T
he appeal of sumo might be lost on people who are new to the sport. The visuals themselves are jarring: abnormally large men in small undergarments, with their hair perfectly set in a top knot, slapping, pushing, and thrusting each other inside a ring of rice-straw bales. At the same time, there is something aweinspiring about the dynamics of the fast-paced matches and the wrestlers themselves. Their chosen craft requires a high level of speed, power, technique, and dedication, which makes following the sport so gripping. On top of the skills each wrestler, or rikishi, develops, there is a refined pageantry and showmanship that they display during each of the six grand tournaments, which are commonly known as honbasho. Before the start of each tournament, they begin with the ring entrance ceremony, the dohyo-iri, donning large, colorful, and expensive loincloth garments called kensho-mawashi. (1) What first seems like a vulgar sport, suddenly becomes quite regal and complex. After paying close attention to the meticulousness and grace
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that goes into each facet of the sport, it is clear that sumo is so much more than meets the eye. It is not always clear to newcomers, but sumo’s charms are many, indeed. If there was ever a time to dip your toe into the sport of giants, now is certainly a good time to start. A glossary of sumo terminology can be found using this link: Translation Dictionary
In a Competition With Himself: Sumo Legend Hakuho It is an especially interesting time for fans as a new landscape is being etched into the sumo world: the winningest wrestler in modern times, and perhaps the most impressive in all of sumo history, announced his retirement after an influential 20-year career. Coming from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Mönkhbatyn Davaajargal, known professionally as Hakuho, has become a titan in his own right against his contemporaries and even among his predecessors.
Hakuho (2012)
Attaining sumo’s highest rank as a yokozuna at age 22, Hakuho’s
