 Most viewed - Sumo 相撲 |
Yokozuna Hakuho vs. Ozeki Kakuryu in Jan 2013. They are both Mongolian.159 views
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Giant portrait of Baruto158 views
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Emperor's Cup. This is what all sumo wrestlers dream about.157 views
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Referees are also ranked. The higher ranking referees appear for the matches of the higher-ranking rikishi. They have different dress as the rank goes higher. The lowest-ranked referee may be barefoot.157 views
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Besides Europeans, there are numerous Mongolians in sumo. This is Hakuho in May 2005. He's now a yokozuna.157 views
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The banquet hall in the basement is used as a dining room during lunch time during tournaments. 大広間157 views
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Hakuho beats Kakuryu.157 views
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In the entrance hall are life-size cutouts of the top wrestlers.156 views
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154 views
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Bulgaria (Kotooshu)152 views
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152 views
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152 views
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152 views
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Side of lobby. (Passing out free calendar posters during Jan. tourney.)151 views
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Fortunately, there are many people who do appreciate sumo, like former French president Jacques Chirac. (THe current French president has no interest in sumo.)151 views
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Giant portrait of Yokozuna Hakuho151 views
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The cushions are quickly cleared away.150 views
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Sumo service entrance for groups.150 views
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150 views
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150 views
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Ozeki Kisenosato vs. Yokozuna Harumafuji in Jan. 2013.150 views
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Harumafuji doing his very low stance.150 views
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Kisenosato loses this one.150 views
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This is Hakurozan, who was arrested for drug use in 2008 and booted out of sumo along with his brother Roho.149 views
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You can see sumo for as cheap as 2100 yen. You can buy tickets at the box office where the tournament is held. The cheap tickets may sell out, so go early.148 views
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Trophies for the Three Outstanding Prizes (Technique, Outstanding Performance, and Fighting Spirit) from the Japan Sumo Association.148 viewsTechnique Prize (Gino-sho), Outstanding Performance (for most Yokozuna/Ozeki upsets, Shukun-sho), and Fighting Spirit (Kanto-sho).
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147 views
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147 views
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Prize from Miyazaki Prefecture.146 views
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Another prize from Fukushima Prefecture.145 views
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Harumafuji's common technique is to sidestep his opponent and push him out from behind.145 views
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Non-Japanese sumo wrestlers who made it to Makunouchi Division. Four from USA (Hawaii), four from Mongolia, and one from Bulgaria (Kotooshu) as of 2006.144 views
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Prize from Fukushima Prefecture.144 views
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Bios and pictures of all sumo wrestlers in top Makunouchi division.143 views
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The bios and pictures are categorized according to prefecture. All wrestlers who were/are active in the modern era are introduced. Two wrestlers from Shiga Prefecture: Kurama and Misugisato.143 views
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The ring-entering ceremony starts at around 4 pm. The yokozuna's rope belt and zig-zag paper streamers look very similar to the sacred rope found at Shinto shrines.143 views
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Two small shrines outside.143 views
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Next is Yokozuna Harumafuji.143 views
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Yokozuna Harumafuji from Mongolia performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony.143 views
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143 views
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Gate to enter Kokugikan.139 views
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Ozeki Kisenosato139 views
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139 views
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He claps his hands and stomps his foot.137 views
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Juryo wrestlers performing the ring-entering ceremony.136 views
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JUryo wrestlers continue to fight.133 views
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There were also two Russian sumo wrestlers. Roho and his brother Hakurozan. This is Roho in May 2005. Both got busted for drug use in 2008 and were kicked out of sumo.133 views
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Unfortunately, there are people ignorant of sumo who think it is just nearly naked, fat men charging at each other. Famous American newspaper columnist Mike Royko once wrote one of the worse and most insulting pieces about sumo in his column.131 views
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129 views
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Right after the Makunouchi dohyo-iri is the Yokozuna Dohyo-iri. This is Yokozuna Asashoryu. A major highlight during the tournament.126 views
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123 views
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Asashoryu121 views
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Grabbing the opponent's mawashi belt to throw him down or out is a key technique.121 views
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Once in a while, they freshen up the sumo ring, sweeping it.121 views
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Giant portrait of Harumafuji120 views
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The yokozuna is flanked by two attendants, a sword bearer on the left and dew sweeper on the right. Their kesho mawashi ceremonial aprons are a matching set.119 views
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Asashoryu won this one.119 views
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The most famous Mongolian sumo wrestler is Asashoryu who has been quite controversial at times.114 views
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Giant portrait of Kyokutenho114 views
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Some of the designs on the aprons are quite beautiful. Some are also pretty much advertisements for the sponsor who could be a support group, fan club, company, or rich individual.113 views
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Takamisakari is one of the more popular rikishi.112 views
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Roho's apron actually had little lights which flashed.112 views
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112 views
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111 views
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110 views
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They enter as wooden clappers are clapped by someone.109 views
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109 views
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Asashoryu109 views
