Attend Grand Sumo Tournament, Japan

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Associated with an ancient Shinto religious ritual, Sumo has its origins in a ritual dance where a human wrestles with a Shinto divine spirit. Many of the ancient traditions of Sumo have been preserved to this day and are engrained into the professional sport. Six times each year Grand Sumo Tournaments (“Honbasho”) are held in Japan: three in Ryogoku, Tokyo and one each in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. The tournaments last for fifteen days and begin and end on Sunday. There are multiple divisions for competition and the top wrestlers perform every day during the tournament. The division winners are determined by the individual wrestler with the most wins over the course of the fifteen days. Sumo wrestlers live a regimented and scripted life and their diets and daily routines are based on the ancient customs and traditions. The Sumo Tournaments provide opportunities to learn about the wrestler’s way of life and even include the ability to sample the food that makes up their diets. If you dream of experiencing the culture of Japan and gaining a greater understanding of the traditions and rituals associated with Sumo then adding a trip to a Grand Sumo Tournament to your list is a great way to make that wish become a reality.

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