2009年11月13日金曜日

A sumo competition

There was a sumo wrestling competition for primary school and kinder garden children in Sekigahara. Sumo is a Japanese traditional sport which a wrestler tries to push an opponent out from a ring. The competition was held outside. It was a clear blue sky and a nice day for doing sumo. The classes were divided into seven including one to six year primary school children and kinder garden children.

In total 97 children participated for this competition. I was a little bit surprised at the number of participants. There are still a lot of children in this depopulated town. The sumo ring was built outside and the children were wearing a Japanese loincloth like real sumo wrestlers. It is very interesting to know that two girls have won the competition in kinder garden and first year elementary school classes. In infancy, generally girls grow faster than boys so it is not unusual that some girls are physically stronger than boys. The same thing happened to me. I also took part of the competition when I was in the first year of elementary school. I lost a game with a girl. This competition reminds me of my childhood. The sumo competition has been a good opportunity for children to try their physical strength and to learn a Japanese cultural sport.

5 件のコメント:

  1. Sumo is a traditional sport in Japan, so we need keep holding the competition.
    I think it's a good experience for children to know the traditional sport:)))

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  2. My primary school also has a sumo ring, and I had a sumo match annually. It was too shameful for me to be naked to the waist and do sumo in front of spectators...

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  3. I think that it's good for us to learn Japanese cultures. I also took part in that kind of Sumo competition when I was a primary school student..I also lost with girl..haha

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  4. Believe me, these women will beat you even when they are older, too....

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  5. i think thats great events.
    Since Japanese trafitional sports including sumo mainly focus on keeping politeness and appritiation towards opponents, children will have good experience by joining in those events.

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