In addition to sight seeing, we can learn so much about customs and traditions by merely watching a country’s national sport. Terry and I love to watch any sport wherever we are and are trying to attend as many events as we can while we are travelling.
There are six professional Grand Sumo tournaments in Japan each year and we will be there in September for the tournament in Ryogoku, Tokyo! Tickets are on sale in August, so we’ll be watching for these ‘hard to get’ spots ringside.
Sumo is a competitive contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. Life as a Rikishi Sumo Wrestler) is highly regimented, with professional sumo wrestlers required to live in communal “sumo training stables” where all aspects of their daily lives — from meals to their manner of dress — are dictated by strict tradition.
Rikishi are not normally allowed to eat breakfast and are expected to have a form of siesta after a large lunch. The most common type of lunch served is the traditional “sumo meal” of chankonabe which consists of a fat laden simmering stew cooked at table which contains various fish, meat, and vegetables. It is usually eaten with rice and washed down with beer and followed by a relaxing massage. This daily regimen of no breakfast, a large lunch followed by a nap helps rikishi put on fat to compete more effectively!
NICE!! Now I’ll have to convince Terry not to try out or become the first German-American Sumo Wrestler! Watch out Yokozuma!
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Gosh I do believe this guy was at our pool last summer – do you suppose he lives at WESTOVER – perfect for the Board – Liz would be in heaven Roberta