Japan's national sport, steeped in ancient traditions and symbolic ceremonies, has a reputation of causing boredom and confusion among those who haven't spent hours trying to learn every detail. Having attended one myself, however, I am here to correct that terrible wrong.
Due to these accusations, I almost made the dire mistake of skipping the sumo tournament occurring during our trip. However, after a change of heart, I was lucky enough to snag a couple of last minute tickets to find out for myself.
Just outside the entrance to the stadium, but before the realistic cut outs of wrestlers that freaked us right out, you will see rows of huge, colourful banners. Known as nobori, these hand painted flags contain the names and sponsors of sumo wrestlers and are a sign you have arrived in the right place.
When attending a sumo tournament, you are only able to re-enter once throughout the day, but remarkably, have the option of bringing in your own food and drinks, alcohol included. So put away your hollowed out binoculars, you don't have to hide anything here.
Following a successful trip to 7-Eleven for mouth watering snacks and several $2 king cans of beer, we arrive at Ryōgoku Kokugikan, the site of sumo tournaments held in Tokyo, and approach the entrance.
After a lifetime of "No Outside Food or Drink" burned in my memory, I still have the hollow feeling of guilt for bringing in contraband goodies as a staff member hands me garbage and recycling bags with a smile, nodding at my exorbitant amount of food. I must be in a dream.
Scurrying away before someone changes their mind about letting Canadians bring in their own beer, we easily find our section, the seats... not so much.
Inadvertently recruiting the help of several Japanese locals with our aimless wandering and a few minutes of frantic hand gestures later, we gratefully take our seats, bowing in that jerky, awkward way only foreigners seem to manage as a way to say thanks.
Perhaps in anticipation of the sometimes obnoxious behaviour Westerners exhibit at sporting events, our section consists of 95% Canadian, British and American tourists.
Traveling through a country that largely does not speak your language can sometimes leave you feeling isolated, so it was nice to get to know fellow travellers and share stories.
As the matches begin, many work together to decipher the meaning behind some of the more curious rituals exhibited by the wrestlers, causing the crowd to go wild.
One of these rituals involved wrestlers tossing salt around the ring to purify it before settling in for a fight.
Stamping their feet, slapping themselves and staring in their opponents eyes occurs before every bout in an effort to pump themselves up while intimidating their opponent.
The match has ended once a wrestler is pushed outside the circular ring or any part of his body except the soles of his feet touches the ground.
This very basic knowledge of the sport left us with enough information to at least know who won. That's when everyone whipped out their copy of "Today's Bouts" and began to make bets with each other on the winner for upcoming matches.
As the day wore on, the crowd around the ring filled up. Most spectators do not arrive until later in the day when the most anticipated matches occur.
It was at this moment, as the most coveted wrestlers entered the stadium, the roar of the crowd could be felt deep in our chests and the excitement coursed through our bodies. The whole stadium erupting with cheers of happiness or anger following the completion of each bout.
As the day came to a close, all of the sumo wrestlers, along with their flags are announced and enter one by one, encircling the diameter of the ring.
We left the stadium having made new friends and memories we will cherish forever. The high we were left with proved this sport is far from boring and has retained so much culture throughout it's history.
The multiple ceremonies and symbolic rituals involved are an experience in and of itself, especially if you take the time to learn the reasons why.
Between great company, contagious energy and the feeling of witnessing such an extraordinary display of sportsmanship, attending a sumo tournament is not only fun, it leaves you with the desire to feel the adrenaline of the sport over, and over again.
Have you ever attended a sumo tournament? Leave us a comment and share your experience, or feel free to reach out for more information.