Musashimaru Retirement Ceremony 武蔵丸断髪式

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Sumo match with kids1918 viewsA retirement ceremony for an important sumo wrestler includes a variety of activities besides the actual ceremony of cutting away the topknot. It involves almost the entire Japan Sumo Association, and most wrestlers in the top three divisions (Makushita, Juryo, and Makunouchi) also appear in exhibition matches.

Snip by Yokozuna Asashoryu and a symbolic passing of the baton from one foreign yokozuna to the next (and only) foreign yokozuna.1474 viewsMongolia's Golden Age of Sumo has begun.

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri1271 views

Musashimaru right after I shook his hand.1019 views

The final cut by stablemaster Musashigawa Oyakata.963 views

Kumu hula Sonny Ching beats the ipu gourd drum, a traditional Hawaiian instrument. This must be a first, a kumu hula performing on the sumo ring in Japan.957 views

Final match of the day with Yokozuna Asashoryu944 views

801 viewsA retirement ceremony for an important sumo wrestler includes a variety of activities besides the actual ceremony of cutting away the topknot. It involves almost the entire Japan Sumo Association, and most wrestlers in the top three divisions (Makushita, Juryo, and Makunouchi) also appear in exhibition matches.

Musashigawa Stable wrestler wearing Aloha-print yukata783 viewsFlowery pattern (plumeria) with "Musashimaru" imprinted.

Musashimaru and his flowers776 viewsThis was his last appearance at this retirement ceremony.

Konishiki also sings. (His company arranged the entertainment.)754 views

"Robocop" Takamisakari gets ready753 viewsThe top-division Makunouchi wrestlers went through their matches quickly.

Snip and a hug by Konishiki (Question: Where was Akebono??)697 views

PR poster, painting by Lynn Matsuoka. Also see my photos of Akebono's Retirement Ceremony.663 views

Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena as seen from Ryogoku Station645 views

Tying the rope at the back.638 views

Musashimaru minus his topknot637 views

He was grim-faced all throughout633 views

Hawaii's last sumo wrestler shakes hands.618 viewsIf he were married, his wife would be beside him.

Rear view of the shiranui style of tying the rope.616 viewsHe turned in all four directions to show everyone what it looked like. This is what is called the shiranui style of tying the rope. It is characterized by a single loop in the back. The other style, called unryu, has twin loops.

Konishiki is called and he enters609 views

Snip by Musashimaru's brother602 views

But his mom cannot step on the sumo ring...597 viewsFemales are prohibited from entering the sumo ring. Barring women from stepping onto the sumo ring, even to give an award to a wrestler, is one of the most blatant and preposterous forms of sexual discrimination in Japan. It was devised centuries ago, and for the sake of tradition, traditionalists in the sumo world have maintained this extremely absurd custom and belief that women are considered to be impure (due to menstruation). I'm not saying this as a gaijin (foreigner) who likes to criticize Japan or the Japanese. Nor am I saying this as a women's rights advocate. I say this from the standpoint of plain, old common sense.

Up to 1909, women were actually not allowed enter a sumo arena to view sumo matches. And once upon a time, women were prohibited from setting foot on sacred Mt. Fuji. Can you imagine if these traditions were still being practiced today?

Such discriminatory practices were abolished long ago, and here we are in the 21st century with women still unable to step into the sumo ring. The Japan Sumo Association has constantly rejected requests from important female ministers in the Prime Minister's Cabinet to give an award to the tournament winner in the sumo ring.

Signboard for retirement ceremony at entrance.593 viewsIt reads "Musashimaru, Intai Danpatsu Hiroo Ozumo" which means "Musashimaru Topknot-Cutting and Retirement Sumo Exhibition."

They wrap the rope around his waist from the front, or the thickest part of the rope.591 viewsThis was a demonstration on how they tie on the thick, white rope (tsuna) around his waist. The tsuna is the symbol of the yokozuna. It takes several assistants to put it on. They are all wearing white gloves.

More blood relatives (or brothers)591 views

Snip by stablemate Ozeki Musoyama586 views

Nephews give a flower bouquet (they can step on the sumo ring)562 views

Comic sumo (shokkiri sumo)558 viewsThis is comedy time with two young wrestlers performing various comical antics (spitting at each other, kicking, and other illegal sumo acts) on the ring.

