Sumo

The experience about watching sumo is very unforgettable. Sumo is the most famous sport in Japan. It used to be a ceremony for Japanese royal family. So still now before two players ready to fight, they throw the salt on the ground. Japanese treat well-known sumo players like super idols, include young boys and girls. Usually, people start training to become a sumo player around 15 years old. They can start the competition after few years. I was told by Higuchi-san that sumo players are “not fat”; they control their average body fat around 15%. He used American football player as an example and said sumo players are as strong as them. I totally disagree with him. Because sumo player looks totally different than American football players; American football players are very strong and full with muscle. I searched information online after I backed hotel. The website I visited shows sumo players usually eat a lot to become fatter, but the food they eat are strictly controlled by the experts to balance the nutrition. I found people’s age range from 20 to 36 on the brochure, and the middle number is around 27. And all the 4A players are older than the average age. I think it may stands sumo is not only depended on the strength that young people have, but also require for the skills—based on the abundant experience they got in the past, they have more chance to win in the competition.

It is impressive that players fallen from the stage frequently during the competition. I was so worried about the people who was setting in the first row; they may get injured if the people with huge weight fallen in them. However, Higuchi-san told me the seats in the front are collected by sumo companies, they treat those seats as precious gift to their top guests. It is very hard for me to image it is an honor for people to seat near the stage.

 Sumo player and me. :)

 Sumo players.

Snacks and souvenirs that every audiences got before we came in the stadium.