Sumo Most sumo stables facing recruitment issues

[thomas]

While often hailed as Japan's national sport, sumo wrestling has experienced fluctuations in popularity over the centuries. The sport is witnessing a surge, which is evident in the sold-out status of the upcoming spring tournament in Osaka. Premium seats for the event were scarce, selling out within hours of ticket availability. Rikishi (sumo wrestlers) frequently make appearances on variety shows and documentaries, and internationally, there has been a notable rise in television and newspaper coverage dedicated to sumo.

Photo credit: John Gunning​

On the amateur circuit, domestic tournaments such as the Hakuho Cup and the Dream Girls Cup have generated significant publicity for youth sumo, while there are more opportunities than ever before for wrestlers of all ages and genders around the world to participate in the sport. Against that backdrop however came the surprising news on Feb. 28 that just 27 young hopefuls took part in the Japan Sumo Association tests for new recruits. Coinciding with the end of the academic year, the March tournament traditionally sees the largest intake of wrestlers among sumo's six yearly meets, with an all-time high reached in 1992 when the first Mongolians to join sumo were part of a 160-strong class of new recruits. 2024, by contrast, sees the lowest number of prospects to turn pro at the spring tournament since 1973 — when the completion of compulsory education became a prerequisite. With the previous low being last year's 33 entrants, the current downward trend has to be of major concern for the JSA, particularly at a time when the sport's popularity is growing.

Sumo’s popularity is booming. The recruitment of new pros is not.

Sumo is not immune to the labor shortages plaguing the rest of aging Japan.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[Aoto]

Sumo is still a big thing in Japan and it is likely to stay as a big thing for the next few decades as well.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Everything I've ever heard (when I lived in Japan) about life for new wrestlers is that it's very difficult. I'm not surprised that fewer people are interested in devoting their life to the field. I remember once we met up with a young wrestler that someone in my social sphere knew. We met at a local sumo ground at a shrine, and the point was to raise money for the guy. That's all I remember about it for the most part.

 

[thomas]

And then you have news like this (from yesterday):

Sumo stable faces closure after scandal over violence | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Violence and "power harassment" towards kouhai is a constant topic in sumo , like the infamous bottle attack a few years ago:

Sumo champ Harumafuji investigated over 'bottle assault'

Grand champion Harumafuji is sorry for 'causing trouble' after allegation involving fellow wrestler.

www.bbc.com

 

[nice gaijin]

There was a Netflix show about Sumo with a "yankee" tough guy storyline. I only watched a little bit of it and it was pretty good, but it didn't really inspire me to go out and try it



I think a challenge with Sumo is that it takes so much dedication and a real lifestyle choice to do it seriously... there's not enough opportunity for people to casually experience and enjoy sumo aside from going to tournaments as a spectator. As far as I know there's a lot of cheating and various forms of match-fixing, which I think detract from the whole Shinto -based purity aesthetic.

One of the martial arts youtubers I follow tried out Sumo, he has a few videos about the experience:

 

[nice gaijin]

A couple more of his sumo videos: