2006 November Grand Sumo Tournament

Last Saturday several of us headed down to Fukuoka to watch the 14th day of the Kyushu Sumo Tournament. I had never been to a sumo tournament and didn't know much about it. I was pleasantly suprised to receive a small booklet on Sumo in English, as well as a listing of the matches in romaji. Because Shimonoseki and my little town are not set-up to accommodate foreigners, I was just so happy to be given a little thing like an English booklet. Thankfully someone at the Nihon Sumo Kyokai realises that many foreigners go to the sumo tournaments and wanted them to have a greater understanding of their experience. Things like this are a huge step when you think about it. This means that someone somewhere is thinking internationally and putting themselves in our foreign shoes.

As you can see, hardly anyone was at the event when this photo was taken. Luckily I was able to go on the bottom level and take photos. About an hour later, however, we started getting "dame" from the workers in the yellow jackets. Amusing to Anita and me were observing from afar Laura getting "dame" twice from shy Japanese guys who were no older than ourselves. Very funny.

Eventually many people arrived and filled up all the bottom seats. This photo is for the memories and to show family and friends back home that I was there. One of my favorite moments was when the amusing man sitting near us got everyone chearing for Homasho, a wrestler from Shimonoseki who came in second overall in the tournament.

The final bout, Asashoryu vs. Kotooshu. Not surprising, Asashoryu (from Mongolia) won the match and ended up winning the overall tournament on the final day.

After the final bout, all the fans threw their purple cusions in the center of the ring. It was a fitting ending for a truly enjoyable experience.