Do you Sumo?

Thanks to Greg's Japanese intern Nori we were able to attend an amazing and rare sporting event. Nori arranged tickets for us to a Sumo match in Urasoe. Sumo comes to Okinawa only once every 6 years. We drove down together after Greg finished work and were treated to an amazing show. We had box seats which was literally a box traced on the floor with tape where we sat on some pillows. The Sumo program was divided into classes based on weight and record. There was even a section in the program where they explained how Sumo works. It was done by two wrestlers in a very funny and amusing way. The actual matches were fairly short but contain many specific rituals. The most notable ritual and probably the one most familiar to us in the west is the throwing of salt to purify the ring. Nori told us that Sumo matches use an average of 7 kilos of salt a day. The men who participate in Sumo start off at a fairly young age. At the program we saw children who are already part of a Sumo stable. Stables are where the Sumo's live and train. For those who are starting out, not only do they train every day but they also act as assistants to those higher, they live in the stables where those who are more experienced get to live in their own apartments. The Sumo wrestlers are huge, those in the highest class spend their days eating large lunches with beer in order to gain their weight quickly. There are specific Sumo moves which are illustrated on a t-shirt I purchased Greg at the event. The final matches of the evening were with the largest and most senior of the the participants. The matches were impressive, the massive size of the men and the sounds of them crashing into each other is indescribable. At the end of the night we were able to go up to the ring, see where the action had taken place and even touch the salt. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and we are thankful that we were able to experience true Sumo.