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109 views
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108 views
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108 views
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108 views
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Another match with Asashoryu.108 views
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108 views
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Lots of sponsors for this match between Asashoryu and Hakuho on Jan. 19, 2006. Both Mongolians.108 views
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Also on the first day of the tournament, the previous tournament winner receives a large portrait of himself to be hung in the Kokugikan. This is the ceremony for it.107 views
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They spit out the water into a small bucket in the corner.107 views
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The referee points his fan toward the side of the winner.107 views
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107 views
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They make their way around the ring.106 views
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The two rikishi who escort him are either from his own sumo stable or an affiliate sumo stable.106 views
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Kotooshu on the right.106 views
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Seeing sumo live is much better than seeing it on TV. The atmosphere can't be beat when you're actually there. Taking photos and videos are of course permitted.106 views
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106 views
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105 views
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105 views
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105 views
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104 views
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Next are rikishi from the west side.103 views
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Kokkai on the left. He is from Georgia in eastern Europe.103 views
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A false start by Hakuho.103 views
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In this case, Asashoryu receives a new portrait which is then unveiled. The portrait is usually sponsored by a major newspaper.102 views
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He defeats his opponent who also pushes down the referee.102 views
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Side view of Asashoryu's dohyo-iri. Looks like we'll have to wait a lot longer to ever see another Japanese yokozuna. No one is even on the horizon as of this writing. The next yokozuna might as well be another foreigner (Baruto perhaps).101 views
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Oshidashi or frontal push out, a common technique.101 views
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The color of the tassel hanging from the referee's fan indicates his rank. Purple or purple and white indicates the highest ranking referee who judges the yokozuna matches. A red tassel is for the sanyaku matches (Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi).100 views
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Hakuho100 views
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Hakurozan at the initial charge.100 views
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100 views
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Plaques for the Three Outstanding Prizes (Technique, Outstanding Performance, and Fighting Spirit) awarded by two newspapers.100 viewsTechnique Prize (Gino-sho), Outstanding Performance (for most Yokozuna/Ozeki upsets, Shukun-sho), and Fighting Spirit (Kanto-sho).
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100 views
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100 views
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Yokozuna Harumafuji from Mongolia performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony.100 views
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100 views
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99 views
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The yokozuna dohyo-iri ends. It is performed every day during the 15-day tournament as well as at exhibition tournaments.99 views
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He turns around and goes back to his place. You can see that his rope belt is tied with a single loop on the back. This is the Unryu style. It differs from the Shiranui style performed by Hakuho.99 views
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Trying for a yorikiri or frontal push out while grabbing the belt.99 views
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99 views
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98 views
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98 views
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The wrestler must start the match from a "three-point stand" position where both his feet and at least one of his hands are touching the ground.98 views
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Roho vs. Tochiazuma98 views
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Hakurozan on the right in Jan. 2006.98 views
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I usually eat two bowls. Only 250 yen per bowl.98 views
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98 views
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Claps his hands for the last time. The man in purple is the referee.97 views
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A portrait of Asashoryu is ceremoniously unveiled in the Kokugikan. On the right is the tournament date, on the left is the rikishi's name, and the sponsor's name is on the bottom. The portrait is actually B/W photo hand-painted in color.97 views
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After losing, Takamisakari dejectedly leaves the ring. The crowd sympathizes with him and applaud.97 views
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And into the front row of spectators. I've never heard of any spectators who got injured by sumo wrestlers falling on top of them.97 views
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And so the day's sumo matches continue as the wrestler walks up to the sumo ring to wait his turn.96 views
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Both tumble off the ring...96 views
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A large cushion is brought in for Kotooshu.96 views
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Yokozuna Hakuho from Mongolia performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony in Jan. 2013.96 views
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94 views
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94 views
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Then he steps forward and turns to the front.93 views
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93 views
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Closeup of Emperor's Cup.93 views
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90 views
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Old Nameplates of tournament winners that were on the Emperor's Cup.89 views
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Taiko drum tower88 views
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Closeup of old Nameplates of tournament winners that were on the Emperor's Cup.88 views
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87 views
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Ozeki Kotooshu in Jan 2013.87 views
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Mushrooms from Oita Prefecture.86 views
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The "Full House" banners are unfurled above the Shinto-style roof.86 views
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86 views
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Closeup of nameplates of tournament winners on Emperor's Cup.85 views
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85 views
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