Sumo: The Sport and The Tradition

SUMO Japan's spectacular national sport, continues to maintain its popularity despite the inroads made in recent years by baseball. Millions continue to be enthralled by the fifteen-day championship matches now held six times a year in Japan's major cities. The tournament halls are filled to capacity every day and nationwide televising now enables anyone to see Sumo, adding further stimulus to the popularity of "the Sport". Mr. Sargeant, sports editor for the English-language ,Asahi Evening News, realised that there were many foreigners who would enjoy Sumo more if they knew more of the essential facts about it. Utilizing his knowledge and first-hand information on the sport .. he produced this book to meet this need. Written in the humorous, easy-to-read fashion with which the many readers of his sports column will be pleasantly familiar. Mr. Sargeant has also given us a picture of the excitement of the sport. as well as technical aspects that are apt to escape the uninitiated e) e. The professional Sumo wrestler is very much in the public eye, his activities, both in and out of the ring being followed with eager interest by millions of fans via press. radio, and television. Here we are taken into the wrestler's life behind the scenes at a tourmament. The gruelling training sessions in the various gymnasiums. and, in delightfully informal accounts. in moments of recreation and relaxation at home. Not neglected are the rich pageantry historical associations of Sumo. For behind the ritual posturing and gesturing that seem to constitute a major portion of the Sumo contest and lead up to the sudden head-on clashing of two gigantic figures, there lies a world of picturesque meaning and time-honored tradition that, pr operly understood, is bound to enhance the appeal of the sport to the non-Japanese reader and sports lover. Black and white photographic plates and line drawings provide illustrations of Sumo's various aspects.