Musashimaru Retirement Ceremony 武蔵丸断髪式

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Sumo match with kids1927 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.1483 viewsMongolia's Golden Age of Sumo has begun.

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri1276 views

Musashimaru right after I shook his hand.1029 views

The final cut by stablemaster Musashigawa Oyakata.974 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.965 views

Final match of the day with Yokozuna Asashoryu953 views

811 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 yukata793 viewsFlowery pattern (plumeria) with "Musashimaru" imprinted.

Musashimaru and his flowers786 viewsThis was his last appearance at this retirement ceremony.

"Robocop" Takamisakari gets ready765 viewsThe top-division Makunouchi wrestlers went through their matches quickly.

Konishiki also sings. (His company arranged the entertainment.)763 views

Snip and a hug by Konishiki (Question: Where was Akebono??)702 views

PR poster, painting by Lynn Matsuoka. Also see my photos of Akebono's Retirement Ceremony.673 views

Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena as seen from Ryogoku Station650 views

He was grim-faced all throughout644 views

Tying the rope at the back.643 views

Musashimaru minus his topknot641 views

Rear view of the shiranui style of tying the rope.632 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.

Hawaii's last sumo wrestler shakes hands.627 viewsIf he were married, his wife would be beside him.

Konishiki is called and he enters617 views

Snip by Musashimaru's brother612 views

But his mom cannot step on the sumo ring...605 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.603 viewsIt reads "Musashimaru, Intai Danpatsu Hiroo Ozumo" which means "Musashimaru Topknot-Cutting and Retirement Sumo Exhibition."

More blood relatives (or brothers)599 views

They wrap the rope around his waist from the front, or the thickest part of the rope.596 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.

Snip by stablemate Ozeki Musoyama593 views

Nephews give a flower bouquet (they can step on the sumo ring)566 views

Comic sumo (shokkiri sumo)564 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-iri555 views

Snip by Kitanoumi, the head of the Japan Sumo Association555 views

Ozeki Musoyama is defeated.554 views

553 views

Pulling it tight551 views

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri551 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.

Oh, I gotta take a picture of this...550 viewsLook at the gyoji referee who must be thinking, "C'mon, hurry up!"

Giant painted pictures of Musashimaru decorating the arena inside. Each one commemorates a tournament victory.548 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 finally appears for a yokozuna belt demo548 views

His mom is next...546 views

Comic sumo (shokkiri sumo)544 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-iri539 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.534 views

Yumitori-shiki bow-twirling ceremony533 views

Makushita sumo match529 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)527 viewsI think it was given by French President Chirac who is a sumo fan.

The first snip. Also see the video at YouTube.526 views

Musashimaru acknowledges a spectator as he proceeds to the ring.524 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.

Sumo jinku512 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 hall507 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 Kokugikan503 viewsNotice the upper floor was quite empty, similar to Akebono's retirement ceremony.

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri ends496 views

Musashimaru greets the crowd495 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.493 views

Snip by actor Hiroshi Fujioka, who played Kamen Rider in the '70s.490 views

Awaiting the final cut as we listen to one of his famous matches.485 views

Exiting the building483 views

481 views

Yokozuna "tsuna" belt demo478 views

Hairdressing demonstration472 views

The kids gradually get bigger.462 views

Male hula dancer at one corner461 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 Matsuzaki457 viewsFamous for his classic hit, "Ai no Memory."

Musashimaru doll454 views

Musashimaru goes back and then comes back...449 views

Asashoryu in the face-off445 views

Makunouchi dohyo-iri442 viewsNext was exhibition sumo matches by the top-division Makunouchi wrestlers. Musashimaru never appeared again.

Asashoryu later won442 views

Head supporter speaks441 views

Makunouchi dohyo-iri439 views

Calling Musashimaru (with a conch shell)434 views

Yokozuna Asashoryu performs his dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony430 views

The retirement ceremony had a lot of Hawaiian touches. This was only the beginning.428 viewsHula dancers and live Hawaiian band from Hawaii.

In the entrance hall, hula and Hawaiian music direct from Hawaii421 views

This must be a first, a kumu hula (hula teacher) from Hawaii performing on the sumo ring.421 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.

The chair416 views

Here he comes...415 views

He goes back to the dressing room414 views

Takamisakari wins413 views

Juryo sumo match399 views

Juryo Division dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony397 views

Sumo exhibition matches with lower division Makushita wrestlers.392 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.