The History of Sumo

Sumo, the national sport of Japan, boasts a history of several thousand years. Sumo most likely began in China or Korea, although similar forms of competition were also present in Greece and Russia.

The first Japanese references to the sport were during the mythological age when it served as a type of dual. By the eight century sumo was being performed before the emperor as a form of entertainment at court banquets.

During the tenth century sumo was practiced as a fighting technique between warriors. By the Japanese Edo period (1603-1867) professional sumotoris were being supported by feudal lords and it is the traditions and rituals of this period that are the basis for today’s sumo competitions.

Today the sport boasts unprecedented popularity in Japan and is rapidly gaining followers throughout the world. This increasing acceptance can be attributed to a number of factors, including the beauty of this one-to-one sport which combines strength agility and balance, the drama of the fast-paced and exciting bouts performed against a backdrop of elegant Japanese ritual, and the advent of radio, television, and the internet which have opened the sport to the world outside of Japan.