Makuuchi group- coming out for the Ring Ceremony
Ring Ceremony
On Sunday, January 16th, we took the girls to see a Sumo Wrestling tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. It was the 8th day of the tournament, and we bought seats way up high, which actually turned out to be a great place to watch- especially with two younger kids.
We did not know very much about Sumo, but were told from friends that we HAD to go because it was such a fun experience. Turns out, they were completely right. It was like no other sporting event we have ever been to...typically, people arrive at the beginning of a sporting event, and then the crowd gets smaller as the event goes on (especially if it is a blowout). However, with Sumo, it is just the opposite. The best Sumo Wrestling matches, the Makuuchi, go last...so as the day goes on, the arena fills up (part of the reason we had to switch seats 3 times! We didn't know this, so we just sat anywhere...got kicked out twice, and finally decided we should sit where our tickets told us to!). Matches start at 8:30ish in the morning, with Preliminary bouts between new Sumo trainees that are officially unranked. Around 9am, the Jonokuchi start- these are real Sumo matches of the lowest ranked sumo wrestlers.
At 2:30, the Juryo Wrestlers make their ceremonial entrance- decked out in ceremonial aprons (kesho-mawashi). This division is the intermediate division. Fighters at this rank and above are considered full-fledged, professional Sumo wrestlers.
Sumo's Stretching
Sumo Match
These matches go on for roughly an hour, and then the Makuuchi Wrestlers make their ceremonial entrance. These wrestlers are the "top" level wrestlers. They step into the ring, wearing their own Kesho-mawashi, turn to face the crowd and form a circle. After this, the Yokozuna Grand Champion makes his ring entrance. This it the top Sumo Wrestler, so he gets to make his own entrance and do his own ceremonial event. This years top Sumo wrestler is Hakuho- he was very large and in charge!
Hakuho- Grand Sumo Champion
There was actually quite a bit of difference in the speed and skill level of the Juryo level vs the Makuuchi level- it got pretty darn exciting- the wrestlers would consistently fall out of the ring and down to the floor, which I can't imagine feels too great! Each wrestler gets only one match per day, and then continues on to the next day. The winner is the one with the best record at the end of the tournament. One thing I found completely interesting was the fact that the ring ceremony lasts longer than the match does- so as a wrestler, you come out, wrestler for maybe 30-45 seconds, and that is it for the day!
Scott and I are planning on going to the May tournament, without kids, when it comes back to Tokyo in May. We would like to be able to stay for the entire set of Makuuchi matches, and get to really pay attention!
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