Pop Japan

Sumo is a Japanese style of wrestling and Japan's national sport. The wrestlers are called the rikishis, who put all their strength to bring their opponent outside the douyo of the circular ring . The Japanese characters of the word sumo actually means "striking one another.

It originated in ancient times as a performance to entertain the Shinto deities. Many rituals with religious background, such as the symbolic purification of the ring with salt, are still followed today. In line with tradition, only men practice the sport professionally in Japan.

Photo by Eckhard Pecher User:Arcimboldo. Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en)

Tags: sports, japan, sumo, wrestlers, rikishi, circular ring, douyo, shinto deities, purification, tradition, national sport