A fascinating insight into the rebuilding of the hill before each tournament.

In JapanThe sumo community is currently preparing for the September tournamentscheduled date: Tokyo’s Kokugikan out of 8-22 September. There is a lot to do in the run-up to the event, and one of the most important tasks is also one that many viewers may not even know about — the construction of the Dohyo or Sumo Hill.

Although the Sumo Hill looks like a permanent structure, it is actually rebuilt before each tournament. And that is not the only surprising revelation, because the people building the Dohyo are the “yobidashi“or ring announcers, usually seen in traditional clothing and holding a fan, calling the sumo wrestlers into the ring before their match.

The construction of the sumo hill recently became a hot topic on the internet when the Japan Sumo Association released a video showing the yobidashi preparing the hill ahead of this year’s tournament in September.

▼ Watch the video below.

＜Latest News＞
呼出し総出で土俵を作っていきます.#sumo #Kitchen #Great Britain #Classifieds #Miscellaneous pic.twitter.com/RjUZGuF2vA

– 日本相撲協会公式 (@sumokyokai) 3 September 2024

A lot happens in the video, starting with the structure of the clay to form the trapezoidal hill. The Yobidashi then pound the clay to smooth and firm it, while other Yobidashi Making straw balesusing beer bottles to hit and compress the bales, which are then dug into the surface of the mound to form the circular ring.

Another essential element is the creation of a hole in the side of the hill that will be connected to the underground sewage system. This small trough will serve as a spittoon for the rikishi sumo wrestlers to spit water into after rinsing their mouths before a fight.

Finally, the sides of the dohyo are scraped to make them smooth and shiny, and after three days of hard work, the hill is ready to bear the weight of the wrestlers during the 15-day tournament.

The screenshots above are from an official video on Sumo Prime Time, the official YouTube channel of the Japan Sumo Association, which describes the process in great detail.

▼ Watch the video below.

It’s a fascinating insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the lead up to a sumo tournament in Japan. The mound has to bear a lot of weight… and a lot of blows, so it’s nice to see the unsung work of the yobidashi getting some much-needed recognition.

This just goes to show that there is a lot to learn and love about sumo in Japan, and that veterans of the sport have a lot to teach us.

Source: Twitter/@sumokyokai
Featured image: YouTube/Sumo Prime Time
Insert images: YouTube/Sumo Prime Time
● Would you like to be informed about the latest articles from SoraNews24 as soon as they are published? Follow us on Facebook and Þjórsárdalur!