History of Sumo Wrestling in Japan

 

Sumo is now popular word for people all over the world.

Sumo is one of the very common sports in Japan since long time ago.

 

However, do you know when Sumo wrestling starts? And how people continue playing Sumo until now?

 

I would like to explain brief summary of Sumo wrestling history.

 

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The Origin

 

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Refer to this site: http://www.sumo.or.jp/IrohaKnowledge/sumo_history 

 

 

The origin of Sumo is ancient time. It is said to be about in the middle of three century. It was Kofun period (250-538 CE) in Japan during in the middle of three century. Some Sumo drawings found from this era.

 

There is a record that Emperor Shoumu watched Sumo wrestling on July 7th in Nara period (710-794 CE)

 

 

Heian Period (794-1185 CE)

 

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Refer to this site: http://d.hatena.ne.jp/msystem/20151024/1445614018

 

 

In Heian period (794-1185 CE), people started to gather Sumo wrestlers from countries and play Sumo in front of emperor. This became “Sumohinosechie”, which is official event later. However, this official sumo event ended at the end of Heian period somehow.

 

 

Kamakura to Sengoku Period (1185-1568 CE)

 

 250px-Sumo_at_the_great_amphitheatre_at_Veddo-J._M._W._Silver

Refer to this site: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/相撲

 

 

The record about there was a great strong Sumo wrestler, who was a person of lower rank found in Kamakura period.

 

In Muromachi period, some generals started to enjoy watching Sumo, and “Dohyou” which is a Sumo ring created by Nobunaga Oda.

 

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Edo Period (1603-1868 CE)

 

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Refer to this site: http://www.sumo.or.jp/IrohaKnowledge/sumo_history

 

 

“Kanjinzumo” which is a sumo event held to raise money for a temple or a shrine started in Edo period, and this is the beginning of the base of Sumo nowadays.

 

 

Meiji Period (1868-1912 CE)

 

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Refer to this site: http://img-cdn.jg.jugem.jp/407/1757332/20140831_1541781.jpg

 

 

Sumo was prohibited during Meiji period because it was prohibited to be naked in public. Meiji emperor and Hirofumi Ito saved the abandon of Sumo wrestling.

 

After survived from prohibition, radio spread out to ordinary homes and many people enjoyed listening sumo on the radio.

 

However, World War II happened around this time.

Almost all sumo wrestlers were drafted and sumo field corrupted by Great Tokyo Air Raid.

 

 

 

After World War II

 

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Refer to this site: http://chuplus.jp/blog/article/detail.php?comment_id=1106&comment_sub_id=0&category_id=289

 

 

Sumo was about to disappear after WWII, but the TV became common to Japanese people and NHK Sumo channel started.

 

 

Ryogoku National Sports Field finally rebuilt in 1985.

This would be the signature of the fully recovered of Sumo from deep scars by WWII.

 

 

Summery

 

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Refer to this site: http://www.shokugyou.net/shoku-sports/sumounorikisi.php

 

I just explained only a brief summary of Sumo history this time.

If you would like to know more about Sumo, please feel free to comment and ask me!

 

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