Sumo

Sumo

Sumo is a form of full-contact wrestling in which two wrestlers attempt to force eachother out of the circular ring or to touch ground with any body part other than the soles of their feet. The sport has a long history and is deeply influenced by tradition and ritual.

Industry: Sports

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Sumo

deshi

Sports; Sumo

An apprentice or understudy. Used to describe the lower-ranked rikishi in a stable.

dohyō

Sports; Sumo

The clay ring in which the sumo wrestlers hold their matches, made of a specific clay and spread with sand. A new dohyō is built prior to each tournament.

degeiko

Sports; Sumo

Visiting a different stable and practicing with the rikishi there. Usually, a sekitori will do this when there are no other sekitori in his stable to practice with.

denkoban

Sports; Sumo

The lit-up panel hanging high above the seats that lists the days matches and results. The rikishi names are written in black kanji characters on a white background. A red line signifies the winner ...

danpatsu-shiki

Sports; Sumo

Retirement ceremony, held for a top wrestler in the Ryogoku Kokugikan some months after retirement, in which his chonmage, or top knot is cut off. A wrestler must have fought as a sekitori in at ...

shikona

Sports; Sumo

A wrestler's "fighting name", often a poetic expression which may contain elements specific to the wrestler's heya. Japanese wrestlers frequently do not adopt a shikona until they reach makushita or ...

shiko

Sports; Sumo

The stamping of feet on the ground to strengthen the legs. The sumo exercise where each leg in succession is lifted as high and as straight as possible, and then brought down to stomp on the ground ...