Photo of the Day Archive for July 2006

by Albert Wen, Nov 15, 2006 | Destinations: Japan
Although baseball has gained enormous popularity since its introduction to Japan, sumo wrestling still remains its national sport. Sumo fans turn out in droves to enjoy the six tournaments called basho held throughout the year. Here, a crowd waits for the sumo basho to begin.

Although baseball has gained enormous popularity since its introduction to Japan, sumo wrestling still remains its national sport. Sumo fans turn out in droves to enjoy the six tournaments called basho held throughout the year. Here, a crowd waits for the sumo basho to begin.

Although baseball has gained enormous popularity since its introduction to Japan, sumo wrestling still remains its national sport. Sumo fans turn out in droves to enjoy the six tournaments called basho held throughout the year. Here, a crowd waits for the sumo basho to begin.
The Tokyo district of Rygoku is home of one of Japan's most famous Sumo wrestling facilities. Sumo wrestlers train very strenuously for their six annual basho tournaments, and must consume up to 10,000 calories a day to achieve and maintain their enormous stature. When they're not in training however, they can be seen strolling the city sidewalks wearing blue and white cotton robes called yukata.
Sumo is the national sport of Japan, in which two very large wrestlers attempt to force each other from a circular ring measuring 4.5 meters in diameter. Many rituals and traditions are associated with the sport of sumo, and each wrestler's costume consist of nothing more than a colorful silk belt wrapped around his waist and loins. Sumo is year-round sport, with tournaments called basho that last for two weeks during alternate months. A sumo basho is held for each season of the year, (Hatsu, Haru, Natsu, and Aki), with two regional events in between. Sumo tournaments are festive, all-day affairs, attended by thousands of spectators bearing food and beverages to sustain them throughout the day's competition.
The Tokyo district of Rygoku is home of one of Japan's most famous Sumo wrestling facilities. Sumo wrestlers train very strenuously for their six annual basho tournaments, and must consume up to 10,000 calories a day to achieve and maintain their enormous stature. When they're not in training however, they can be seen strolling the city sidewalks wearing blue and white cotton robes called yukata.

Photo of the Day Archive for July 2006

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