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Last Sunday the 2009 May Sumo Tournament of 15 days was over in Tokyo and I'm pretty sure many people throughout the country hardly left from TV in the evening especially for the very final match to decide the tournament champion.
Sumo has a history of about 1500 years. At the very beginning when the sumo was started in an ancient time, it was performed as a part of religious rituals praying good harvests and catches. Then during the warriors area, sumo was performed as a form of military training. Finally during the Edo Period while the peace has arrived on the whole land, sumo added an element of performance as a new business.
Everything you see in the tournament will make you surprised. Two giant wrestlers wearing only loincloths with a traditional hairstyle fight in a sumo ring about 15 feet in diameter. Sumo is not simply a sport of winning / losing. Since it is originally related in religion, Sumo still follows ancient manners and traditions throughout the whole tournament processes. These rituals add a classical beauty and it is really fascinating for us to look at. That is why Sumo has been so popular among the Japanese as well as visitors from abroad. Even in wrestlers including two grand champions there are many from abroad.
Everything you see in the tournament will make you surprised. Two giant wrestlers wearing only loincloths with a traditional hairstyle fight in a sumo ring about 15 feet in diameter. Sumo is not simply a sport of winning / losing. Since it is originally related in religion, Sumo still follows ancient manners and traditions throughout the whole tournament processes. These rituals add a classical beauty and it is really fascinating for us to look at. That is why Sumo has been so popular among the Japanese as well as visitors from abroad. Even in wrestlers including two grand champions there are many from abroad.
The next tournament will take place here in our city in July. How exciting! It's so welcoming to see the young sumo wrestlers( not top ones) in summer cotton kimono walking downtown or at the station with luggage or riding a bike, and it's somehow fun to see them wearing iPod!
Here is the Sumo official website. There are so much to learn even for the people of Japan.
11 comments:
I have also wanted to see a Sumo Wrestling match - it looks so interesting. How long does a game usually last? What an exciting national sport!
Dionne, thank you for leaving a message. I'm so grateful for your quick response. Well, each match is over very quickly within a minute. So each wrestler has to concentrate himself on this moment of dashing toward the opponent. It's really exciting to see what kind of winning techniques they choose. Hope you can get some idea with my explanation. Have a nice day!
I watched a documentary on TV about it... it's such an Art form...full of life long dedication! Amazing...
Wow - a minute! I didn't realize it was so quick!!
I like it toooooo
but not to long LOL
that is the second thing if we say japan, and thinking of its country and its culture. It looks cool, but i think that we european don't understand its real meaning, so nice to read this story and looking tot the film. I wish you a nice weekend, greetings from jeany
SUMO! I always want to see one! It must be more exciting than boxing (well.. just because I don't really like fighting...) I think sumo has more... artistic ctyle on it, right?
So interesting to read about Sumo - I don't know much about it (I certainly didn't know the matches were only about 1 minute long!) wow.
Are you planning on going to the tournament? What fun it sound like it would be!
How neat! Thanks for the explanation and background of sumo wrestling...very interesting!!
Sorry I haven't been around all week...we've been busy, busy, busy! I hope you have a beautiful weekend!
Hi, Photojoy! I'm soooo happy to meet another creative soule through Sweet Dionne's Swaps...merci beaucoup, Sweet Dionne for organizing another great swap + pairing me with such a fascinating heart!!!
My name is Jo and I know you have an e-mail through your blog but for some reason my computer won't link up to it...so here's my e-mail addy: labourof_love at hotmail dot com. I can't wait to find out more about you and find sweet things you may want or need...please let me know your likes/dislikes in your next e-mail to me and I'll do the same in my next one to you...I look forward to getting to know you through our e-mails and reading your wonderful blog...such fantastic posts and beautiful pictures! ps...I've never seen a Sumo match before but your post was very enlightening and makes me appreciate Japan's unique culture and the beauty of such sport even more...I love history and find your culture and country's beauty fascinating! Until then, sweet dreams my new kindred spirit! xoxo jo;)
Hooray for swaps! This is going to be so fun - Jo is lovely, you will love having her as your partner!
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