As the national sport of Japan, sumo wrestling has a long and intricate history.
Sumo Wrestling 101 | National Geographic
The Ancient Origins of Sumo
The first mention of sumo wrestling appears in an eighth-century manuscript about ancient Japanese myths and legends. In Japan, figurines of sumo wrestlers have been unearthed dating back to the Kofun period (between the third and seventh centuries), and the sport is mentioned in the myths and legends of the Kojiki (712) and Nihonshoki (720) Japanese history books. Sumo wrestling was initially part of Shinto rituals honoring Japanese gods and celebrating harvests. The practice most likely originated as a form of worship or celebration for a fruitful harvest period, but it eventually evolved into a competitive sport.
According to Japanese mythology, two deities, or kami, named Takemikazuchi and Takeminakata held a sumo match to determine who would have dominion over the Japanese islands. The first match between mortals allegedly took place in 23 B.C.E. According to the Nihon Shoki, a historical record of ancient Japan published in 720, a man named Kuyehaya claimed to be the strongest person in all the land.
When Emperor Suinin heard of this, he requested that Kuyehaya fight against a simple potter named Nomi no Sukune. Nomi no Sukune easily defeated Kuyehaya, and today, he's known as the "founder of sumo." The story showcases sumo wrestling's violent origins. Until the Middle Ages, wrestlers often fought to the death, and there were no real rules about combat. From the Kamakura period (1192-1333) to the Warring States period (1467-1568), the era of the samurai, sumo was actively practiced as a form of combat training for the warriors.
Evolution and Regulation of Sumo
It wasn't until the sport became popular among aristocrats and nobility that it became more regulated. During the Edo period (1603 to 1867), sumo wrestlers would hold public matches for the common folk. However, these matches sometimes caused fighting in the streets, and the sport was temporarily banned. An official organization soon developed to provide more structure, and many of the modern elements of sumo wrestling began to take shape. By the 17th century, many wrestlers lived in training stables called heya, and public matches became commonplace. Sumo basically took its present form in the Edo period (1603-1867).
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Matches were held to raise money to construct shrines and temples or to replace bridges, and thus the professional sumo wrestlers were born. A sport that was once enjoyed only by the rich and powerful became popular among the masses. Sumo events were often held in Edo (now Tokyo), Osaka, and Kyoto, and the sport's popularity grew with the sales of color woodblock prints (nishiki-e) featuring sumo scenes and pictures of wrestlers. For this reason, the organizers of sumo decided on a set of rules, including the creation of a list of 48 kimarite (winning techniques) and the round ring that is still used today.
Sumo as a National Symbol
As Japan's feudal system came to an end in the 19th century and Western influence seeped into the nation, sumo wrestling became seen as an embarrassing relic of the past. However, Emperor Meiji organized a popular tournament in 1884 that restored sumo as a beloved national sport in the eyes of the Japanese people. During the Meiji period, Japan was trying to carve out its own sphere of influence to compete with rising Western imperialism, focusing on promoting nationalism and embracing a defined Japanese identity. Ultimately, sumo was selected as Japan's national sport to further these aims.
In the early 20th century, sumo wrestling reached new levels of popularity. Rivalries between prominent rikishi were reported in magazines, newspapers, and other media outlets. In 1925, the Japanese Sumo Association was formed, providing the sport with an organized governing body that scheduled official tournaments. After the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in the 1930s, nationalist sentiments strengthened, bolstering the popularity of sumo wrestling once again. Sumo wrestlers even traveled to occupied zones to perform for Japanese troops.
Modern Sumo Wrestling
The 20th century saw the establishment of the Japanese Sumo Association, formalizing the sport with organized tournaments. Sumo continued to rise in popularity, and it gained global exposure through world tours. By the 1960s, sumo wrestlers were going on world tours and showing off their unique sport to countries around the globe.
Today, rikishi still live in training stables, where younger wrestlers make food for their higher-ranked counterparts. Since there are no weight classes in the sport, sumo wrestlers use their size to their advantage, and they sometimes eat up to 7,000 calories a day to maintain their physique. One of the most popular meals is chanko-nabe, also known as "sumo stew," which is made of several pounds of meat and as many types of nutritious vegetables as possible.
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Other traditions from sumo's past also continue, such as the iconic topknots of the rikishi. These harken back to the time of the samurai, when sumo was used as a form of combat training and the hairstyle helped secure the warriors' helmets on their heads. As many aspects of old Japan remain in sumo, such as topknots, traditional dress, and ancient customs, professional sumo is more than just a sport; it's a living example of traditional Japanese culture. Today, sumo remains one of Japan’s most iconic and popular sports.
Sumo Tournaments and Rankings
Professional sumo wrestling has a strict hierarchy based on sporting merit. The wrestlers are ranked according to a system that dates back to the Edo period. They are promoted or demoted according to their performance in six official tournaments held throughout the year, which are called honbasho. In addition to the professional tournaments, exhibition competitions are held at regular intervals every year in Japan, and roughly once every two years, the top-ranked wrestlers visit a foreign country for such exhibitions.
Since 1958, six Grand Sumo tournaments or honbasho have been held each year: three at the Kokugikan in Tokyo (January, May, and September), and one each in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July), and Fukuoka (November). The wrestler who wins the most matches over the 15 days wins the tournament championship (yūshō) for his division.
Sumo Ranking System
The sumo wrestlers are assigned a rank according to their division, and then designated as a member of the East or West side. The highest rank is the yokozuna, the only permanent rank in sumo. They are expected to retire when they can no longer uphold their position. Since the ranking system was established, only 65 men have reached the status of yokozuna.
| Rank | Description |
|---|---|
| Yokozuna | Grand Champion, the highest rank in sumo |
| Ōzeki | Champion, just below Yokozuna |
| Sekiwake | Junior Champion, one of the titleholder ranks |
| Komusubi | Junior Champion, one of the titleholder ranks |
| Maegashira | Top division wrestlers ranked below the titleholders |
| Jūryō | Second highest division |
| Makushita | Third division |
| Sandanme | Fourth division |
| Jonidan | Fifth division |
| Jonokuchi | Lowest division |
Sumo wrestling has a unique set of objectives, rules, and traditional practices. These pre-match rituals have a historical value in that it preserves traditions, and also in that it builds up the anticipation and excitement of the actual match itself.
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