SUMOOOOO

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So excited as today Downton Abbey is back (season 2)!!!.... no just joking (I am excited but talking about something else!!) - today is SUMO day. SUMO is the Japanese national sport and these days the world championship is taking place in Tokyo. This morning, we joined the same people we went on tour with for Mt Fuji (avoid tours at all costs! Too much time on buses and little time enjoying the cool stuff). Today was the 8th Day of the tournament, which takes place over the space of 2 weeks. Our guide was funny and sweet, we followed her ‘flag’ everywhere (she’s too short to follow among the crowds) whilst she shouted information on SUMO. Her favourite SUMO wrestler is called GOEIDO (who won his battle today, which in SUMO language translates to: GOEIDO 6/2 = 6 won and 2 lost). Watching today’s bouts (challenges) was not only exciting beyond what I had imagined, but unbelievably addictive. I could have watched SUMO for the whole day. I happily joined the crowds shouting in support for one or another wrestler, followed the program and listened to the English-speaking Radio channel broadcasting the championship live. The lady on the radio was talking about the judge and how she used to broadcast when he was a young chap, and when he used to wear old and wrinkled kimonos. Currently, he’s old and more knowledgeable in both SUMO and fashion  Back to SUMO... first comes the salute. Both wrestlers clap their hands as in the shrine ritual, followed by a movement by which they stretch their arms out, hands facing up which translates into ‘I have no weapons’. Very honourable, I thought, they just present themselves and their strength and skill - not just weight but also balance, for example a wrestler can find himself pitted against an opponent twice his weight (this happened today: DAIDO VS GAGAMARU, the second weighting almost 200 kg, he won of course!). Other movements include throwing salt as protection from evil spirits and leg-bouncing for the same reason. I am gobsmacked at seeing European looking SUMO wrestlers. Massive in height and weight as their Japanese equals, they seem out of place in this scenario. Obviously, it’s pretty normal but I didn’t know there could be a Brazilian SUMO wrestler (like today: ARAN, he lost by the way – 8th time in a row) or a representative from Czech Republic (he was the only thin wrestler, and he won!). All 800 ‘rikishi’ (fighters) in professional SUMO are divided into east and west teams. There is an upper division called ‘maku-uchi’ and it is divided in 5 top ranks (the top rank of all 5 is called ‘Yokozuna’). The guide explains that currently only one man is considered Yokozuna, and unfortunately he is not Japanese, but Mongolian. However they all have their hopes high for a Jap Yokozuhna, named KOTOSHOGIKU (who lost today, but had won 7 times before this one so he’s doing ok). Good luck to him!!! It was fantastic, we recommend it to everyone but note: from the second floor you can more or less see things, as people keep walking in and out – a tatami downstairs (even if not at the front) is not that more expensive and much more worth it!! After this wonderful experience we head back to the hotel, change and look for a place to eat: guess what, we’re getting tired of sushi (never thought I’d say that!!) so we actually had a McDonalds!! BIG mistake... we feel pretty sick now, not saying Tokyo’s McDonald is bad... but my body can’t take this kind of food anymore! 😉 Tomorrow... more from Hiroshima!! B x

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