much does Yamamotoyama weigh?
Yamamotoyama. Weighing in at an astonishing 265 kg (584 lb), Yamamotoyama carries the distinction of being the heaviest Japanese-born Sumo wrestler in history and is believed by many to be the heaviest Japanese person to ever live. He was forced into retirement in 2011 due to his involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
What is the most famous sport in Japan?
Japan's 12 Most Famous Sumo Wrestlers. The national sport of Japan, Sumo is known to most people as a modern Japanese martial art. However, the origins of Sumo date back several centuries, when the sport was developed as a way of preserving the ancient traditions of Shinto, a Japanese ethnic religion. Today, elements of the Shinto religion remain ...
What is Mitoizumi's nickname?
Known in the Sumo world as “Salt Shaker, ” Mitoizumi earned his nickname through his pre-match ritual of throwing massive amounts of purifying salt onto the ring, much to the amusement of overseas Sumo fans.
How much does Chiyonofuji weigh?
Chiyonofuji. Weighing in at 120 kg (260 lb), Chiyonofuji was considered light on his feet by Sumo standards. What he lacked in size, he made up for in technique; his dramatic throw moves and powerful left-hand grip – known to fans and commentators as his “death grip” – made him one of the most successful and entertaining wrestlers in the game.
When did Tenta join Sumo?
Starting out as a Canadian WWF wrestler known as “Earthquake,” Tenta moved to Japan and joined a Sumo stable in 1985 after a chance encounter with a former yokozuna in Vancouver.
Overview
Professional sumo
- We’ve gathered a quick list of sumo terminology that will come in handy, but don’t worry about memorizing too much! 1. 力士（りきし） A Sumo “Wrestler.” 2. 横綱（よこずな） The highest rank in Sumo, usually translated as “Grand Champion”, from which a rikishi cannot be demoted. 3. 部屋（へや） Literally room, means “stable” in the context of sumo. 4. 師匠（ししょう） An el…
Etymology
History
Rules and customs
Professional sumo is organized by the Japan Sumo Association. The members of the association, called oyakata, are all former wrestlers, and are the only people entitled to train new wrestlers. All professional wrestlers must be a member of a training stable (or heya) run by one of the oyakata, who is the stablemaster for the wrestlers under him. In 2007, 43 training stables hosted 660 wrestlers.
Professional sumo tournaments
The spoken word sumō goes back to the verb sumau/sumafu, meaning "compete" or "fight". The written word goes back to the expression sumai no sechi (相撲の節), which was a wrestling competition at the imperial court during the Heian period. The characters from sumai, or sumō today, mean "to strike each other". There is also an alternate spelling of 角力, which can be found in the Nihon Shoki. Here, the first character means "corner", but serves as a phonetic element as …
Life as a professional sumo wrestler
Prehistoric wall paintings indicate that sumo originated from an agricultural ritual dance performed in prayer for a good harvest. The first mention of sumo can be found in a Kojiki manuscript dating back to 712, which describes how possession of the Japanese islands was decided in a wrestling match between the kami known as Takemikazuchi and Takeminakata.
Takemikazuchi was a god of thunder, swordsmanship, and conquest, created from the blood tha…
Salary and payment
The elementary principle of sumo is that a match is decided by a fighter first either touching the ground outside the circular dohyō (ring) with any part of the body, or touching the ground inside the ring with any part of the body other than the soles of the feet. The wrestlers try to achieve this by pushing, tossing, striking and often by outwitting the opponent. The Japan Sumo Association currently distinguishes 82 kimarite (winning techniques), some of which come from judo. Illegal …