We are kid Sumo Wrestlers!

Week B: August 23 - 26

Sumo is a religious ritual

Compared with most sports in the world today, sumo originated a heck of a long time ago. About 1,500 years, in fact. From the very beginning it was entwined with Shinto ritual, when it was performed at shrines to ensure a bountiful harvest and to honor the spirits – known as kami.

The rules of the match

A sumo match doesn’t start until both wrestlers have placed both hands on the ground at the same time.

Sumo wrestlers haven’t always been overweight.

In fact, it was only very recently in the history of sumo that the wrestlers developed the chubbiness they are now famous for.

Sumo wrestlers have to wear traditional clothes

They are also expected to grow their hair in order to form a topknot, or chonmage, similar to the samurai hairstyles of the Edo Period.

The Japanese people bow in order to:

• Show respect

• Say hello/goodbye

• Offer an apology

• Tell someone congratulations

• Enter or leave a martial arts dojo

Important vocabulary: konichiwa (good afternoon) Onegaishimasu (let's begin )

Kids Web Japan Please refer to this website for more information about Japan and Sumo.