SUMO!!!

I went to SUMO today!!!!! Yay! Sumo matches occur six times a year, three times in Tokyo, and once in Osaka, Nagoya and Kyushu. Each tournament lasts 15 days. The matches start in the morning around nine with the lower ranked wrestlers and progresses through the ranks until the day's matches finish at six.

I called Cecy just before noon, rallied her out of bed and we took off to Osaka. We didn't know just how much sumo we could watch in one sitting, but estimated it at less than an entire day. We got to the gym around 1:30, just as the higher-ranked rikishi, or wrestlers, were arriving. People lined the streets, creating wall of digital cameras and cell phones to snap photos as the wrestlers stepped out of the taxis. They arrived wearing yukata, or lighter versions of kimono, with their hair pinned neatly atop their heads.

After snapping a few photos, we found the ticket window and were dismayed to learn that all of the cheaper tickets had been already sold. All that were left were the 8500 yen tickets. Figuring that this was my last chance to see sumo in Japan, and that we had already made it to Osaka, we bought our very very expensive tickets. We wandered off, got some lunch, swung by a convenience store for snacks and made it back to the gym.

At the ticket gate, a very energetic woman attached herself to us as a guide to our seats. As Cecy was using the restroom, I confessed that although I like to watch Sumo on TV, this was my first time seeing it live. Upon hearing this, my guide rushed off and came back with some secret presents for us- promotional photos of the yokozune Asashoryu that they had handed out the first day. After stuffing them in our bags- so no one could see them, she excorted us into the sumo hall.

Dohyo-iri or "entering the ring" ceremony. The rikishi, or upper division, wrestlers enter the ring wearing their silk aprons.

Yokozuna Asashoryu, attended by lower ranking rikishi, one holding a sword, performs ritual stomping in the dohyo-iri.

Ozeki Kotooshi (far side) and opponent. A Bulgarian, this is Cecy's favorite wrestler.

I'm not sure who this is. But he is performing the yumitori-shiki, or "swinging around a bow" closing ceremony.

It was soooo awesome! That's all I have to say.
Love, Allison