A sumo tournament runs for 15 days, and each day, there are scores of matches. There are no official time limits on the matches, and there is also no limit to the number of times that the wrestlers can throw salt and stare at one another before the match begins. And yet, somehow, the matches always end right around 6:00 pm, just in time for the news. How does that happen?
On a related note, here is a commercial where of one of my favorite sumo wrestlers eats noodles. Mmmmmmmm.
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3 comments:
The sumo guy doesn't look as Japanese - or as large - as most.
Does he wrestle against the LARGE participants or is there another division?
Sue (Moe)
There are no divisions -- everyone faces each other. I seem to remember hearing that he is the tallest active sumo wrestler.
Regarding him not being Japanese, the only active grand champion right now is actually Mongolian, and there a number of Eastern Europeans and non-Japanese Asians who participate in the big Sumo league.
Mike, is it okay if I talk about dreamy Kotooshu here? (Yes, sumo wrestlers can be heartthrobs over here.)
The guy in the commercial is called Kotooshu (琴欧州) and he is from Bulgaria. Kotooshu is his sumo name. His real name is Mahlyanov Kaloyan Stefanov (not quite as cool sounding). The ooshuu part of his name means "Europe" (欧州). Koto (琴) is a musical instrument.
There are divisions, but they are decided by skill (according to how many matches they win) and not size. Kotooshu is in the top division (Makuuchi). He is skinnier (147kg) and taller (203cm) than most of the wrestlers so it is very interesting to watch him fight. He is extremely powerful, so sometimes he can use his height and his strength to just reach over and pick his opponents up and throw them. However, his opponents can also use his height against him, as his center of gravity is higher than most other wrestlers'.
I think that's all I have to say about him today.
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