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According to Japanese legend the origin of the Japanese people was determined by the outcome of a sumo match. The Japanese god Takemikazuchi won over the leader of a rival tribe and thus established the Japanese people as the masters of Japan. That is legend - sumo came into being some 1500 years ago. Sumo matches originally were a ritual aimed at securing better harvests. It was incorporated in the Imperial Court, and developed into a sport in the 17th century.
There are only 6 tournaments a year, and sumo wrestlers train and live a Spartan life for these few opportunities to excel. When I happened to be in Tokyo during such a tournament, I directly took the chance to see a day of the sport. I went to the Kokugikan arena. Because of a typical misunderstanding which is not at all uncommon in Japan unless you speak Japanese or are fortunate enough to meet someone who speaks English very well, I was ushered in directly upon buying the tickets. The arena was almost completely empty. Since the ticket said that leaving the premises would result in the ticket being invalid, I had to stay inside. Quite soon though, the juniors started their matches. From then on, the game became increasingly interesting.
The interest lies mainly in the many subtle and sometimes mysterious rituals, more than the fight itself which sometimes takes just a few seconds. From presenting the heroes in their exquisite silk dresses before the matches, to throwing salt in the arena to please the gods, to the bowing of the victor after the match has been won, sumo appears to be a sport rife with tradition, prescribed movements, and acts. The game itself is not just brute fat, force and weight (although the absolute yokozuna can weigh up to 240 kg) but also psychological warfare, tactics and strategy. The audience gets increasingly crazy too and at the end there is even some sparse seat pillow throwing - not something you would easily expect in Japan. The real wrestling starts when the show is over and you have to find your way to the exit...
