[SPORT] Sumo Yokohama Tournament 13th October, 2013

A one-day Sumo tournament is held every year in Yokohama since 5 years ago. And the 6th Yokohama Tournament is held on 13th October.

Date: Sunday, 13th October, 2013
Place: Yokohama Bunka Taiikukan (Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium)
5min walk from JR Kannai or Yokohama Subway Isezaki Chojamachi


大きな地図で見る

Schedule:
8:00- Open practice
9:00-10:00 Communication with sumo wresters (shaking hands, signature, photo...free of charge at 1F Lobby)
10:00- Wampaku Sumo (kids' sumo)
11:00- Tournament of the lower rank wrestlers (幕下 Makushita)
12:00- Tournament of the middle rank wrestlers (十両 Jyuryo)
13:30- Entrance of the higher rank wrestlers (幕内 Makuuchi) and the top wrestlers (横綱 Yokozuna)
14:00- Tournament of the higher rank and the top
15:00 End

Tickets available at major ticketing agents (Pia, e-plus, Lawson etc...)
1F seats 10,000-13,000 Yen/person
2F 5,000-8,000 Yen/Person
Children under 3 is free.

Website (in Japanese)

<***What is Sumo?***>
Sumo wrestling is a traditional Japanese sport by men.
Two sumo wrestlers (力士 rikishi) fight on Dohyo (土俵) ring. If one steps out of Dohyo or puts a hand on the ground, he loses.
The wresters are divided into two groups in each tournament (which usually lasts for 14 days): East (東 higashi) and West (西 nishi).
If a wrester wins, he gets one white star (白星 shiroboshi) and if he loses, he gets a black star (黒星 kuroboshi) and the one who gets the most white stars wins the tournament. If a lower rank wrestler beats a top wrester (横綱 Yokozuna), it is called a "gold star (金星 kinboshi)".

The wresters belong to a team called "Room (部屋 heya)" and practice under a coach（親方 oyakata) of the room. Sometimes the ring names of wresters in a same team share a same kanji. There are many wresters from foreign countries but the number of them in each room is limited now.

There are women sumo nowadays but the professional sumo doesn't allow any women in the ring.

You can also refer the official website of Nihon Sumo Kyokai