SUMO | Tokyo New Year Tournament Day One (2022)

[@tomtalker2000]

If i ever make it over to Japan. This is DEFINITELY on my top 5 things to do list. I'm a huge puroresu and sumo fan and have been for years.

[@JapanExperiences]

It’s cool to experience live.

[@ibrahimcano16]

Awesome! I’m about to go and tried to find tickets on the very first day but sold out in 20 mins :(. We you able to buy them outside ? Or how did you get em? Thanks a lot for the info!

[@JapanExperiences]

I went on the day, but it was still during Covid and no tourists were in Japan.

[@vincently1995]

Wonderful!

[@JapanExperiences]

Thank you!

[@arride4590]

Hakuho is the best of the history!

[@JapanExperiences]

Yes, he is now a stable master.

[@LauraJdogmom]

Glad to hear you enjoyed your day at the Kokugikan! Yeah, Hakuho is a big celebrity. It is funny to see the former wrestlers who have become oyakata taking tickets, standing guard duty, and selling souvenirs. Even the Greatest Of All Time has to start at the bottom, and with a significant pay cut. Your seats looked pretty good. You might not see a lot of detail up there, but you get a good overview of how each bout unfolds. Plus, there is no danger of a 350-pound rikishi sailing into your lap. The sponsorship envelopes are each 62,000 yen. A little over half of it goes to the Association and for taxes and other deductions, leaving about 30,000 yen cash per envelope. Depending on the number of sponsors, a rikishi can take home the equivalent of thousands of U.S. dollars just for winning the bout. Nice! Ozeki do not have to get double-digit wins to keep their ranks; they only need 8 like everyone else. They should be getting at least 10, but that is an expectation, not a rule. Ozeki also have the privilege of needing two straight make-koshi (losing record) to be demoted, and they can immediately regain their rank with 10+ wins at Sekiwake in the next basho. Yokozuna can't be demoted, which is why they are able to take time off for injury. A Yokozuna who can't sustain the expected high level of performance usually retires. Lower-level wrestlers at Makushita and below only fight 7 bouts, so a winning record for them is 4-3 or better.

[@JapanExperiences]

Thanks for the info and comments. It seems like your a sumo fan. I’ll mention another interesting moment from that day. As I was walking around the top floor of the Kokugikan, Mushimaru was walking around in a suit. Still a very huge man. It was cool to see him in person. Take care.

[@wellsengrey4768]

Hakuho is not just any Yokozuna, he is the best ever in history. His record FAR surpassed any sumo wrestler ever existed in the entire sumo history. The second best record isn't even close to his. 😆

[@JapanExperiences]

Thanks for commenting 😊