Customer Reviews

Sumo a Pocket Guide

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sumo: A Pocket Guide is a great little book for the sumo enthusiest or anyone else who wants to learn a bit about Japan's number one sport. I wish I would have had this little book when I was living in Japan in the 90s and watching sumo religiously. As it is, I just recently picked it up and while reading it had fond memories of the times I was watching matches in Japan during Takanohana's heyday.

If you want a short book on the basics of Sumo, this pocket guide is the book to get.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author ofHard-Won Wisdom From The School of Hard Knocks.

The only reason for 4 stars is that it needs an updated version. This was written in 1995. And although the sport has been around for over 1,000 years in one format or another.



History:
1st recorded sumo bout: 23 BC - Request of Emperor Suinin Shinji: Taima no Kehaya vs. Nomi no Sukune (2.38 meters). Sukune kicks Kehaya breaks his ribs and kills him.
Noted in Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters), Japan's earliest written history (712)

Sumo, has a religious background:
Shinji Zumo: To determine the outcome of the harvest in front of the emperor and empresses
Nara: 646-794 - Annual court event
Heian: 794-1185 - Court entertainment: Sumai no sechie
Kamakura: 1185-1336 - rule of the Samurai
Beginning of decline until 1st great shogun: Oda Nobunaga - 1578 ,1500 men for a one day sumo fest
Muromachi 1336-1568 - Kanjin zumo raise money for improvements or repairs to the temples and shrines
Tokugawa 1603-1868Ieyasu, 1st Tokugawa Shogun
1648 & 1661 for 15 years, Tsuji Zumo and Kanjin Zumo were both banned due to gambling.
1684 Ikazuchi Gondaiyu, founding father of organized professional sumo received governmental permission to promote sumo.
Meiji & Taisho: 1868-1926: Sumo a bi-annual event

Started in Tokyo and was spread to:
1953 Osaka
1953 3rd Tokyo
1957Fukuoka
1958 Nagoya

The original Tokyo site had the following history:
1909: Kokugikan, seating 13,000
1917: burns
1923: Kanto earthquake
WW2: destroyed
1985: Current Ryogoju Kokugikan: 11,000 capacity (US$60 million cost)


Sumo:
Rikishi (gentlemen of strength)
Mimimum physical requirements: 1.73 meters and 75 kilograms
Banzuke: First created in Mid 18th century in Edo.


Entrance of the rikishi:
Clapping announces to the gods someone pure is asking for their attention and favor
Hands raised to show no weapons
Raising of Kesho-Mawashi (apron) symbolic of foot stamping.
Weapons: Physical, technical and psychological
-zeki based on sekitori

Yokuzuna
1st noted in 1773
1st recorded in Banzuke in 1890
1:700 reach the title
Enters with Chief referee, tsuya harai, and tachi-mochi
Over the kesho mawashi Wears the tsuna (White ropes) Gohei (white paper strips - zig zag from Shinto temples to mark sacred object or area)
Shiko (hoisting of a leg high into the air and slam to the ground to frighten away spirits and intention to crush his opponent
2 traditional Yokuzuna entrances: Unryu Hisakichi (1823-91), 10th Yokozuna: Both offensive and defensive posture
Shiranui Koemon (1825-1879) 11th Yokozuna: all out offensive posture

Dohyo: made of special dirt from Chiba (Rakida): 0.6 meters high and 5.5 meters square at the base
Straw Tawara forms a circle 4.6 meters in diameter - 2 or out to let out rain water.

4 corners:
Green: East & Spring
Red: South & Summer
White: West and autumn
Black: North and winter

45 kilos of salt each day

Chikara mizu

Cheering:
Nokotta, Nokotta: You're still in there
Yoi!Hakkeyoi: Keep it going

Winner: 3 Shinto deities of victory

Last ending Yumitori-Shiki