 Sumo, a unique form of heavyweight wrestling, is Japan's national sport. This adventurous sport has a long history spanning many centuries and its evolution can be linked to ancient Shinto divination rites. Later on Sumo became an important ritual at the imperial court. Modern Sumo has changed a lot over the centuries, but even today the sport includes many traditional ritual elements, such as the use of salt for purification, which can be traced back to ancient Shinto religion.
Sumo matches take place in a ring called a dohyo, made of a mixture of clay and sand. It is removed after each sumo tournament and a new dohyo is built prior to each tournament. During the competition two wrestlers (rikishi) fight in a circular area. Rice-straw bales called tawara bound this circle, in which the match takes place.
Sumo is a contact sport marked by few and simple rules. To defeat the opponent such techniques like shoving, slapping and tripping are used. The main purpose of these techniques is to get the opponent out of the ring or make him touch the ground with a part of his body other than his feet. The first wrestler to touch the ground with any part of his body other than the soles of his feet or to touch the ground outside the circle loses.
This highly popular Japanese sport is organized by the Japan Sumo Association, an association of former Sumo wrestlers, who also train new wrestlers. Each year in Japan six Grand Sumo tournaments are organized. The main center of attraction is Tokyo, where three tournaments take place. In addition to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka are other venues.
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