Some sumo competitors in Japan believe that not shaving during competitions brings them good luck. The Japan Sumo Association has recently decided that beards will no longer be allowed in the sport. (Long nails and tattoos are also prohibited).
An elder in the JSA is quoted as saying the dohyo ring is sacred and he wants people to feel good when they watch the sport, so competitors must be well groomed. Grand champion Kakuryu, who is the head of the group of wrestlers in the sport's top two tiers, said looking good is very important.
There are other strict rules about Sumo behavior. They are not allowed to wear regular clothes in public, they must wear the traditional Japanese wear. They are not allowed to drive cars. This rule was enacted after a serious car accident involving a wrestler.
on the airplane
How does this compare with how athletes in other sports look and act?
Seems like being a Sumo Wrestler is really a way of life. Wrestlers are very committed aren't they. In the USA there are SOME restrictions on athletes. EVERYTHING here is political right now. xx, Carol
Sumo really seems to be much more serious than many other sports. I can understand the long nails rule for safety reason, but no tattoos and no beard seems to be more about aesthetics than anything else. And the no-wearing-regular-clothes part...that's very restricting, I guess! Do you know how long they are usually active in the sport? Do they take up regular jobs at some point?
Sumo wrestlers are revered in Japan aren't they? And sumo is a traditional sport, I have not heard of any rules like that applying to other sports.
ReplyDeletePamela: Those are some very strict rules, I am sure they all follow what is expected of them.
ReplyDeleteCatherine
Seems like being a Sumo Wrestler is really a way of life. Wrestlers are very committed aren't they. In the USA there are SOME restrictions on athletes. EVERYTHING here is political right now.
ReplyDeletexx, Carol
I had NO idea!
ReplyDeleteVery informative. Wish some other sports had stricter rules of conduct....
ReplyDeleteSumo really seems to be much more serious than many other sports. I can understand the long nails rule for safety reason, but no tattoos and no beard seems to be more about aesthetics than anything else. And the no-wearing-regular-clothes part...that's very restricting, I guess! Do you know how long they are usually active in the sport? Do they take up regular jobs at some point?
ReplyDelete