Tokyo, as a cultural gathering place of Japan, carries the
profound heritage of sumo, a national sport. Watching sumo in Tokyo is a unique
journey to deeply experience the charm of traditional Japanese culture.
Sumo, a sport known as Japan's "national sport", can be
traced back to thousands of years ago. It is closely linked to Shinto
sacrifices. After years of baptism, it has evolved into a unique existence that
combines competition and ritual. In Tokyo, you can watch the exciting
competition of wrestlers on the earthenware hyori up close. The earthenware
hyori of the competition venue is carefully constructed with straw bags,
covered with special clay and fine sand on the surface, and a roof decorated
with tassels is hung above, which is very traditional.
Sumo wrestlers are divided into ten levels according to their
performance, and Yokozuna is the highest honor. In the competition, the players
wear loincloths and have strong bodies. Their pre-match rituals are solemn and
mysterious. Sprinkling salt to purify the stadium, stamping feet to drive away
evil spirits, and showing bare hands to show respect, a series of actions are
full of deep meaning. During the competition, they use superb skills such as
pushing, throwing, and catching to compete with all their strength in a short
period of time. The winner is decided by pushing the opponent out of the ring
or making his body touch the ground except for the soles of his feet. The excitement
of winning or losing in an instant makes the audience's heart beat faster.
During the official competition, the schedule is full from morning
to night. In the morning, there are mostly newcomers' competitions, and in the
afternoon, high-level wrestlers appear on the stage. The later the competition,
the more exciting it is. There are also performance competitions, which mainly
popularize sumo rules and perform some performances. You can also choose to
watch sumo performances while eating. The audience can feel the power of the
collision between the wrestlers and immerse themselves in the warm atmosphere
of the scene. They can experience the lofty status of sumo in the hearts of the
Japanese people, appreciate the martial arts spirit and cultural heritage
contained in this ancient sport, and leave unforgettable viewing memories.