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The Natsu Basho is part of the 6 big yearly professional Sumô tournaments in Japan. It is taking place right now in Tôkyô at Kokugikan Sumô Hall. Kokugikan is THE Sumô temple and hosts the Sumô Museum, on top of the most famous of Dohyô (the “ring”) where the greatest tournaments are set, among which the Honbasho, the 6 great tournaments mentioned above.

Since 1958, Honbasho, literally “real tournaments” as opposed to exhibition demonstrations, welcome the fans every two months. Each of those last for 15 days and contribute to the Banzuke, the rankings of Sumô wrestlers.

Depending on their rank, they fight everyday or every second day during the Honbasho: Sekitori, the wrestlers of the two top divisions, meet on the Dohyô everyday and the others every other day. Their aim is to achieve the Kachikoshi with a maximum number of victories.

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The Kokugikan

The other Honbasho take place all year long:

• the Hatsu Basho, for new year (January in Tôkyô)
• the Haru Basho, for spring (March in Ôsaka)
• the Natsu Basho, for summer (now, May, in Tôkyô)
• the Nagoya Basho (July in Nagoya)
• the Aki Basho, for fall (September in Tôkyô)
• the Kyûshû Basho (November in Fukuoka)

Today, Sumô is still one of the most popular sports in Japan though baseball and football are now more popular, especially among the youngest generations. It remains a traditional sports with many rituals which is present for ceremonies. Its main characteristics are the impressive build of the Rikishi (the wrestlers) and the rituals going along with each fight.

If you want to know more about Sumô and Rikishi, see you next Saturday, same place, same time!!

To follow the Natsu Basho: www.sumo.or.jp (in English)