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UPCOMING SUMO TOURNAMENTS IN 2002 July Grand Sumo Tournament (Ozumo Nagoya Basho), July 7-21, Nagoya Aichi-ken Taiikukan. The ranking list is announced June 24. Tickets went on sale March 14. Aichi Kenritsu Taiikukan, tel: (052) 971-0015.
November Grand Sumo Tournament (Ozumo Kyushu Basho), November 10-24, Fukuoka Kokusai Sentaa (Fukuoka International Center). The ranking list is announced October 28. Tickets go on sale Oct. 5. Fukuoka International Center, tel: (092) 291-9311/(092) 291-9312 (in late October, early November only). SUMO-RELATED EVENTS
Sumo Dedication Ceremony (Dezuiri) Early January, 3pm. A sumo ring-entering ritual by the grand champions (yokozuna) will be performed by reigning yokozuna, in front of the sanctuary of Meiji Jingu Shrine, Harajuku Sta. Shrine (03) 3379-5511. (URL: http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/intro/events/index.htm) The Annual NHK Charity Grand Sumo Tournament (Dai-sanjugokai NHK Fukushi Ozumo) is held each February at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, Ryogoku Sta. (JR Sobu Line). Call Shakai Fukushi Hojin NHK Kosei Bunka Jigyodan (03) 5454-1818. The Annual Grand Sumo Tournament (Nippon Ozumo Tournament Dai-nijurokkai Taikai) is held each February at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Ryogoku Sta. (JR Sobu Line). Sponsored by Fuji TV and broadcast on Channel 8. Call Jimukyoku (03) 5500-8259.
Dedicatory Sumo (Hono Ozumo) is held each April. With reigning
yokozuna and other sumo wrestlers. FREE. Yasukuni Jinja, Kudanshita Sta.
(Tozai Line). Shrine (03) 3261-8326.
Crying Sumo (Nakizumo) End of April. Sumo wrestlers hold babies in their arms and rock them. The winner is the one whose baby cries first. In front of the Ichikawa Danjuro's statue of Gongoro in the kabuki play Shibaraku, behind Asakusa Sensoji Kannon Temple, Asakusa Station (Eidan-Ginza/Toei-Asakusa lines). Tourist Office (03) 3844-1221. Crying Sumo (Nakizumo) Late September. Amateur sumo wrestlers wearing mawashi (sumo belts) hold babies in their arms and rock them. The winner is the one whose baby cries first. Momiyama Ikiko Jinja Shrine, Momiyama Sta. (Tobu-Nikko Line from Asakusa Sta.), walk 10 minutes. Tochigi Prefecture. Kanko-ka/Sightseeing Office (0289) 64-2111. Crying Sumo (Nakizumo) September 23, Koan Jinja Shrine, Keio-Hachioji Sta. (Keio Line). Call the Shrine at (0426) 42-2550/(0426) 42-2551. Dedicatory Sumo (Hono Ozumo) Late September or early October, a sumo tournament which includes a yokozuna no dezuiri ceremony. This ceremony has been held ever since the Emperor Meiji designated sumo as the national sport. Call Meiji Jingu Shrine, Harajuku Sta. Shrine (03) 3379-5511. (URL:http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/intro/events/index.htm)
All-Japan Sumo Tournament (Zen-Nihon Sumo Senshuken Taikai) is held in late November at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Ryogoku Station (JR Sobu Line). Second floor: Children under middle school age: free. Call Nihon Sumo Renmei (03) 3481-2377. Sumo World Championship (Sekai Sumo Senshuken Taikai) held October 27 & October 28, 2002, Aomori. Some 100 sumo wrestlers from around the world participate. In December 1999, the small town of Riesa in Saxony (formerly German Democratic Republic) was chosen as the first place outside Japan to host the Sumo World Championship. Kokusai Sumo Renmei/International Sumo Federation (ISF) (03) 3360-3911. Sumo Museum (Sumo Hakubutsukan) Near the main entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan, Ryogoku Station (JR Sobu Line). FREE. During tournaments, access is limited to ticket holders. 1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida-ku. Tel: (03) 3622-0366. PlayStation Game "Nihon Ozumo" (Oozumou) has been sanctioned by the Japan Sumo Association and is on sale. The "action" takes place at Ryogoku Kokugikan and Osaka Furitsu Taiikukan. You can bring up your own sumo wrestler and play with bouts. It looks good. Shiko Funjatta (Toho) Directed by Shubo Masayuki, starring Motoki Masahiro, Shimizu Misa and Emoto Akira. Made in 1992 it is a hilarious story of a group of college boys who are forced to join the sumo club. Sumo World An English-language magazine. Sumo Bruno Directed by Lenard Krawinkel, starring Hakan Orbeyi from Riesa who weighs some 200 kilograms. Not surprisingly this German film was not sanctioned by the International Sumo Federation. Years ago director Milos Forman wanted to make a film about Sumo but with no success. Let's see whether it will be released in Japan. European Sumo Union (E.S.U.) is based in the Netherlands. Gunter Romenath is the president. Junior European Championship (Men & Women) is held June 30 at Pirmasens in Germany. Junior World Championships are held Aug. 19 in Osaka. World Games (Men & Women) Aug. 25 & Aug. 26 in Akita. (URL: http://www.eurosumo.com)
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