Sumo

Histoire

Sumo is Japan's national sport and is woven with Shinto ritual: it was performed at shrines and the imperial court for centuries. Professional sumo, organised to raise money for temples and shrines, began in Edo (Tokyo) in 1684.

Today the Japan Sumo Association holds six grand tournaments (honbasho) a year, a system in place since 1958. Wrestlers live and train together in "stables" (heya) and climb a strict ranking ladder up to yokozuna, the grand champion.

Le saviez-vous ?

• A bout is won by forcing the opponent out of the ring or making any part of his body except the soles touch the ground.
• The ring (dohyo) is 4.55 metres across, made of clay and straw bales.
• Before each bout wrestlers throw salt to purify the ring.
• Akebono, from Hawaii, became the first foreign-born yokozuna in 1993.
• Hakuho holds the record of 45 top-division tournament wins.
• Women are not allowed on the professional dohyo, an old ritual rule still debated today.

Glossaire des techniques

Yorikiri

frontal force-out holding the belt

Oshidashi

frontal push-out

Hatakikomi

slap down

Uwatenage

overarm throw

Tsukiotoshi

thrust down

Tachiai

initial charge

Shiko

high leg stomp exercise

Armes et équipement

Mawashi

thick belt

Dohyo

clay ring

Gunbai

referee's war fan

Kesho-mawashi

ceremonial apron

⚔ In the Arsenal

Mawashi

Figures clés

• Futabayama (1912–1968) — won 69 bouts in a row, a record
• Taiho (1940–2013) — 32 tournament titles
• Chiyonofuji (1955–2016) — "the Wolf", 31 titles
• Akebono (1969–2024) — first foreign-born yokozuna
• Hakuho (1985–) — record 45 titles

Sources: Japan Sumo Association (Nihon Sumo Kyokai) · Encyclopaedia Britannica