Jaunted

Japan / sports / Tokyo / → All Tags

Sumo Surprise

Hurry, hurry--tickets for the September Grand Sumo Tournament are only on sale for another ten days! Running from 10 to 24 September in Tokyo, there's nothing quite like watching the chubby fat guys push each other around. You can get the cheap seats from about $30 or splash out big for ringside for just $125--see, we told you Japan isn't as expensive as everyone says.

Of course, understanding exactly why and how they're pushing each other around is an art in itself, but the Official Grand Sumo gang have helped us out by providing the Beginner's Guide to Sumo. Obviously the goal is to get the other guy out of the circle, but it's important (although a little sad, somehow) to know that:

Striking with fists, hair pulling, eye gouging, choking and kicking in the stomach or chest are prohibited. It is also against the rules to sieze the part of the band covering the vital organs.

When we're speaking of sumo champions, we would've thought the vital organs were the layers of flab, but it sounds like they're referring to something else. Just get to Tokyo and watch them for yourself (but make sure a band covers your vital organs).

[Image via WMMNA/Flickr]

Related stories:
Hands Off the Melons [Jaunted]
The Sumo Fitness Regime [Mail & Guardian]