Tokyo | Tales From A Weary Traveler

The Sumo

The Sumo is an event very unique to Japan, one that demonstrates a very rich cultural history. The Sumo takes place every other month, drawing thousands of spectators to Tokyo. You can’t buy tickets in advance so you have to go to the ticket box in the morning if you to guarantee yourself a seat. If you are planning on attending a weekend match it is best to get there well before they start selling tickets at 8 am since it is not uncommon for the arena to quickly sell out. I chose to go on a weekday though to avoid some of the crowds and also purchase the cheaper tickets with hopes of being able to move down closer to the action without having to shell out any more yen. This proved to be a wise choice since my friend Ayaka and I were able to move down a couple sections without any difficulty. I also had a telephoto lens for my camera so I really felt like I was a part of the action.

Everything about a sumo match is ritualistic and made me feel like I was reliving something from the past. The matches begin early in the morning, but these are the little guys who are trying to improve their ranking to make it into the Grand Sumo, where they can make the big bucks. My friend and I started watching the matches around 3 pm, just when things start to get interesting. Before each round of fights, the wrestlers form a circle around the ring facing one another. They do a little arm raising and some clapping before filing back out. Then the matches begin. Each match starts with the fighters facing one another, they squat, raise their arms in the air, then go to the corner of the ring for a ceremonial sip of water. They then return the center of the ring for some more squatting before going back to the to get some salt to throw on the ground. This process continues for a while before they actually fight, which only lasts about 30 seconds. The main objective is to either push the opponent out of the ring or onto the ground.

Surrounding the ring on all four sides are officials who coyly watch each match in case there are any discrepancies as to who the victor is. For instance, during one match it was impossible to immediately determine which wrester hit the ground first. The officials then gathered in the middle of the ring to deliberate, ultimately determining the wrestler in black the winner.

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Japan
Tokyo

on February 21, 2012 at 8:57 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Japan, sumo, sumo wrestling, Tokyo

Asakusa Shrine and Meiji Temple in Tokyo

My first day in Tokyo I visited the Asakusa Shrine and the Meiji Temple. The Asakusa Shrine had a bustling market in front selling everything from souvenirs to tasty Japanese morsels. It was here I learned some of the Japanese traditions associated with the first visit to a temple or shrine of the new year.

Before entering the temple, there is usually a large metal bowl filled with ashes for people to place bundles of burning incense. As you walk by the bowl, you wave the smoke over your head to symbolize gaining knowledge for the new year. The incense being burned is a prayer or wish made by people before entering the temple. There are also always two statues of guard animals protecting the entrance to the temple or shrine, to keep out the bad spirits. In the case of the Asakusa Shrine the protective animals are dogs.

As you enter the temple be sure to step over the raised step in the door frame of the doors, it is disrespectful to step directly on it. Since it was just a couple weeks after New Years, there were many people crowded around the alter so my friends and I joined the mass of people to work our way to the front. Once there you through a 5 cent coin into the collection box and then make your prayers and wishes for the new year.

The grounds surrounding the temple are filled with alters, smaller temples and koi ponds.

I also went to the Meiji Temple in Harajuku, it is one of the largest temples in Tokyo. There was a long, winding walkway through an surprisingly lush forrest in the middle of Harajuku, a neighborhood known for shopping. The New Year celebration calls for extra decorations all around the temples and Meiji was no exception. Dozens of elaborate ice sculptures had been carved earlier in the day and lined the walkway to the temple. Since this year is the year of the dragon that was a common theme. However, there were others of mermaids, dolphins and even one very creepy clown. Thousands of white lanterns with messages for the new year in blue paint lined the pathway leading to the temple. The Meiji Temple seems a bit out of place with its serene setting right in the heart of one of the busiest neighborhoods in Tokyo, you can’t even hear the hustle and bustle from the streets surrounding the property.