Meeting: #17 Subject: Sumo Wrestling Date: 8-29-97
Sumo, according to legend, actually dates back to mythical times, when it is said to have been popular among the gods. Before the sixth century it was practiced as a form of divination to predict the outcome of harvests and invoke the goodwill of the gods -- and fights were sometimes to the finish. The Nihon Shoki, from 720, records the first bout between mortals as taking place in 23 BC. Emperor Suinin (r. 29BC-AD70) is said to have made a special request to Nomi no Sukune, a potter from Izumo, to fight Taima no Kehaya, a bully and bragart from what is now Nara prefecture. The two grappled for quite a while until Sukune finally rendered some devastating kicks to Kehaya's stomach and solar plexus. Kehaya was mortally wounded, and Sukune, the victor, has been immortalized ever since as the "father of sumo."
Pre-modern. There are many legends about sumo matches held in the imperial presence before Japan adopted the Chinese writing system in the 7th century. The first historically authenticated bout took place in 642, when Empress Kogyoku (r. 642-45) assembled her palace guards to perform sumo to entertain envoys from Paekche court of Korea. Later records mention sumo being performed at the functions of the imperial court, including all coronation ceremonies. The custom of "tenran-zumo" (sumo in the imperial presence) is still carried out at present, albeit in a different form.
During the reign of Emperor Shomu (r. 724-49), sumaibito (sumotori) were recruited from all over the country to perform in the Imperial Palace garden at a festivity called "sechie" held each year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month (early August by today's calendars). In the late 8th century, Emperor Kanmu (r. 781-806) made sechie-zumo an annual event in his court, and the custom continued through the Heian period (794-1185). During the reign of Emperor Saga (r. 809-23) the practice of sumo was encouraged as a martial art; rules were established and techniques refined.
Oda Nobunaga was particularly fond of sumo. In February 1578, he assembled over 1500 sumotori from across the country for a tournament held at his castle. Until then there had been no definite boundaries to the arena in which sumo was held; the space was delineated simply by the people standing around in a circle watching or waiting for their own turn to fight. Apparently because many bouts were to be held on the same day at Nobunaga's Azuchi Castle, circular boundaries were drawn on the ground for the first time to speed up the proceedings. These boundaries also had the effect of making sumo safer for its spectators. The first evidence of a ring demarcated by rice straw bales (similar to at present) placed on the ground in a circular pattern can be found in the Empo era (1673-81).
From the Period of Warring States through the Edo period (1603-1867), several daimyo began offering their patronage to the strongest sumotori. Those employed by a daimyo not only received a generous stipend but were accorded samurai status as well. Such patronage guaranteed a good living, so many rikishi vied with each other in the ring to catch a daimyo's eye.
Modern. During the Edo period a ranking system and ranking sheets were initiated. In 1761, the name of the sumo organization on th ranking sheets was changed from kanjin-zumo to "kanjin-ozumo," marking the first time the professional version of the sport was called "Grand Sumo."
Sumo wrestlers begin training when they are in their early teens. They eat a special food called chanko-nabe, engage in strenuous exercises and practice sessions several hours a day, and grow to huge sizes -- usually between six and seven feet in height and weighing from 250-375 pounds. Sumo wrestlers, especially champions and grand champions, become national heroes, and, in recent decades, many of them have become wealthy.
The sport is controlled by the Japan Sumo Wrestling Association, which sponsors six 15-day tournaments a year. The most significant development in sumo in the history of the sport was the acceptance of several American "recruits" in the 1980s and 1990s, and the rise of several of them to champion rank. In 1993, Hawaiian Chad Rowan, wrestling under the name of Akebono, was promoted to Grand Champion after winning several tournaments, and for a number of subsequent tournaments was the only Grand Champion in the sport.