Back in the day, I used to really love sumo. I would watch it regularly on Japanese TV as something of an oddity in the culture.
My early days of studying Japanese was challenging because I really had no appreciation for much of its culture despite learning the language. Perhaps it was too close to my own unknown mother culture that I thought it a betrayal to both my native and adopted ones. Perhaps when I was learning about other worlds I was still uncomfortable in my own. Perhaps it really boils down to my lack of experiences outside of my own survival. Whatever the reason, I found Japanese culture more than foreign.
However, my high school Japanese teacher worked hard to encourage us to find aspects of the culture that we could like. It was through her efforts that I became interested in sumo.
In the midst of unfamiliarities, mankind can generally find commonality in sport. While most Western countries enjoy inflicting pain at seemingly all costs to win, the traditional sport of sumo wrestling has the perfect Japanese twist.
The bouts are generally quick once the fight begins with one man getting pushed out of the ring or falls to the ground. Yet before the fight starts there is a process of squatting, lifting legs, throwing salt and pysching out the opponent. Aside from the strutting like any good cock fight, there is a spiritual element ofย calling on a Shinto god to help them win the fight. This intertwining of the simple and complex defines my understanding of Japan.
When I attended a tournament before, it was to enjoy the sport and see a superficial side of the sport. This time, being definitely older and only somewhat wiser, I enjoyed it on a different level. Possibly sitting closer to the action helped as well. ;D
In any case, I recommend it as an experience of something so strange and at the same time so simple.
Here are some pics from the great day of sumo wrestling!
~T ๐
