The atmosphere is electric. And suddenly, as one man, the crowd stood up, applauded and cheered the young Japanese sumo rider Hiradoumi who had just ejected his adversary, the Georgian Tochinoshin (1), from the “sacred ring”. In just twenty seconds. Against all evidence, the most “frail” fighter (1.78 m for 140 kg) knocked down a giant of almost 2 meters for 180 kg. In sumo, contrary to popular belief, weight is not everything.
On this late afternoon of January 8, 20,000 sumo fans, gathered at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium in Tokyo, are delighted to attend the tournament which opens the 2023 national championship (2). In the stands, with armchairs in the heights and small tatami mats at ring level, families with young children, retired couples, students, tourists returning to Japan since the opening of the borders last October enjoy themselves. and a good majority of… women. ” From my point of view, explains Kaori, 40, an office worker, Japanese women admire what is an impressive spectacle where fight, without bloodshed, wrestlers with imposing measurements that they respect. » And we can see these sumo buffs, alone or in small groups, scribbling the schedule of fights, circling the names of their idols and future champions.
A sport with religious origins
It is especially from 4 p.m. that this first of the six tournaments of the year, which lasts fifteen days, offers the most impressive fights. Since the morning, dozens of fights by wrestlers from the five lower divisions have already taken place. Faced with a sparse audience, these young sumo wrestlers are already impressing the beginners who discover this “temple of sumo”. The fights are brief, barely thirty seconds, but very intense and sometimes dangerous. One of the fighters also had a bad fall and had to be evacuated on a stretcher.
Back to normal after two years of Covid restrictions
But at the end of the day, when the presentation ceremony of the last 40 rikishi (lit. “strength” and “warrior”), the public goes almost into a trance to welcome these 21st century gladiators who embody this specifically Japanese sport dating back to the dawn of time. These 1st division sumo wrestlers (Makuuchi) surround the “sacred circle” 4.55 m in diameter and delimited by a belt of rice straw. Under the impressive roof of a Shinto temple, a religion that is also specifically Japanese.
Before each fight the ritual of rikishi is immutable; the clapping of hands to attract the attention of the gods, the open arms and hands raised to the sky to show them that they have no weapons and finally the raised legs which fall violently on the sand of the ring to crush possible evil spirits. Sumo is a sport with religious origins, dedicated to the gods and practiced by “demi-gods”.
The 2023 season is “very open”, without a champion who imposes
The excitement of the public, frustrated for two years not having been able to shout or encourage their stars because of the pandemic, is palpable. The fights follow one another, some lasting less than five seconds. The titans collide, spin, cling to the opponent’s belt, either to lift him up and push him out of the ring or to throw him off balance and throw him to the ground.
We feel the power of the colossuses who confront each other and the energy developed in a very short period of time. The euphoric room no longer holds back its cries as in the days of the Covid and explodes with joy at the end of epic fights. “The season has only just begun, explains everyday sumo expert John Gunning JapanTimes, this year the championship is very open and can hold many surprises for us. » Go to Fukuoka in November to witness the possible consecration of a yokozuna, the highest title among sumo wrestlers. To win this award, a wrestler must win two tournaments in a row. A real challenge because only 73 fighters have been able to conquer it since… 1789.
(1) Among the 700 sumo wrestlers in Japan, barely 5% are of foreign origin, especially from Mongolia, Turkey, Hawaii, Hungary, Ukraine and Russia.
(2) The six tournaments take place in odd-numbered months, three in Tokyo (January, May and September) and the other three in Osaka in March, Nagoya in July and Fukuoka in November. Each tournament lasts fifteen days. The champion is designated according to the number of fights won during the season.
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