 Last additions - Sumo at Yasukuni Shrine 靖国神社 奉納相撲 |
Cherry trees all finished blooming by mid-April.May 04, 2023
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Main shrine straight ahead. The outdoor sumo arena is on the right of the main shrine.May 04, 2023
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Base of the black torii. Pretty new paint job.May 04, 2023
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Main torii when entering Yasukuni Shrine.May 04, 2023
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They immediately dismantled the sumo ring's dressing.May 04, 2023
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Spectators exiting the sumo arena. Before, spectators had to bring their own picnic mats to sit on. Now they provided a mat over the entire ground May 04, 2023
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Ritual ending the day's sumo at around 3 pm.May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji returns to his dressing room.May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji wins his match.May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji getting ready for his match. 照ノ富士May 04, 2023
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Empty water ladle, and no spitting.May 04, 2023
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Hoshoryu 豊昇龍May 04, 2023
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Smiling Kotonowaka.May 04, 2023
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Kotonowaka vs. Daieisho 大栄翔May 04, 2023
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Kotonowaka. His father and stable master was also a sumo wrestler named Kotonowaka. 琴ノ若 傑太May 04, 2023
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Tobizaru (翔猿) means "Flying Monkey."May 04, 2023
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Daieisho 大栄翔May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Mitakeumi, a former Ozeki. 御嶽海May 04, 2023
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Mitakeumi, a former Ozeki. 御嶽海May 04, 2023
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Mitakeumi, a former Ozeki. 御嶽海May 04, 2023
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Since this isn't a real sumo tournament, the wrestlers often wrestle while smiling and doing antics they don't normally do.May 04, 2023
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Endo, one of the most popular wrestlers. 遠藤May 04, 2023
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Takayasu 高安May 04, 2023
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Aoiyama 碧山May 04, 2023
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Aoiyama 碧山May 04, 2023
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Aoiyama 碧山May 04, 2023
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Aoiyama is from Bulgaria. He once reached Sekiwake. 碧山May 04, 2023
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Ura 宇良May 04, 2023
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Asanoyama. They went through the motions of receiving the water. but there was no water. Not a real tournament.May 04, 2023
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Matches between top division wrestlers started at 2 pm. All the wrestlers had one match.May 04, 2023
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Asanoyama who has been climbing back up the ranks. 朝乃山May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Terunofuji has the shiranui-style yokozuna rope with double loops on the back. 不知火型May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. 照ノ富士May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the shiranui-style dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. 照ノ富士May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. 照ノ富士May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. 照ノ富士May 04, 2023
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Good to see Terunofuji after four tournament absences. He plans to compete in the May 2023 summer tournament in Tokyo.May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. He was absent in the last four tournaments. Finally back in the ring.May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji approaching the sumo ring.May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji heads to the sumo ring to perform his dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony.May 04, 2023
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Endo has a kabuki kesho mawashi ceremonial apron.May 04, 2023
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Hiradoumi has a nice kesho mawashi. 平戸海May 04, 2023
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Makunouchi Division ring-entering ceremony or dohyo-iri.May 04, 2023
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Juryo wrestler Kitanowaka facing frontward. 北の若May 04, 2023
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Takayasu, former Ozeki. 高安May 04, 2023
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AsanoyamaMay 04, 2023
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Makunouchi Division ring-entering ceremony or dohyo-iri.May 04, 2023
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Asanoyama at the end.May 04, 2023
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The ring-entering ceremony is when you can see the designs on the wrestlers' colorful ceremonial aprons.May 04, 2023
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Enho 炎鵬May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Juryo Division ring-entering ceremony or dohyo-iri.May 04, 2023
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Enho is popular. 炎鵬May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Calling the wrestler.May 04, 2023
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This is shokkiri or comedic sumo. Two lower ranking wrestlers do things normally not allowed in sumo. Spitting at each other, kicking, fighting with the referee, etc. 初切りMay 04, 2023
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Sumo jinku singing. 相撲甚句May 04, 2023
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When I arrived, they were performing the sumo jinku folk singing. 相撲甚句May 04, 2023
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The hanamichi path where the sumo wrestlers go to/from the sumo ring. Fortunately, it never rained this day. The sumo matches can still be held in light rain.May 04, 2023
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It's rare to see an outdoor sumo arena in Japan. In Nov. 1918 when the Kokugikan sumo arena was destroyed by fire, the sumo tournaments were held here for two years.May 04, 2023
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Walked around the sumo ring to see where I could sit. It was quite full, but I managed to find a space to sit. If you want the best views, should get there by 10 am or so.May 04, 2023
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The sumo exhibition started at 8:30 am and ended at around 3 pm. It included demonstrations of comical sumo, sumo taiko drum beating, and ring-entering ceremonies by Juryo and Makunouchi Division wrestlers including Yokozuna Terunofuji. Free admission.May 04, 2023
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On April 17, 2023, sumo exhibition matches with professional sumo wrestlers was held for the first time since 2019 after a four-year absence due to the pandemic. Free admission.May 04, 2023
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Statue of sumo wrestlers at the entrance of Yasukuni Shrine's sumo arena. The shrine has a large outdoor sumo arena with a capacity of 6,000. May 04, 2023
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Shrine building used by the sumo wrestlers as their dressing room.May 04, 2023
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Yasukuni Shrine.May 04, 2023
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Entrance to Yasukuni Shrine's outdoor sumo arena.May 04, 2023
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Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to Japan's war dead. Another vertical sign promoting the sumo exhibition.May 04, 2023
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At Yasukuni Shrine, sign indicating that sumo will be held on April 17, 2023. Sumo has been held at Yasukuni Shrine annually since 1869 to console the spirits at the shrine. It's part of the shrine's religious ceremonies and festival in spring. May 04, 2023
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