Sumo 相撲 (Japanese wrestling)

Hi, everyone!
Today, we’ll introduce you “sumo”.

“Sumo” is one of the traditional sports in Japan.
It was started as a Shinto rituals for agricultural fertility.

In the Edo period, the professional wrestlers are appeared and performed at temples and shrines.
“Sumo” was elected as national sports in 1909.

The rule of “sumo” is two wresters who wearing only loincloths, wrestle in a 4.5-meter diameter ring until one of them is pushed out or touches the ground with any part of his body other than the sole of his feet.

There are six tournaments lasting 15 days every year.
Three in Tokyo (January, May, September at Kokugikan).
One in Osaka (March at Osaka prefecture gymnasium).
One in Nagoya (July at Aichi prefecture gymnasium).
One in Fukuoka (December at Fukuoka international center).