The sumo wrestling for the Japanese is larger than just a sport. To see the wrestling tournament of sumotori heavyweight fighters means to touch a piece of Japanese olden time. Everything, from the dress of the fighters to the manners, opens a picture of a centuries-long history of the country. One ancient legend connects the existence of the modern Japanese nation on the Japanese islands with sumo. In accordance with the beliefs, a god Takamikazuchi started a fight with a barbarian god Nominosukune and his victory helped the Japanese to live on the territory of the present island of Honshu.

The first historical facts about sumo date back to the middle of the VII century, when there was a wrestling tournament at the Emperor's court in honor of a Korean ambassador. Since then the Emperor has annually conducted tournaments, devoted to the end of autumn field works.

In 821 a paragraph was brought in into "the Constitution of court ceremonies" that touched upon the sumo practice, where the day of wrestlers' tournament was appointed. Three months before the tournament the runners of the emperor were sent to all provinces of the country to find the best challengers for qualifying competitions. The annual ritual gathering held on the territory of the palaces in the capital, where the court covered with sand turned into arenas, and the whole city Kyoto became a large stadium. The fighters were divided into two teams. The main distinctive feature of Heyan sumo from its modern analogs was the absence of strict rules and restrictions, which often led to injuries of the fighters during the tournament. Only noble warlords were able to become judges. If they couldn't find a common solution, the emperor himself was invited as a supreme judge, his verdict sounded like a voice of Shinto deities, in whose honor the tournament was conducted. The first tournaments had not the sport, but religious importance. They were accompanied with ritual dances, prayers and religious theatre plays. The sumo technique was not much sophisticated: fighting throws were combined with boxing elements; there were no forbidden punches and kicks. The main sumo rules and the refereeing system were created in the epoch of Hayan. The fighters were forbidden to grab the opponent's hair, kick or punch into head. The fighter's dress was a short breechcloth. The last tournament of this kind was conducted in 1174. In conditions of a large distemper that has shaken the country the sumo wrestling lost its religious functions.

Photo: from Nipponia magazine

The modern sumo wrestling takes it origin from the Edo period (after 1603). In the beginning of the XVII century peace came into Japan, good circumstances for trading appeared, the class of merchants was increased. The new mighty class was looking for new entertainments. The favorite pastime became the sumo wrestling. During the Edo period 72 canonical fighting moves (throws, leg-shows, undercuts, grabs, punches, etc.) were formed, the tournament ritual was developed, the tournament rules that practically didn't change till the present time were modernized.

The main rule which wasn't changed till nowadays is the cogency of the fact that the world of sumo is only for men. All people anyway connected with sumo tournaments - wrestlers, referees, hairdressers, organizers and all the serving staff are only men. Till 1909 women were not allowed to the tournaments even as watchers. Despite the constant discussion of this topic in publicity the tournament are still conducted in accordance with ancient canons, with no exceptions. There is one curious case, when against all traditions the governor of a Japanese prefecture was not able to give the prizes to the winners of the tournament. The governor was not even allowed to enter the arena, as it was the first woman in Japan to become a governor - Fusae Ota. The sumo traditions are equal for both governors and ordinary people: a woman cannot enter the sacred arena, as she is considered to be an impure creation that shouldn't bespit the arena with her presence.

There are no weight categories in sumo. That is why you can often see wrestlers, getting on the arena, one of which is twice heavier in weight than the other one. Two wrestlers take part in a competition, the one who pushes the opponent out of the arena boundaries or makes him touch the floor with any body part except feet is the winner.

The battle in sumo sometimes lasts for some seconds, the success depends on the violent start. That's why large wrestlers that seem quite clumsy should be incredibly agile. In accordance with many requirements, the height of a wrestler should be no less than 173 cm, the weight no less than 75 kg. In 2001 the Association of sumo has changed its rules and allowed small athletes (with a weight more than 67 kg and higher than 167 cm) in case they succeed in basic physical training tests - to try their luck. Such "thin" athletes are, anyway, an exception from the rule. The average fighting weight of a sumotori in full vigour is 135-175 kg. As a rule, the fighter loses many kilograms after the end of his carrier and sometimes it is difficult to recognize a former hard-weight athlete in an expert, commenting on the tournament. The body type is hereditary, but sometimes it is possible to deceive the nature. If the muscle bulk is increased as a result of long-hour trainings, the fat is increased by a "diet", developed in decades. In order to support or increase the weight, the main dish of sumotori is a high-caloric soup tyankonabe, one of the dishes of nabemono, beloved by the Japanese.

Whether nabemono was so popular among foreign athletes, or the Association of sumo took pity for the willing sportsmen, since the middle of the 1990-s the exceptionally national Japanese sport was "mixed" with the introduction of fighters from other countries.

In the recent years sumo is gaining popularity not only in Japan, but also in other countries. To visit basho (a sumo tournament), to see the real sumotori, to feel the whole atmosphere of an ancient fight - is the dream of any sumo fan. Basho is conducted six times a year: in January, May, September - in Tokyo, in March - in Osaka, in July - in Nagoya, in November - in Fukuoka. That's why the visit of the tournaments can be planned in any season. The tournament lasts for 15 days, but to feel the atmosphere one or two days at the tournament would be enough. Besides, it is necessary to visit special restaurants to try a favorite dish of the sumo wrestlers - tyankonabe. The explanation of the culinary constituent of sumo wrestling can take a day as it is worth doing so. One day should be devoted to visiting one of the sumobea - sumo "chambers" (so called schools, each one is trained by a former famous sumotori). When and where is it better to go, what to see, which places to visit? "Japan House" knows the answers to all these and many other questions and is ready to consult concerning the organization of target visits to Japan for sumo-tournaments.

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