Ryogoku sumo tournament
When the opportunity to attend a sumo tournament arose, I was very enthusiastic. I imagined it would be spectacular, and I wasn’t disappointed. I bought a ticket online to reserve a seat in the stands. Getting in was very affordable and many of the spectators around me were foreigners. The seats close to the dohyo, which could be described as a ring, are expensive and come in squares of four. It would seem that these spaces are more difficult to access for the uninitiated and some spectators could be here by recommendation or invitation. The tournament takes place over several days, and access is free throughout the day. Food and drink are available on site, and you can leave the grounds on presentation of your ticket. This creates a very convivial atmosphere where spectators and food circulate continuously.
The practice of sumo is closely linked to Shinto which takes an important place in the daily life in Japan.
Fights are ritualized according to precise rules, from the announcement of a match to the victory of one of the two rikishi (wrestlers).
Avant le combat, les deux compétiteurs s’échauffent et font preuve de courtoisie. Du sel est jeté sur le sol en guise de rite purificateur, en écho au shintoïsme. Des mouvements sont également exécutés, dont on dit notamment qu’ils ont pour effet de chasser les démons.
The fights are brief, but the tension that punctuates them and the clamor after victory are all the more powerful. I loved the atmosphere, with everyone congratulating the winner in unison. According to some of my research, the loser is the one who goes out the dohyo or falls to the ground. The more techniques a sumo masters, the less predictable he becomes, and the more dangerous he is. I realized during a fight that it’s not being the strongest that facilitates victory. I had the feeling that skill and mental strength also play an important role.
The shocks are powerful and it seems that the first sumo fights were merciless with severe injuries. Today, they are more regulated.
I could have stayed the whole day without getting bored, as the fights were so hard-hitting. It was a great pleasure to attend this tournament, and I was able to gauge the public’s enthusiasm for these extraordinary wrestlers.
