First sumo experience…
I had never been to see sumo- I had watched a couple of times on TV but never for more than 30 minutes or so each time but I felt that I needed to go and watch it live to really appreciate it and I was right.
Yesterday, we headed off in the morning to meet Cat so that we could have enough time to see the sumo museum, eat lunch and have a look around before the main sumo wrestlers started arriving about 2pm and the matches kicked off later in the afternoon. We met up with James, his brother Dean (who is visiting Tokyo for university over the next 10 days or so), some of Deans university friends and Junni for lunch- we went to a place that had “chanko” (what the sumo eat) on the menu but in the end none of us ordered it.
Before meeting James and the gang, Catherine, Shun & I, went into the Ryogoku Kokugikan (sumo stadium in Ryogoku) to have a look around and go to the museum. I am not sure you could actually call it a museum though as it was only slightly bigger than our apartment. It was interesting though as all of the photos, and before cameras I guess, pictures, of the Yokozuna (highest ranking sumo) all lined up on the walls. I thought it was so funny that the original yokozuna had no photos and instead had scary pictures of them drawn- I wonder how accurate they were?!
We could get pretty close to the ring at this stage too since it wasn`t filling up yet and there was no one telling us to get out of the aisles.
Here are some of the younger, lesser known sumo fighting in the morning before lunch.
Here is Catherine & I doing our fighting sumo poses in front of the artwork
The day before I went to the sumo I read up a lot about it on the internet and found out all about the history and what the dos and don`ts of sumo are. I am glad I did because I honestly knew nothing about it before then- like why they stamp their feet or throw salt or even why they do the ring ceremony or wear what they do. Most of it is steeped in Shino tradition as Sumo was originally performed at festivals as a show for the shinto gods and didn`t really become a spectator sport until 400 years ago. Now there are six professional tournaments a year- three in Tokyo, one in Osaka, one in Nagoya and one in Fukuoka. Before the 1950`s there were only two a year (I think!).
After lunch we went back towards the stadium to watch some of the more senior and better sumo enter through the side gate.
This one was very smiley- I think he was going home for the day though because he was heading away from the stadium.
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We sat up on the second floor (Cat, Shun & I) while the others had seats down on the ground floor. When I booked our spot I did it upstairs because all of the ground floor seats are sit on the floor type and I was not sure how I would handle that at seven months pregnant. Both areas had a great view though!!!
This is the Makauuchi performing the ring ceremony
And this is Asashoryu, one of the Yokozuna currently still competing, doing his own individual ring ceremony wearing the special “Mawashi”. He is stamping his feet to get rid of any demons
The traditions performed before each bout took much longer than the actual fight itself- each fight, including the traditions went anywhere between 5-10 minutes (depending on how much and how many times they threw the salt!) but the fight itself was over in 30 seconds or less.
Getting ready to fight (the one on the left is Baruto, who is Estonian- he is only 25)
Hakuho, the other Yokozuna, had so many sponsors- Including macdonalds!
At the end of the day one of the lower ranking sumo (but still someone high up) peforms the Yumi-tori or bow twirling to signal the end of the day.
We had a lot of fun- and I now know a lot more about sumo than I did before!!! It is nice to get out and do something that is so enriched in culture.
For more photos I uploaded 45 different shots to Flickr here (I took over 200 shots from the day altogether though!)
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Awesome!!! Great photos and commentary:) I saw a bit of the sumo when I passed a TV today and have to say that I was looking out for you more than catching what was happening in the ring;)
It’s too bad that you didn’t order the chanko nabe. It’s actually very tasty and healthy. They don’t get fat on it, but rather on the fact that they eat so much and then sleep afterward.
Back when I was watching sumo, Takatoriki used to be sponsored by Pepsi and even had a Pepsi kesho mawashi. When he did the dohyo iri, it seemed really incongruous for him to be wearing a Pepsi logo. :-p
Wow excellent pictures! I’ve been to the Sumo Museum in Ryogoku but unfortunately there weren’t any sumo matches on at that time. I’d really like to go to see a match sometime. We’re planning on heading back home via Japan so maybe I’ll time it to fit in with one! Although, that won’t be until next year so I have plenty of time to organise it!
That sounds like a lot of fun! It is cool doing culturally enriching activities sometimes and taking advantage of the fact that we do live in another country. I feel like our family doesn’t do enough of that sort of thing. Maybe you’ll inspire me to go out and see some Peking Opera or acrobats or something.
Great pictures too! Thanks for sharing them!
Marianne- It was great fun and I learnt a lot. Did you see me on the TV? I was surprised that there were no real restrictions on photography but as long as you didn`t block the aisles it was free game!
Orchid64- I thought the same thing about Hakuho and his sponsor being Macdonalds! Seemed a little strange to me.
I have eaten chanko nabe before and actually made it myself (when we were teaching kindy kids about sumo we made it for cooking) and either I ate at a crappy place or didn`t make it write but it seems very bland for me. The kind of thing you eat when you have a cold… It is a shame, because I love nabe usually!
