 Most viewed - Sumo 相撲 |
Yokozuna Hakuho vs. Ozeki Kakuryu in Jan 2013. They are both Mongolian.156 views
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Emperor's Cup. This is what all sumo wrestlers dream about.155 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.154 views
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Besides Europeans, there are numerous Mongolians in sumo. This is Hakuho in May 2005. He's now a yokozuna.154 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154 views
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Giant portrait of Baruto154 views
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Hakuho beats Kakuryu.154 views
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153 views
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In the entrance hall are life-size cutouts of the top wrestlers.151 views
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Giant portrait of Yokozuna Hakuho150 views
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Harumafuji doing his very low stance.150 views
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150 views
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Side of lobby. (Passing out free calendar posters during Jan. tourney.)149 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.)149 views
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The cushions are quickly cleared away.149 views
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149 views
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149 views
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Bulgaria (Kotooshu)148 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.147 views
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147 views
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147 views
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147 views
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Kisenosato loses this one.147 views
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Sumo service entrance for groups.146 views
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146 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.145 views
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Trophies for the Three Outstanding Prizes (Technique, Outstanding Performance, and Fighting Spirit) from the Japan Sumo Association.145 viewsTechnique Prize (Gino-sho), Outstanding Performance (for most Yokozuna/Ozeki upsets, Shukun-sho), and Fighting Spirit (Kanto-sho).
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145 views
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Ozeki Kisenosato vs. Yokozuna Harumafuji in Jan. 2013.145 views
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145 views
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Another prize from Fukushima Prefecture.144 views
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Harumafuji's common technique is to sidestep his opponent and push him out from behind.144 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 2006.142 views
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Bios and pictures of all sumo wrestlers in top Makunouchi division.141 views
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Two small shrines outside.141 views
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Prize from Miyazaki Prefecture.141 views
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Prize from Fukushima Prefecture.140 views
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Next is Yokozuna Harumafuji.140 views
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139 views
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Yokozuna Harumafuji from Mongolia performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony.138 views
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138 views
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Gate to enter Kokugikan.137 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.137 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.137 views
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He claps his hands and stomps his foot.135 views
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Ozeki Kisenosato134 views
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Juryo wrestlers performing the ring-entering ceremony.133 views
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JUryo wrestlers continue to fight.130 views
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129 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.126 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.126 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.124 views
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121 views
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Grabbing the opponent's mawashi belt to throw him down or out is a key technique.119 views
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Once in a while, they freshen up the sumo ring, sweeping it.118 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.117 views
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Giant portrait of Harumafuji117 views
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Asashoryu115 views
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Asashoryu won this one.115 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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The most famous Mongolian sumo wrestler is Asashoryu who has been quite controversial at times.111 views
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Giant portrait of Kyokutenho110 views
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Takamisakari is one of the more popular rikishi.109 views
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Roho's apron actually had little lights which flashed.109 views
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They enter as wooden clappers are clapped by someone.108 views
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108 views
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107 views
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107 views
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Asashoryu107 views
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107 views
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106 views
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106 views
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The referee points his fan toward the side of the winner.105 views
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105 views
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Another match with Asashoryu.105 views
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Lots of sponsors for this match between Asashoryu and Hakuho on Jan. 19, 2006. Both Mongolians.105 views
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105 views
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They make their way around the ring.104 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.104 views
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They spit out the water into a small bucket in the corner.104 views
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103 views
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Kotooshu on the right.103 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.103 views
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103 views
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103 views
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The two rikishi who escort him are either from his own sumo stable or an affiliate sumo stable.102 views
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102 views
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Next are rikishi from the west side.101 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.101 views
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101 views
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Kokkai on the left. He is from Georgia in eastern Europe.100 views
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A false start by Hakuho.100 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).99 views
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He defeats his opponent who also pushes down the referee.99 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).99 views
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99 views
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Yokozuna Harumafuji from Mongolia performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony.99 views
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98 views
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Oshidashi or frontal push out, a common technique.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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I usually eat two bowls. Only 250 yen per bowl.98 views
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98 views
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97 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.97 views
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Hakurozan at the initial charge.97 views
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Hakurozan on the right in Jan. 2006.97 views
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Plaques for the Three Outstanding Prizes (Technique, Outstanding Performance, and Fighting Spirit) awarded by two newspapers.97 viewsTechnique Prize (Gino-sho), Outstanding Performance (for most Yokozuna/Ozeki upsets, Shukun-sho), and Fighting Spirit (Kanto-sho).
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96 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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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.96 views
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Hakuho96 views
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Roho vs. Tochiazuma96 views
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96 views
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96 views
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96 views
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96 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.95 views
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After losing, Takamisakari dejectedly leaves the ring. The crowd sympathizes with him and applaud.95 views
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Trying for a yorikiri or frontal push out while grabbing the belt.95 views
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94 views
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Both tumble off the ring...94 views
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A large cushion is brought in for Kotooshu.94 views
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Claps his hands for the last time. The man in purple is the referee.93 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.93 views
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Yokozuna Hakuho from Mongolia performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony in Jan. 2013.93 views
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92 views
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92 views
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91 views
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91 views
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Closeup of Emperor's Cup.91 views
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91 views
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Then he steps forward and turns to the front.90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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88 views
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87 views
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Closeup of old Nameplates of tournament winners that were on the Emperor's Cup.87 views
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87 views
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87 views
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87 views
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Taiko drum tower86 views
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Old Nameplates of tournament winners that were on the Emperor's Cup.86 views
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85 views
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Ozeki Kotooshu in Jan 2013.85 views
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Closeup of nameplates of tournament winners on Emperor's Cup.84 views
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Mushrooms from Oita Prefecture.83 views
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The "Full House" banners are unfurled above the Shinto-style roof.83 views
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