Ozeki Musoyama is defeated.548 views

Snip by Kitanoumi, the head of the Japan Sumo Association548 views

547 views

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri547 views

Pulling it tight545 views

Oh, I gotta take a picture of this...544 viewsLook at the gyoji referee who must be thinking, "C'mon, hurry up!"

Musashimaru finally appears for a yokozuna belt demo542 views

Giant painted pictures of Musashimaru decorating the arena inside. Each one commemorates a tournament victory.540 viewsThese giant pictures are actually black-and-white photographs taken in a photo studio and printed on large paper. Then it is hand-painted in color by a woman who has been doing it for years.

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri539 viewsHe could have had Yokozuna Asashoryu be either the sword bearer or dew sweeper, but he chose to have his stablemates to join his final dohyo-iri.

His mom is next...538 views

Comic sumo (shokkiri sumo)533 viewsThis is comedy time with two young wrestlers performing various comical antics (spitting at each other, kicking, and other illegal sumo acts) on the ring.

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri531 views

The End of Hawaii's Golden Age in sumo. For the first time since 1968, no wrestler from Hawaii is in the top Makunouchi division.526 views

Yumitori-shiki bow-twirling ceremony524 views

Makushita sumo match521 viewsLower-division wrestlers wear black belts, while the upper division wrestlers wear white belts (during practice) or colored belts during official matches.

The scissors (golden)517 viewsI think it was given by French President Chirac who is a sumo fan.

Musashimaru acknowledges a spectator as he proceeds to the ring.516 viewsThis was a demonstration on how they tie on the thick, white rope (tsuna) around his waist. The tsuna is the symbol of the yokozuna. It takes several assistants to put it on. They are all wearing white gloves.

The first snip. Also see the video at YouTube.513 views

Sumo jinku502 viewsThey are singing sumo jinku, a chant-like song about sumo and sumo wrestlers. They are singing about Musashimaru and his career.

Musashigawa stablemaster (former Yokozuna Mienoumi) in the entrance hall498 viewsInside the entrance hallway, there was a long table on the left side with ribbons which served as name tags for distinguished guests. Musashigawa is the name of Musashimaru's sumo stable.

Panoramic shot of the Kokugikan495 viewsNotice the upper floor was quite empty, similar to Akebono's retirement ceremony.

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri ends492 views

Musashimaru greets the crowd486 views

He performs his last yokozuna dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. He is flanked by Musoyama on the left as the sword bearer, and Miyabiyama on the right as the dew sweeper.484 views

Exiting the building479 views

Snip by actor Hiroshi Fujioka, who played Kamen Rider in the '70s.478 views

476 views

Yokozuna "tsuna" belt demo472 views

Awaiting the final cut as we listen to one of his famous matches.471 views

Hairdressing demonstration465 views

The kids gradually get bigger.453 views

Male hula dancer at one corner450 viewsThe original plan was for the hula dancers to perform on the ring itself. But at the last minute, Musashimaru decided that it was not appropriate so they danced outside the ring.

Snip by singer Shigeru Matsuzaki449 viewsFamous for his classic hit, "Ai no Memory."

Musashimaru doll441 views

Asashoryu in the face-off440 views

Musashimaru goes back and then comes back...438 views

Head supporter speaks436 views

Makunouchi dohyo-iri435 viewsNext was exhibition sumo matches by the top-division Makunouchi wrestlers. Musashimaru never appeared again.

Asashoryu later won434 views

Makunouchi dohyo-iri430 views

Calling Musashimaru (with a conch shell)427 views

The retirement ceremony had a lot of Hawaiian touches. This was only the beginning.421 viewsHula dancers and live Hawaiian band from Hawaii.

Yokozuna Asashoryu performs his dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony421 views

This must be a first, a kumu hula (hula teacher) from Hawaii performing on the sumo ring.416 viewsHe is Sonny Ching, a well-known hula teacher in Hawaii. He brought four male hula dancers who danced at the four corners of the ring.

In the entrance hall, hula and Hawaiian music direct from Hawaii410 views

Here he comes...408 views

The chair408 views

He goes back to the dressing room404 views

Takamisakari wins403 views

Juryo sumo match391 views

Juryo Division dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony389 views

Sumo exhibition matches with lower division Makushita wrestlers.384 viewsA retirement ceremony for an important sumo wrestler includes a variety of activities besides the actual ceremony of cutting away the topknot. It involves almost the entire Japan Sumo Association, and most wrestlers in the top three divisions (Makushita, Juryo, and Makunouchi) also appear in exhibition matches.