Saturday, October 24, 2009

Men in Mawashi

During spring vacation in March, we ventured to Osaka to watch a Sumo tournament.

The banners promote the wrestlers

We bought the cheapest tickets, so we sat in seats high in the stands. Everybody closer to the action had their own sectioned position with blue cushions to sit on.

We sat behind the scoreboards
but still with a good view of the action


The wrestlers make their grand entrance
in ascending rank order...


...and show their kesho-mawashi (silk aprons)...


... before performing their ring-entering ceremony



Watch the wrestlers make their entrance


Wrestlers will first stomp their feet to drive away evil spirits


Two fists on the ground means ready for action -
it can take several minutes for this to happen


It's on!



Watch a bout of Sumo here



Haven't seen enough?
Watch another one here


Um, I've got someone I'd like you to meet....


And finally, dinner in Namba -
fried chicken and prawn setto

Mawashi, by the way, is the "belt" that Sumo wrestlers wear. If it comes off in a match, it is automatic disqualification for that player. You'd have to have it on pretty firmly - did you see the way the men grab them ... upwards!?

Until next time,
Monica

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