Sumo and Religion

[Jonosuke 28]

All negative comments about Ms Uchidate on this Forum and SML got me thinking perhaps many here are not quite understanding the views expressed by her and like minded "traditinalists".

In their view Sumo is so ingrained and infused with the Japanese religion, it cannot be separated from it. In her mind Sumo derives its source from the religion and should continue with the traditions.

In every religion there are sacred rituals and ceremonies and one is expected to follow and observe them strictly. I really do not want to stir up and create any religious flamewars by introducing such a topic as this but we must bear in mind that sumo is not just competitions in the eyes of many purists. In their view, Sumo is a sacred sport and the dohyo is its holy altar.

If you ever get to Japan, try visiting any shrine, be it Senso-ji in Asakusa or Meiji Jingu in Shinjuku or Ise Jingu in Mie. Whether one is a Christian or Buddhist in Japan, all know how to conduct themselves there by purifying themselves by washing their hands with water and rinsing the mouth, blowing in the smoke to your body and praying in front of the altar after throwing coins into the box. Everyone "knows" how to conduct themselves because they all observed and have been shown how to conduct themselves "properly" (in a way Japan itself is a collective society helps).

Perhaps some rituals have more cultural significance than purely religious ones but nonetheless everyone is pretty much expected to behave in a certain way. I believe Asashoryu views the dohyo as no more than a fighting ring and that is preciesly what irks people like Ms Uchidate. Going back to the incident he had with Kotonowaka on the "doutai-shinitai" bout last year, he never appeared to have understood the significance of "kabaite".

In sumo a consideration shown to your opponent on the ring is as important as winning and losing because you are competing on the dohyo which is a sacred altar. One does not desecrate it nor openly shows comtempt on the dohyo. That is why "matta" is so much abhorred. In shikiri, the rikishis are expected to meet and face their opponent fairly and match the opponent's pace (this is called "Iki wo Awaseru" in Japanese meaning match your breathing with your opponent's). If you watch earlier rounds (like Jonidan or Sandanme), if the rikishis cannot get their tachiai right, one of the dohyo judges (often the head judge) will scold loudly to them to match their opponent.

Perhaps many here think a little mannerism is not a big deal but to many it isn't. I saw in one of earlier Jonidan bouts on Day 3, the yobidashi was called back by the head dohyo judge to start his calling of the rikishi names again as he did not clearly say "Higashi" (East) - he sounded saying like "iiGAH-shiiii". At the time there were no more than a couple of dozen people watching the bouts around the dohyo but his "variation" was not accepted and he was criticized rather harshly. I also saw a gyoji not pronouncing the shikona clearly and was called back to do it again. They all take things like this very very seriously.

And all this isn't just restricted to those on the dohyo. In the sunakaburi section, the spectators are also expected to behave. I saw one elderly gentleman ejected from there by a yobidashi (as requested by a dohyo judge) as he started to fall

asleep as well as a couple of non-Japanese spectators chatting away rather loudly (in earlier rounds there are not that many people present so any conversation can echo around).

Many here think Ms Uchidate is unfairly picking on Asashoryu but as I mentioned elsewhere she is a member of YDC and her job is to speak up on the matters and issues relating to Yokozuna so she is only doing her job faithfully. I believe one of the main reasons Asashoryu has grown and acquired more yokozuna like presence is because of the people like Ms Uchidate pointing out his "shortcomings" as he is not apparently being instructed or comprehending the significance of his action and mannerism.

I have no doubt in my mind before too long, Asashoryu will start picking up the kensho envelopes properly with his right hand because he will become aware of its significance and he wants to be considered equal to the great yokozunas of the past, in not just his records but also in all aspects related to being a great yokozuna. He will understand, in sumo, the greatness does not come only with the great records.

[Kashunowaka 289]

Many here think Ms Uchidate is unfairly picking on Asashoryu but as I mentioned elsewhere she is a member of YDC and her job is to speak up on the matters and issues relating to Yokozuna so she is only doing her job faithfully.  I believe one of the main reasons Asashoryu has grown and acquired more yokozuna like presence is because of the people like Ms Uchidate pointing out his "shortcomings" as he is not apparently being instructed or comprehending the significance of his action and mannerism. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

To me - as an outsider - it would seem that any young man who finds himself in Asashoryu's position would need a good mentor. Akebono was in the same position in 1993-94 and I assume that his oyakata was the one who mainly mentored him. Could that be the problem in Asashoryu's case?

[Sasanishiki 57]

Just to nitpick: Senso-ji is a Buddhist temple, not a Shinto shrine.

[Kuroyama 715]

On 1/16/2018 at 13:42, kawika said:

sumo, like geisha, and yakuza, should remain unchanged

Absurd. Sumo is not unchanged as it is. Compare it to 100 years ago; it's markedly, noticeably different. Merely moving competition indoors -- an entirely uncontroversial move at the time, to all appearances -- transformed the sport. The size of the dohyo, the number of bouts per basho, the number of basho in a year, are just a few of the other changes that happened over the past century. Even yokozuna as a banzuke-listed rank was an innovation.

If nothing else, differences in training methods and nutrition have resulted in rikishi that are stronger and heavier -- and also more injury-prone. Sumo needs to change for that reason alone. Ura is just the latest of the once-promising rikishi who will probably never fulfill his potential because of the ethic of ignoring or under-treating injury. Kisenosato will probably have to retire soon for that same reason.

And sumo doesn't exist in a social vacuum. It's surrounded by a changing society. If society can change and still be very distinctively Japanese -- and it is -- then so can sumo.

[Kuroyama 715]

7 hours ago, kawika said:

absurd?  i think i am looking at the forest while you are looking at the trees, and i may have incorrectly made my points.  it is still in existence.  this sub culture has not been wiped away.  and the society vacuum thing, i fully agree.

If every tree in a pine forest fell down and pines grew in its place, you can't say the forest is "unchanged" just because it's still roughly the same extent and density.

Who said anything about sumo disappearing? That's not even remotely related to anything you said, which was expressly about the reforms Takanohana wants.

[Joaoiyama 286]

Can anyone enlighten me with an article or documentary about Shinto and what sumo means to it?