大相撲 一月場所@両国国技館

Finally, after 10 years of living in Japan, I got the chance to witness a Sumo match in person.

Happened at Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena in Tokyo, the "Grand Sumo Tournament" is one of six annual professional sumo wrestling events held in Japan. The tournaments are held in Tokyo over 15 days in January, May, and September, and attract thousands of visitors from Japan and around the world.

Being able to watch top sumo wrestlers compete is definitely eye-opening. I was also told that Japanese consider it one of the country's most important sporting events.

But not many know that Sumo is more than just a sport. Deeply rooted in ancient Japanese history, Sumo holds great cultural significance for the Japanese. Many rituals and customs associated with sumo wrestling have spiritual or religious significance. A Sumo match is held in a circular ring called the "dohyo," and the objective is to force the opponent out of the ring or to make any part of their body other than the soles of their feet touch the ground. Also, a match is accompanied by traditional ceremonies and rituals, such as the "dohyo-iri" procession, which involves the sumo wrestlers performing a series of rituals and movements on the dohyo before each match.

Try catching a Sumo match next time! Promise it won't be disappointing!

📅Check for next schedule and ticket details at www.sumo.or.jp/EnTicket/year_schedule
💰 From ¥3,800 for a ticket
⚠️Announcement will be made in Japanese only, schedule and timeline will be available in English.
📍Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena, 1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo

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