Musashimaru Retirement Ceremony 武蔵丸断髪式

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Sumo match with kids2252 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.1757 viewsMongolia's Golden Age of Sumo has begun.

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri1479 views

Musashimaru right after I shook his hand.1340 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.1249 views

The final cut by stablemaster Musashigawa Oyakata.1225 views

Final match of the day with Yokozuna Asashoryu1198 views

Konishiki also sings. (His company arranged the entertainment.)1132 views

Musashigawa Stable wrestler wearing Aloha-print yukata1130 viewsFlowery pattern (plumeria) with "Musashimaru" imprinted.

Musashimaru and his flowers1076 viewsThis was his last appearance at this retirement ceremony.

1037 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.

"Robocop" Takamisakari gets ready1015 viewsThe top-division Makunouchi wrestlers went through their matches quickly.

Snip and a hug by Konishiki (Question: Where was Akebono??)901 views

Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena as seen from Ryogoku Station877 views

PR poster, painting by Lynn Matsuoka. Also see my photos of Akebono's Retirement Ceremony.871 views

Tying the rope at the back.862 views

Rear view of the shiranui style of tying the rope.833 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.

He was grim-faced all throughout825 views

Musashimaru minus his topknot821 views

But his mom cannot step on the sumo ring...821 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.

Hawaii's last sumo wrestler shakes hands.815 viewsIf he were married, his wife would be beside him.

Signboard for retirement ceremony at entrance.810 viewsIt reads "Musashimaru, Intai Danpatsu Hiroo Ozumo" which means "Musashimaru Topknot-Cutting and Retirement Sumo Exhibition."

Nephews give a flower bouquet (they can step on the sumo ring)805 views

Giant painted pictures of Musashimaru decorating the arena inside. Each one commemorates a tournament victory.797 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.

Konishiki is called and he enters794 views

Snip by Musashimaru's brother787 views

Snip by stablemate Ozeki Musoyama773 views

Comic sumo (shokkiri sumo)772 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.

More blood relatives (or brothers)772 views

766 views

Snip by Kitanoumi, the head of the Japan Sumo Association765 views

They wrap the rope around his waist from the front, or the thickest part of the rope.758 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.

Ozeki Musoyama is defeated.752 views

Oh, I gotta take a picture of this...750 viewsLook at the gyoji referee who must be thinking, "C'mon, hurry up!"

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.747 views

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri745 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.

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri742 views

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri741 views

Makushita sumo match732 viewsLower-division wrestlers wear black belts, while the upper division wrestlers wear white belts (during practice) or colored belts during official matches.

Yumitori-shiki bow-twirling ceremony730 views

Comic sumo (shokkiri sumo)729 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.

Pulling it tight729 views

The scissors (golden)725 viewsI think it was given by French President Chirac who is a sumo fan.

His mom is next...725 views

The first snip. Also see the video at YouTube.721 views

Musashimaru finally appears for a yokozuna belt demo720 views

Snip by actor Hiroshi Fujioka, who played Kamen Rider in the '70s.716 views

Musashimaru acknowledges a spectator as he proceeds to the ring.704 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 jinku702 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 hall699 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.

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.694 views

Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri ends691 views

Panoramic shot of the Kokugikan691 viewsNotice the upper floor was quite empty, similar to Akebono's retirement ceremony.

686 views

Yokozuna "tsuna" belt demo683 views

Awaiting the final cut as we listen to one of his famous matches.679 views

Musashimaru doll677 views

The kids gradually get bigger.673 views

Exiting the building672 views

Musashimaru greets the crowd664 views

Male hula dancer at one corner653 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.

Hairdressing demonstration651 views

Snip by singer Shigeru Matsuzaki649 viewsFamous for his classic hit, "Ai no Memory."

Makunouchi dohyo-iri648 viewsNext was exhibition sumo matches by the top-division Makunouchi wrestlers. Musashimaru never appeared again.

Musashimaru goes back and then comes back...644 views

Head supporter speaks637 views

The retirement ceremony had a lot of Hawaiian touches. This was only the beginning.628 viewsHula dancers and live Hawaiian band from Hawaii.

Yokozuna Asashoryu performs his dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony628 views

Asashoryu later won627 views

Asashoryu in the face-off622 views

Takamisakari wins621 views

This must be a first, a kumu hula (hula teacher) from Hawaii performing on the sumo ring.620 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.

Juryo sumo match619 views

He goes back to the dressing room618 views

Musashimaru souvenirs at the Kokugikan's souvenir shop613 views

Sumo exhibition matches with lower division Makushita wrestlers.613 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.