Brother Mark and I have settled into a daily ritual of watching a major sumo tournament (known as a Basho) on TV at around 5pm most days. Every January the Basho is held in Tokyo, which is perfectly timed for our January skiing trips. It is also a wonderful way to start the recovery process from either skiing or exploring the sites. Of course, the viewing is enhanced by sampling a wide range of Japanese beers, which we highly recommend (especially Asahi and Kirin).
At first glance sumo can appear an odd sport to follow, however we have realised that it is a highly elegant martial art full of balance, poise and nuance developed over centuries of tradition. The elegance is also shown in how each competitor takes advantage of subtle changes in their opponent's stance, centre of gravity, failing stamina and/or will. It is even shown in the contempt for opponents, such as aggressive salt throwing, thigh slapping and back arching.
It is unpredictable who will win. A simple step to the side can make all the difference between victory and loss.
We have embraced sumo and we encourage you all to do the same. Sumo embodies much of what we love about Japan and its people.
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