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Hon-Basho Sumo Tournaments - Tokyo Hotels .com

Sumo wrestlers at the Hon-Basho Sumo Tournament

Sumo wrestling is an ancient Japanese contact sport dating back 2,000 years. Hon-basho translates to real tournament and there are six professional tournaments each year. The autumn hon-basho takes place the second Sunday in September at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. This venue is only a two-minute walk from Ueno-Asakusa-Ryogoku station in Tokyo. The September tournament draws in a large audience and lasts for a stretch of 15 days. The day's competition begins around 9:30 a.m. and lasts until 6 p.m., with the top wrestlers competing after 3:30 p.m.

Attending a sumo tournament is a good place to observe traditional Japanese culture. Intense purification rituals take place before the bout. For instance, the dohyo, or wrestling ring, is covered with sand as a symbol of purity in the Shinto religion and the referee resembles a Shinto priest in his traditional robe. Several handfuls of salt are thrown into the ring for purification and sometimes if spectators are especially excited during the match they throw pillows on the stage.