Sumo… not just a fat-guy push-fest

So last week (July 20th) I went to the Summer Sumo Tournament in Nagoya… well, let’s start with calling it by the proper term: Nagoya Natsu Basho (Natsu = Summer, Basho = Sumo Tournament). Certainly a fantastic experience, we got to see some of the biggest & best battle it out for the Emperor’s Cup.

Before we cover all of that, some background…

• Rikishi (wrestlers) are split into 3 divisions. We’ll only worry about the top division – the Makuuchi.
• Within the Makuuchi division, there are 5 ranks (from lowest): Maegashira; Komusubi; Sekiwake; Ozeki; Yokozuna. Movement can occur up & down, except for within the Yokozuna rank. Once a Yokozuna, you cannot be demoted… they can insist you retire tho’. Currently there are 2 Yokozuna – Asashoryu & Hakuho (both born in Mongolia).
• They compete on a packed clay surface, called a dohyo. The outer ‘rope’ is made of straw.
• Whilst all divisions compete, the Makuuchi battle at the end of the day, with the Yokozuna fighting last of all.
• If a lower rank rikishi defeats a Yokozuna, it’s traditional that the crowd throw the purple seat cushions into the air.

Now… on with the commentary! A fairly sultry day, we headed into the Nagoya Rainbow Hall. Our seats were quite good, and with a zoom lense I got some pretty good photos. And on with the battles!

Most people think Sumo rikishi are just big fat guys… and I guess that’s kinda true. But when the object of the fight is to throw a guy either down, or out of the ring, being heavy and possessing a low center of gravity is a huge advantage. I’ve been living in Japan almost 10 years, and I’m yet to see a smaller, more agile Sumo rikishi be successful – and a few have tried. Big, fast, flexible, strong – the top ranked Sumo are in no way ponderous. Asashoryu – the current senior Yokozuna – is almost blindingly fast. Add to that prodigious strength, and it’s no wonder he’s considered to be one of the greatest Yokozuna ever.

Damnit… sidetracked again! Ok… so, the bouts went on, and there was definitely tension rising whilst we waited for the top bouts to begin. At this stage, we had 3 rikishi all on the same record (9-1): Yokozunas Asashoryu & Hakuho, and the Sekiwake, local boy Kotomitsuki (Sekiwake is the third rank, just below Yokozuna then Ozeki). First – Kotomitsuki was drawn against Kaio, then Hakuho would battle Bulgarian Ozeki Kootoshu, and Asashoryu was to be the last fight of the day against Ozeki Chiyotaikai.

So up came Koto, and in fairly quick fashion dismissed Kaio, to take sole lead – at least for a little while. Then… the first of the Yokozuna, the mighty Hakuho (recently promoted from Ozeki) against the crowd favourite Kootoshu. It was certainly a massive battle, with Hakuho taking the early advantage, but Kootoshu kicked off the rope, and grounded Hakuho – the cushions did indeed fly, and Hakuho’s dreams of Nagoya glory took a hit, now 1 win off the pace with 2 days to go.

The last bout was Asashoryu versus the Ozeki Chiyotaikai… they sized each other up, Chiyotaikai methodical, Asa firing himself up with chest-thumping & thigh-slapping… at the tachi-ai (face-off), Asashoryu bulled himself right at Chiyotaikai, and although the battle didn’t end right there, it may as well have. Chiyotaikai never recovered footing, and was brutally thrown out of the ring – the crowd’s hope of another upset thrown out alongside him.

A fantastic afternoon, steeped in both sport & culture. I saw a champion win, and a champion beaten. Who could ask for more?

Asashoryu went on to win the tournament (his 21st), not losing another match (1 per day). Kotomitsuki fought valiantly, but lost his match on the last day. Still, this performance moved him up a rank to Ozeki. A good basho for him.

If you’re ever in Japan, and there’s a Sumo basho on, I highly recommend it… here’s a link to the homepage of Grand Sumo.

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