![\"main-image-%e6%a8%aa%e7%b6%b1%e5%8f%96%e7%b5%842\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Main-Image-%E6%A8%AA%E7%B6%B1%E5%8F%96%E7%B5%842-1024x682.jpg?resize=1024%2C682\")
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The Tournaments<\/strong> —————————————————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n Ones to Watch<\/strong> \u2022 Hakuho: \u767d\u9d6c<\/em><\/strong> \u2022 Harumafuji: \u65e5\u99ac\u5bcc\u58eb<\/em><\/strong> \u2022 Kakuryu: \u9db4\u7adc<\/em><\/strong> \u2022 Goeido: \u8c6a\u6804\u9053<\/em><\/strong> —————————————————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n When to Turn Up<\/strong> The show really gets going with the colorful dohyo-iri (entrance ceremony) of the juryo – second tier wrestlers – at around 14:15. These guys are battling for the honor of entering the top-division and it is in the juryo that future stars are born. At 15:40, the makunouchi (top division) rikishi enter the ring with a special dohyo-iri performed by the yokozuna. Earth-shaking bouts commence, with an average time of just six seconds.<\/p>\n —————————————————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n Sumo Speak<\/strong> \u2022 Rikishi \u529b\u58eb<\/em><\/strong>: The big guys doing the pushing and shoving. —————————————————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n Go Along<\/strong> \u2022 11\/13 (Sun.) ~ 11\/27 (Sun.) —————————————————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n
\nSix sumo basho (tournaments) are held each year. Fukuoka hosts Kyushu\u2019s iteration of the tournament, a spectacle that sees Fukuoka\u2019s average BMI rise 12 points and draws crowds of people from across the region. A cornerstone of Japanese culture, the ritual-like combat takes place within an intricate league system accompanied by ancient traditions.<\/p>\n![\"2-wrestlers-free\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/2-wrestlers-FREE-1024x844.jpg?resize=1024%2C844\")
\n\u00a9\u65e5\u672c\u76f8\u64b2\u5354\u4f1a<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe biggest, beastliest and best of the sumo are the yokozuna. To become a yokozuna, rikishi must win two basho in a row, a uniquely difficult feat. There are currently only three yokozuna out of some 660 competing wrestlers.<\/p>\n
\nThe undisputed champion is Hakuho. He has 37 championship wins, the highest number in history. After winning the March and May basho, he sat out the September tournament due to injury. He\u2019s expected to be back to full form for the Kyushu Basho.
\nHeight: 192cm. Weight: 155kg. DOB: 11 Mar. 1985. Country: Mongolia. Championship Wins: 37<\/p>\n![\"hakuho-free-copy\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/hakuho-FREE-copy-681x1024.jpg?resize=681%2C1024\")
\nHakuho<\/strong> performing his dohyo-iri \u00a9\u65e5\u672c\u76f8\u64b2\u5354\u4f1a<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWith eight championship wins is Harumafuji. He was promoted to yokozuna in 2012 and in 2015 was the lightest wrestler in the top division at 133kg. Harumafuji is in good form, and won this year\u2019s July championship.
\nHeight: 186cm. Weight: 137kg. DOB: 14 Apr. 1984. Country: Mongolia. Championship Wins: 8<\/p>\n
\nThe most recent yokozuna is Kakuryu, who was promoted after two remarkable championships in 2014. His 2015 season was plagued with injury and he sat out the July 2016 tournament with injuries to his back and ankle.
\nHeight: 186cm. Weight: 155kg. DOB: 10 Aug. 1985. Country: Mongolia. Championship Wins: 2<\/p>\n
\nYou should also keep an eye out for the ozeki wrestler Goeido. He won September\u2019s championship with all 15 bouts. If he repeats this performance in Fukuoka, he\u2019ll be promoted to the lofty rank of yokozuna.<\/p>\n
\nThe competition lasts all day, starting with the juniors at 08:25. Rikishi in the lower leagues tend to be younger and lighter and matches focus more on speed than power.<\/p>\n
\nLingo that will take you from amateur spectator to sumo pro.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Basho \u5834\u6240<\/em><\/strong>: Two-week sumo tournament. Six each year.
\n\u2022 Dohyo \u571f\u4ff5<\/em><\/strong>: The raised clay platform where the battles take place. Buried within is salt, washed rice, torreya nuts, squid, kelp and chestnuts.
\n\u2022 Dohyo-iri<\/strong> \u571f\u4ff5\u5165\u308a<\/em>: Colorful entrance ceremony performed by the top two divisions.
\n\u2022 Mawashi \u307e\u308f\u3057<\/em><\/strong>: The sumo belt. Protects genitals and gives grip. Colored silk for top wrestlers; black cotton for lesser wrestlers.
\n\u2022 Yokozuna \u6a2a\u7db1<\/em><\/strong>: The best rank in sumo: the grand champions.
\n\u2022 Ozeki \u5927\u95a2<\/em><\/strong>: Not quite yokozuna, but the second best \u2018champion\u2019 rank.
\n\u2022 Heya \u90e8\u5c4b<\/em><\/strong>: The \u2018stable\u2019 in which the rikishi train, eat and sleep.<\/p>\n![\"inside-venue-free\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/inside-venue-FREE-1024x682.jpg?resize=1024%2C682\")
\n\u00a9\u65e5\u672c\u76f8\u64b2\u5354\u4f1a<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe Fukuoka Kokusai Center will be hosting this November\u2019s basho. Tickets range in price from \u00a52,100 for the outer-circle chair seats, to \u00a514,800 for the ring side seats (you may be crushed). Mid-level box seats for two to four people are available from \u00a59,500.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Fukuoka Kokusai Center
\n\u2022 2-2 Chikkohonmachi, Hakata-ku
\n\u2022 Tickets: \u00a52,100~\u00a514,800
\n\u2022 http:\/\/sumo.pia.jp\/en\/sumo11.jsp<\/a><\/p>\n