[SUMO]

Earlier this year, I took a night walk through the streets of Ryogoku. The powerful presence of the Kokugikan looming against the night sky, and the "furedaiko" (announcement drums) rolling through the streets to announce the upcoming tournament, immediately sparked my curiosity.

Sumo began as a ritual dedicated to the gods to pray for a bountiful harvest. Stories of gods testing their strength are recorded in the "Kojiki" (Records of Ancient Matters) and the "Nihon Shoki" (The Chronicles of Japan). This traditional sport, which originated from trials of strength and wrestling—an expression of the human fighting instinct—saw "Tenran-sumo" (sumo bouts performed before the Emperor) continue for 300 years. From the Kamakura period through the Sengoku period, it was actively practiced as combat training for samurai. Oda Nobunaga was also a passionate enthusiast of sumo, and he would even employ those who won through the tournaments as his retainers. Entering the Edo period, professional sumo wrestlers emerged from among masterless samurai (ronin) and men proud of their strength, and "Kanjin-sumo" came to be held across the country.

"Kanjin-sumo" refers to sumo tournaments held to raise funds required for building or repairing the main halls and gates of temples and shrines. In the early days of the Edo shogunate, these tournaments were held throughout the country, centered on Kyo, Osaka, and Edo. At one point, sumo performances were banned due to concerns over disturbing public morals, but during the peaceful and prosperous mid-Edo period, the shogunate shifted to permit Kanjin-sumo. In Edo, it was held in various locations such as Tomioka Hachiman Shrine in Fukagawa, Ekoin Temple in Honjo (Ryogoku), and Tenjin Shrine in Yushima. Later, it was increasingly held at Ekoin Temple, which became the main venue in Edo. With the emergence of legendary wrestlers and the appearance of a huge temporary structure made of reed screens erected within the temple grounds, "Kanjin Ozumo" was born. This marked the birth of professional sumo wrestlers who could support their livelihoods through the income earned from these performances.

Eventually, popular wrestlers were employed by daimyo families who favored sumo, and by winning, they played a role in raising the prestige of the daimyo's house name. There is a senryu poem that describes the lifestyle of these wrestlers: "A fine man who makes a living for a year in twenty days." Since a single tournament lasted for 10 fine days and there were two tournaments a year in spring and autumn, it meant they could get by just by wrestling for a total of 20 days in spring and autumn. In reality, life was apparently not quite that elegant, but it is a very intriguing senryu, isn't it?

The May Tournament has begun in Ryogoku, and tickets are already completely sold out. The area around Ryogoku must be bustling. The London tour last year, which was a massive success, is still fresh in our memory, and the interested gazes of the overseas spectators looking at Japanese tradition left a deep impression. In June, the Paris tour will be held for the first time in 30 years. I am already excited to see how "SUMO" will blend into the streets of Paris.

And please do not forget the sumo wrestlers at our store! These are incredibly charming porcelain dolls made by Ceramic Japan. There are four poses in total: "shiko" (stomping) and "shikiri" (preparing for the bout), along with the highly humorous "hirune" (napping) and "akubi" (yawning), all of which fit right in the palm of your hand. Perfect for an entranceway! These highly popular dolls are sure to bring a smile to your face just by looking at them.

The other item is straw craft made by Waramu, a group of artisans in Minami-Shinshu, Nagano Prefecture. They select and use six types of rice straw according to the characteristics of each product, including the rare ancient rice variety "Shirage mochigome" (Shirage glutinous rice).

Shirage mochigome is called "Kachi-wara" (winning straw) because it resists falling to the ground even when a storm hits. In the world of sumo, where touching the ground with any part of the body other than the soles of the feet ("tsuchi ga tsuku," meaning getting soiled with dirt) signifies a loss, this straw is regarded as an auspicious omen and is used for the "dohyo-dawara" (ring bales) of the official Grand Sumo tournaments. These days, I find myself fascinated not only by the powerful bouts themselves but also by the rich stories surrounding "SUMO."

Ceramic Japan's Sumo
https://www.shokunin.com/en/ceramicjapan/sumo.html
Waramu's Pot Mat
https://www.shokunin.com/en/waramu/potmat.html
Ginza Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/ginza.html

References
https://www.sumo.or.jp/IrohaKnowledge/sumo_history/
https://www.library.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/portals/0/edo/tokyo_library/sumo/index.html