Behind the scenes: SUMO

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Behind the scenes, sumo are friendly, funny, shy, cynical... human beings. In a rare interview, some young men from Minato stable talk about their lives as sumo.
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[@theweirick]

How can one not respect these men who sacrifice so much for their careers?

[@raestrikke]

lovely glimpse into the lives of the young rikishi.

[@wherenextjapan]

Rae Ringhofer thank you!

[@adamrodriguez2160]

I just started getting into this sport..... Wow im hooked!!! Its awesome!!!

[@wherenextjapan]

Sumo is amazing. The tradition, the rituals, the rikishi themselves... Such a cool sport

[@Fuu_Sho]

Google for "NHK Sumopedia", they have a lot of short videos that explain a lot about sumo.

[@egparis18]

They are not 'sumos'. They are rikishi. Just as Cristiano Ronaldo is not a 'soccer'.

[@silafuyang8675]

Ronaldo is a clown.

[@radicalhonesty7111]

As a matter of fact, a rikishi is also called "o-sumo-san." It's a less formal term. But you're absolutely correct.

[@serene5187]

Using "sumo" as "sumo wrestler(s)" is perfectly correct, a bit old-fashioned though. You can see people were talking like "That guy is ex-sumo (moto sumo)", "You can't become a good sumo if you ... " etc. in the old movies and "rakugo" (Japanese traditional storytelling). I think some people, especially men, have still called a rikishi as a "sumo" at least until my grandfather's generation.

[@waruiboya2575]

When you watch a sumo basho, you have wrestlers you like and the ones you don't like so much. But after seeing such interactions, how can you not like ALL of them, right down to the lowest ranked junior guys.

[@wherenextjapan]

Agreed!

[@paulbaker1505]

It's like back when I was doing basic army training. Constantly. For years. Eat sleep. Train. Fight. Repeat. Now that takes some serious discipline. Trust me

[@cyrosjourney7755]

Thank you

[@kleigh6784]

GREAT VIDEO... THANKS FOR THE ENGLISH SUBTITLES...

[@jule12ify]

I wonder how much the person who does hair get paid cuz if he does everyone in the stable hair every day that like at least 20-30 heads a day ya know.

[@enfielddnepr]

Thanks for posting! There is one thing i wonder; They all sleep together, but are all young men, hence have sexual needs.. How can you -especial if no woman is allowed- masturbate in privacy?

[@colbypang7185]

How to becoming a sumo I real love sumo To having a big body

[@bahasainggrisbersamamradi9308]

Being into sumo not about being fat It's about tradition, respect, hardwork, discipline, and devotion

[@shakes.dontknowwhatyergettin]

Well, if you were young, and were good at local forms of wrestling, you could probably translate ok to amateur Sumo - and then perhaps apply to one of the training stables. They take applications, though being accepted would bee difficult.

[@ronki23]

Sumo get so big and fat for a match that lasts only a few seconds. Why don't they do judo instead?

[@Dammiunnomevalido]

Because in Judo you don't get so big and fat for a match that lasts only few seconds. Jokes aside, other than being a different discipline, Sumo has deep and rooted ceremonial and religious meanings. Is also Japan's national sport, meaning an high ranking sumo fighter can reach incredible peaks of fame and glory. Professionals live in their gyms (called stables) and live accordingly to strict rules, both in private and public life. Is a lifestile of daily devotion.

[@androgynousmaggot9389]

It's almost as p asking why a doctor didn't become a lawyer! For the rest see the answer above! 👌

[@ronki23]

@@androgynousmaggot9389 why a PhD in law didn't become a lawyer ? 😉

[@androgynousmaggot9389]

@@ronki23 damn! You got me! 👏😂

[@youtubeuser7798]

They are like prisoners?

[@wherenextjapan]

No, they are athletes.

[@quackkuryu4680]

do they do their hair like this every day? or only sometimes like tournaments?

[@wherenextjapan]

I'm pretty sure it's every day. They wear kimono when they go out. Their life reflects their sport.