There were few rules,
wrestlers frequently drew
blood, and you could box
your opponent as well as
wrestle him to the groundlEfT It surprises many
how fit and flexible
sumo wrestlers are.
The splits are done at
the end of a training
sessions at the
Hakkaku stable
bElow lEfT Wrestlers
are expected to oil
their hair and tie it
with a topknot. The
hairstyle is called
chonmage, which
is prepared by a
tokuyama
bElow RIGHT Wrestlers
prepare their own
breakfast at the
Musashigawa stable.
They commonly
eat a stew called
chankonabe. After
breakfast, they take
a nap in order to gain
more weightthe political scores of their patrons,
the sumo ring was not dissimilar to a
gladiator arena.
Sumo goes professional
Sumo wrestling developed into a
serious, professional event from the
14th century onwards, becoming
particularly refined during the Edo
period (1603-1867). The popularity
of sumo expanded from the imperial
court, and newly wealthy merchants
patronised tournaments. The best
wrestlers from each province would
be ordered to attend national
competitions, and many of them were
samurai who found it a fitting way to
supplement their income.
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