First published by The Journal Gazette
There are three things you need to know about the lifestyle of a sumo wrestler (rikishi). The first is that the young, male-only athlete must eat between 7,000 and 9,000 calories a day. The second is that he must weigh at least 300 pounds.
The third is that he must undergo grueling training. One of the exercises within the training is called “butsukari-geiko,” where two wrestlers repeatedly hit each other until one wrestler collapses from exhaustion.
On a visit to Japan, I was eagerly sitting in the front row facing an empty circular ring (dohyo) in a restaurant waiting for two sumo wrestlers to appear in the Tokyo: Sumo Show Experience.
On my personal table were a set of chopsticks, a dish of green beans with sesame oil and a splash of soy sauce, and a mizutaki-style hotpot using a small portable stove. A mizutaki dish contains water, chicken and small amounts of mixed vegetables so the flavor of the chicken is the main taste. I still haven’t figured out chopsticks, so I asked for a fork and a spoon.
It was a tasty meal, but I was there for the action.
The ring announcer (yobidashi) appeared. She was wearing black pants, which she paired with a body-hugging white-collared shirt, most of which was covered with a kimono with a dark blue and white flower pattern.
She talked about a sumo wrestler’s diet – lots of fish, vegetables and meat. Nothing about potato chips, desserts and sugary drinks. She mentioned that sumo is a Japanese style of wrestling and Japan’s national sport. As she continued to talk, a server quickly removed everything on my personal table.
Moments later, the announcer introduced two sumo wrestlers. One was wearing nothing but an all-blue loincloth (mawashi) with a cloth belt; the other was wearing all black.
A sumo match doesn’t start until both sumo wrestlers have placed both hands on the ground at the same time. Both made a variety of grunting sounds to intimidate the other while they got into positions.
Suddenly, the match started. Each grabbed the other’s belt, and both tried to shove the other out of the ring. There were a lot of headlocks.
At that point I realized why the server needed to clear people’s tables before the start of the match. Sure, a sumo wrestler could push the other into an audience member’s dinner plate. But there was another reason. Each time either sumo wrestler bent over, I saw up close a partially exposed rear end of a 300-plus-pound person. I don’t think seeing that while eating would be a wise combination for entertainment.
I enjoyed the two-hour event, but the wrestling match seemed staged and scripted as both wrestlers periodically smiled at each other. And there were three rounds, with each sumo wrestler winning one of the first two rounds. This resulted in what I believe was a pre-determined third round. The experience was advertised as a two-hour event. People expect to get what is advertised.
That night I went on the Tokyo: Become a Member of the Daikoku Car Club tour. Japan’s legendary Daikoku parking area sits in the middle of a swirling concrete expressway. Visitors from all over the world come to this popular small spot outside the world’s largest city. The Daikoku car attraction has been around for over 30 years.
There are rows of uniquely painted cars, with some having anime pictures on their sides and hoods. People can casually walk around and talk to the car owners who proudly stand near their cars. There are some language barriers, but for the most part, people make efforts to speak English. But be warned: strong car exhaust fumes are present.