I’m not exactly sure when my interest in sumo started. I remember seeing them on TV as a child in my small Albanian town called Fieri. Japan seemed so far away, but the image of them eating huge bowls of chanko nabe( at that time I didn't know it was called like this) stuck with me. Years later, I met a foreign girl in Japan who was fascinated by sumo life, especially post-retirement, but I didn’t dive in then either. She was studying and researching how hard is for them to find a job or even get married. Recently, since I moved to live in the East Tokyo which is home to many sumo dojos, it feels surreal. I often spot sumo wrestlers biking around, training, or grabbing croquettes at a convenience store—like a scene from anime. I still feel shy when I see them, avoiding eye contact because I feel 'small'.
Last summer, I watched 'The Sanctuary', a series on the sumo world. It hit me that, this 1,500-year-old sport, one of the world’s oldest sports, isn’t fading away like I thought—it’s still thriving today. The movie provides insight into the sumo world, highlighting its strict hierarchy and challenges. Enno, the main character, is a former delinquent and judo champion who enters sumo with little respect for its traditions. He refuses to bow to the ring, neglects fundamental practices like shiko (a basic sumo stomp), and behaves more like a pro wrestler than a sumo wrestler.
His rebellious attitude leads him to tasks such as washing seniors' backs and cleaning their toilets(which is a hard pill to swallow for some), showing the rigid system of respect and rules within the sumo world. The movie trailer below, to get a better understanding.
Origin of Sumo
Sumo wrestling originated as a Shinto ritual meant to entertain the gods, with the belief that if the gods were pleased, they would bless the harvest.
Sumo originated from a strength contest in Japan's oldest texts, the Kojiki (712) and Nihonshoki (720), featuring a legendary match between warlords. During the Kamakura and Warring States periods, samurai practiced sumo as combat training. Oda Nobunaga, a key figure in the Warring States period, was a big fan, organizing large tournaments. By the Edo period (1603-1867), sumo had evolved into a professional sport, with organized tournaments held throughout Japan.
Sumo matches are held in a circular ring called dohyō. The dohyo (sumo stage) is considered sacred, and its design reflects this. The roof above the dohyo, adorned with purple curtains and tassels, symbolizes the roof of a Shinto shrine, emphasizing the spiritual significance of sumo in Japanese culture.
The rules of the game are simple. The objective is to force the opponent out of the ring or make any part of their body, other than the soles of their feet, touch the ground. Wrestlers can push, throw, or use various techniques to unbalance their opponent. Grabbing the belt (mawashi) is common, but certain techniques like hair-pulling, striking with fists, or gouging eyes are prohibited. Check out more here.
Current Situation in Sumo:
Today, there are approximately 600 active professional sumo wrestlers in Japan competing across six divisions. The top division, Makuuchi, consists of 42 wrestlers, with others spread across divisions like Jūryō and Makushita. However, the number of wrestlers has declined over the past 15 years. In 1999, there were around 790 wrestlers, but now the total has dropped by nearly 200. This decline is likely due to fewer new apprentices joining compared to the number of wrestlers retiring.
The majority of sumo wrestlers come from Kyushu and Okinawa, followed by the Kanto region. However, most Yokozuna and Ozeki wrestlers have historically hailed from northern Japan. Foreign wrestlers, limited to one per stable, make up 7-8% of the total, but represent a higher percentage, around 30%, in the top divisions like Makuuchi and Jūryō. This could be due to various factors such as motivation, talent, or scouting, but the exact reason remains unclear. For more details, check here.
Sumo rankings, from lowest to highest, are Jonokuchi, Jonidan, Sandanme, Makushita, Juryo, and Makuuchi. Yokozuna and Ozeki are not separate divisions but prestigious titles within the Makuuchi division, recognizing their elite status. The Makuuchi division is further divided into Maegashira, Komusubi, Sekiwake, Ozeki, and Yokozuna, with Yokozuna being the highest rank. These upper ranks signify the most skilled and accomplished wrestlers in the sport. For more details, you can check here.
What Sumo players eat?
That famous soup, chanko nabe, as mentioned earlier, has an interesting origin. One theory traces the name back to the Edo period, where chefs in Nagasaki adopted cooking methods from the Chinese "chankuo" metal pot. Another theory suggests young sumo wrestlers called their master "chan" (father) and added "ko" (child) to form the word chanko, reflecting their bond.
The modern version of the "chanko" hotpot dates back to the Meiji period, evolving into the well-known meal for sumo wrestlers. Sumo wrestlers typically eat two meals a day, beginning training at 5 a.m. without breakfast. After practice, they eat their first meal, chanko, between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., followed by rest, which is crucial for nutrient absorption. Their routine follows a cycle of training, eating, and resting.
In sumo tradition, meat from four-legged animals like beef or pork was avoided, because as touching the ground symbolizes defeat. Instead, chicken, which stays on two legs, was traditionally used. However, modern chanko nabe now includes pork and beef for variety, ensuring wrestlers don't tire of eating the same meals every day.
Salary
The monthly salaries for sumo wrestlers vary by rank. Yokozuna, the highest rank, receives the most pay, while wrestlers ranked below Juryo (from Makushita to Jonokuchi) do not receive a fixed monthly salary. Instead, they earn through allowances and incentive payments for each tournament.
These allowances provide basic income for lower-ranked wrestlers:
Makushita: 165,000 yen (~$1,100 USD)
Sandanme: 110,000 yen (~$740 USD)
Jonidan: 88,000 yen (~$590 USD)
Jonokuchi: 77,000 yen (~$520 USD)
Therefore, the higher your rank or status, the more salary you receive, and the lower your rank or status, the less salary you receive. The amount of salary paid has changed over time. The below shows the current salaries for each sumo rank.Yokozuna: 3 million yen/month (~$20,000 USD)
Ozeki: 2.5 million yen/month (~$16,700 USD)
Sekiwake/Komusubi: 1.8 million yen/month (~$12,000 USD)
Maegashira: 1.4 million yen/month (~$9,300 USD)
Juryo: 1.1 million yen/month (~$7,300 USD)
A Yokozuna can earn around 50 million yen per year ($240,000 USD) plus bonuses and prize money for tournament wins. Even top wrestlers who earn hundreds of millions, or even billions of yen, began as apprentices, endured rigorous training, and made extraordinary efforts throughout their careers.
The sumo wrestler said to have earned the most in Japan is the 69th Yokozuna, Hakuho(Mongolian wrestlers). From his debut in 2001 to his retirement in 2021, Hakuho achieved remarkable success, both in terms of championships and earnings. By 2015, his total income was estimated at 2 billion yen, largely due to sponsorship deals and commercial appearances.
Who can be a sumo wrestler?
To become a sumo wrestler, candidates must pass the new apprentice examination and join a stable. According to the Japan Sumo Association, they must be healthy males who have completed compulsory education, meet specific above height (167 cm) and above weight (67 kg) requirements, and be generally under 23 years old. However, those who have excelled in amateur or university sumo can apply until the age of 25. The requirements are slightly lowered for junior high school graduates taking the March apprentice exam, with a minimum height of 165 cm and weight of 65 kg.
Non-Japanese wrestlers are also eligible, and many from countries like Mongolia have succeeded. Every wrestler must join a sumobeya (stable), where they live and train. Sumo has no weight classes, but there is a ranking system called banzuke, with divisions starting from Jonokuchi up to Makuuchi.
Are sumo wrestlers obese?
Although professional sumo wrestlers are often consider obese, they maintain high levels of physical activity and have significant muscle mass in addition to body fat. This has led to the term "healthy obesity," though their metabolic indicators often exceed standard values. However, there are few studies on the health of junior sumo wrestlers. To address this a research from Ogawa and colleagues conducted a study comparing the body composition and metabolic indicators of junior sumo wrestlers, obese children who play other sports, and obese children with no exercise habits.
The study involved boys aged 9 to 17, including 14 junior sumo wrestlers with an average of 4.7 years of sumo experience. The comparison groups were 56 obese children aged 9 to 14, half of whom were involved in sports other than sumo, while the other half had no exercise habits. The study excluded children with secondary obesity caused by conditions affecting the central nervous or endocrine systems.
One key finding was that systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the sumo wrestler group. This was partly attributed to their larger body size, which contributes to higher blood pressure due to increased plasma volume and mechanisms like insulin resistance and sympathetic nervous system activity associated with obesity. The researchers also noted that childhood hypertension often continues into adulthood, highlighting the need for dietary and lifestyle interventions in junior sumo wrestlers to manage this risk. Reference: Study Link
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