Jess- I would totally recommend it timing your trip through Japan with a sumo tournament- it really was great fun. I would go again!
Also, is it possible to comment on your blog? I tried ages ago and couldn`t figure it out- I saw your recent Amsterdam pictures. Looks like a lot of fun!
Jessica- Isn`t it funny that when you live in a country you don`t tend to do much cultural stuff? For example I have never been to Ayers Rock and Japanese people are always shocked by this (then again I think the think I could go there in a day as well which would not be possible)- but I have spoken to many Japanese friends and they have never been to sumo. Shun had never been before either.
That said, when I was in China, I saw the Shanghai acrobats and a Tang Dynasty Cultural Show in Xian! I totally recommend the acrobatics- if you wait until Dylan is just that little bit older too, I am sure he would enjoy it also! We fit so much culturally rich things into our 10 day stay in China- it is always the way hey! When you visit somewhere for a short period of time, especially if it is any kind of tour, you tend to do a lot more.
Wow, Lulu, sounds like you guys had an awesome time! You took some great shots of the sumo!! The photos totally made me want to go and experience it for myself! I have never been and it seems silly seeing we are so close to Ryogoku!! Thanks for the inspiration!
That’s awesome! Watching sumo is one of the things I regret not having done whilst in Japan! I heard you have to book your tickets ages in advance! Thanks for sharing the photos and blogging about it! Very interesting post!
Nooh- That is true! You could practically walk there- I am sure you see sumo waklking around during tournament time too- Shun`s main office is in Kameido and he saw them a lot as well (once while I was waiting to meet him I saw one on on a bike- that was funny!)
Definitely go! I am so glad that I went. The next tournament in Tokyo is on in January I think!!
Katie M- I have been here on and off for almost 6 years and I still hadn`t gone until Saturday so don`t beat yourself up too much! Definitely do it when you come back though if there is a tournament happening near where you are. The tickets I only booked a month ago as they only go on sale about a month before the tournament- I think if you were willing to go on a week day as well it wouldn`t be so hard- if you go early morning, say 8am, on a weekday you can buy tickets for that day. They are not the best tickets but they are still good as the atmosphere anywhere in the stadium is good I think!
Wow!! The photos you took were fantastic! I am so jealous!! I love Sumo – I actually really enjoy watching it on TV so to be able to watch it in real life would be soooooooo cool!! I got Naoki to check for the next tournament in Nagoya and it’s not until July or August next year. Long time for me to wait but oh well. As you said there is also another tournament in Tokyo in January that I might be able to con Naoki into going to!!
I was so disappointed Phill and I missed out on seeing live sumo while we were in Japan so I loved seeing your photos!
I’m late to the party Lulu, so sorry = ( I’m not sure if I’d ever go but your photos are smashing darling… fantastic composition and VIVID, you seemed to have had a fun and fabulous time.
Oh man, I am super jealous! We were watching a sumo match on tv the other day (for all I know it could have been this one!) and I was saying I reeeeally wanted to go see one, since I’ve never done that before. Sounds like it was a blast, at least! I also like your sumo poses
Love your picture and sounds like you’ve had a great time. definitely a must have Japan experience for me. Did you get any free omiyage for one of the special days?
Nay- You should totally come up for the January one since you will have a little one by July next year!!! You know you can always crash at my place although by then there will be a screaming goma-chan. Mum is in town til the 14th but after that is fine- when is the January one?
You would love it- I am not even a die hard fan but it really was so much fun.
Katie- Next time huh? WIth only six tournaments a year a lot of visitors to the country miss out I think. That said, there were so many foreigners at the event- way more than I thought there would be. I guess a lot of people just visiting for a shor time, time their trips to catch it.
April Marie Claire- Thank you
Was so happy they allowed photos. I realy wanted to get one WITH a sumo but was too shy to ask! Shun wanted one of a sumo rubbing my belly and me rubbing his- somehow I doubt that would of gone down well.
Elizabeth- You should totally go see it if you get the chance! I want to go again when goma-chan is a bit older so that he can enjoy it too. There were quite a few people with toddlers in the downstairs area so it would be possible!!!
Heather- You have been before?? You enjoyed it too. You should totally take the girls! We got a free fan when we entered! We have them on the enterence table thing at home! Not sure why there are fans for the Autumn tournament but it was quite hot inside the stadium (especially for me since i am playing incubator still) so they were good to have!
love the photos! excellent job!
we have the sumo in november, but i’ve never been. i used to watch a lot because it was one of the few things i could watch in english!
We love sumo too! Kenta (DS) went to his first match when he was only a few months old and Rei (DD) was in my belly too then! We got same day tickets, they are the last rows at the top of the stadium but it was sooo much fun. Kenta fell asleep on the seats.
There is a sumo beya in Makuhari Hongo. I’m going there on October 17th for the 1st time.
I miss sumo! We didn’t actually go to a tournament, but saw them practicing one day and had the chance to eat chanko nabe with some of the wrestlers after practice. It was so much fun! I’m excited for you that you got to go to the actual event