WRESTLING was one of the most ancient diversions of the Japanese people, and the tribe of wrestlers can trace the date of their foundation back to the seventh month of the third year of the reign of Zimmon, the first of the Mikados, that is, about the year 658 B.C.
    Placed under imperial protection, this corporation, in concert with the Government, annually organises a fresh programme for the ensuing year, sending small detachments of performers to all the principal towns in Japan. They have no permanent house or place of entertainment, though the preparatious made in their honour by the towns that they favour with a visit are sometimes very considerable; but no luxuries are ever permitted or offered.
    The circuses in which these contests take place are constructed in tiers, which are placed in communication with the arena by means of simple ladders made of bamboo. No order is observed in seating people, men and women both hasten promiscuously to their places; and with the exception of a small number of boxes reserved for the authorities, the only difference in the seats is the two classes of tariff; the highest admits the payer to the upper tiers. The circus is well packed long before the hour for commencing, and much eager  betting goes on amongst the spectators whilst awaiting the arrival of the performers. These gentry take an interminable time in the various preparations, arranging and re-arranging the long silken-fringed scarf again and again round their loins before their fastidious taste is satisfied, and adorning themselves with the velvet apron, upon which are embroidered their arms and the diplomas they have gained in their several victories.
    At length the sound of a drum is heard from the summit of the tower, or rather the high wooden framework rising above the grand entrance to the circus. Stillness and expectation succeed the hitherto tumultuous impatience of the crowd, who from this moment watch the whole proceedings with unflagging interest. An exceedingly small personage enters the arena first. This is the manager, who is attired in the most elegant of costumes, and after a series of exaggerated bows and salutations to the public, proceeds to recite, in a clear and monotonous voice, the programme of the entertainment, together with the names and the distinguished titles of the two rival companies on the point of entering the lists together.
    A second drum is the signal for the procession, and the wrestlers file slowly in, their heads erect, their arms straight by their sides, and a low murmur of admiration follows them during the whole time their triumphal march. They certainly are a splendid race of men, not to be surpassed in any part of the known world. After this parade the wrestlers divide and wheel off to opposite sides of the arena, take off their aprons, and squat down upon their heels, quietly waiting till they are summoned to the trials of strength.
    The scene of action is a little circular eminence raised about eighteen inches above the floor of the amphitheatre, It is gravelled and surrounded by a double pile of straw sacks. The whole is covered over by an elegantly decorated roof, supported by four wooded pillars. To one of these a holy-water brush is attached; to another, a paper packet containing salt; from a third is suspended a sword of honour; and outside the the arena, at the foot of the fourth pillar, is a bucket of water with a ladle in it. There are four umpires; each one is posted at the foot of, or in proximity to, the pillars. The manager never leaves the arena. Provided with a fan of command, with long silk cords attached, he invites a representative from each of the rival companies to mount the raised ground in the centre, and then he proclaims, amidst the applause of the crowd, the titles of the two illustrious champions.
    "I have never anywhere," says Lindau, "seen men so large and stout as these Japanese wrestlers. They are veritable giants, all over six feet in height, and the lightest of them weighing fourteen stone; whilst their chief, as they will tell you with pride, is over twenty-four stone in weight The object of the combat being to expel your adversary and remain master of the arena, explains the reason why choice is always made of men of such enormous size, as, naturally weight is most effective in such contests.
 

    "All those ready for action were almost naked, having nothing but a scarf of green silk tightly girded round their loins. Squatting in rows just outside the arena, they offered a curious but by no means a pleasant spectacle. One of the matches was just ended as we took our seats in the amphitheatre. An official advanced to the front and announced to the public who were the next two athletes to appear; and then he read from a paper a long list of proper names and figures; this was the state of the betting between the spectators on the chances of the next contest, and was thus read aloud in order to stimulate the spirits of the wrestlers. At the conclusion of this, two wrestlers stepped forward, and, after raising their arms above their heads as a salutation to the public, began their preparations for the struggle.
    "These take a long time, but the audience, although they must be well accustomed to it, never lose patience, and are exceedingly entertained at the impatience exhibited by foreigners. The wrestlers first sprinkle some gains of rice and drops of water about the arena to propitiate the god of gladiators; they then slightly moisten their shoulders, arms, and legs, rub some sand violently between their hands, execute a few grotesque movements, probably to test the suppleness of their limbs, and finish by taking up their station opposite each other in the centre of the arena, in the attitude of men gathering all their powers for the ensuing tussle.
    "Upon a given signal, the two men with a harsh cry rushed at each other, each striving to floor his adversary. The shock must have been terrible, for the sound of it echoed throughout the circus, and the combatants were instantly covered in blood. The blow had, however, been so skilfully calculated with the effect was in a degree neutralised, and the two men rebounded from each other as if they had been two inset masses of equal weight, which had been hurled the one against the other with corresponding velocity. They immediately returned to the charge, each trying to surpass the other in the strength of his blows, and both labouring their utmost to remain sole master of the arena.
    "After several fruitless attempts they renounced this mode of conflict, and engaged in a regular hand-to-hand struggle, amidst immense applause from the audience, who watches every movement with feverish excitement. And indeed it was a stirring sight to see these two naked, colossal-like men grappled closely together in one mighty embrace, shoulder to shoulder, breast to breast, their arms intertwined, their legs planted will apart, and each sustaining without flinching the enormous weight resting upon him. Their limbs stiffened and their muscles swelled fearfully; but neither gave a sign of yielding, until suddenly one of them seized his adversary by the waist with one arm , held him suspended in the air, and then, with an immense effort, hurled him outside the arena, where he lay amidst the group of other wrestlers, who, like the audience, closely scrutinise the various vicissitudes of the combat. Breathless, staggering, and streaming with perspiration, the victor advanced to the middle of the arena, raised his arms in a salute, and retired amidst long-continued applause."
    Even though the principal object of the Japanese wrestler seems contrary to all out notions of the fitness of things to choose for this purpose such enormous masses of human stoutness. It utterly upsets all our notions as regards muscular training in this country. In the days, not long past, when the Ring was a legitimate national pastime in England, it was abundantly proved that mere size had but little to do in deciding the issue of any hand-to-hand encounter. Wrestling is but a form of athletics, and in all athletic sports it is universally admitted, among those best able to judge, that well-trained muscles and an average build will come off the victor against the most ponderous specimen of human flesh and blood that can be brought forward. Indeed we are only repeating a truism when we say that, with us, great bulk is a positive drawback in physical contests. How comes it, then, that one rule holds with us and another in Japan? Is mere fat among Orientals capable of putting forth a power with which it is not endowed in these land of the West? We cannot believe such an absurdity, and we are therefore brought to the conclusion that the national tastes and feeling of the Japanese serve to account for this singular discrepancy. They are a vain-glorious and boastful people, taking an extravagant delight in the fancied superiority over all other peoples on the face of the earth. With a trace of primitive barbarism which their civilization has not been able to eradicate, they unconsciously associate mere size with power. Nothing can give them greater pleasure than to believe that the Japanese are a race of giants. A small, spare man, however muscular and vigorous, would therefore fail to "take" in the same way as a gigantic, overgrown monster. And the men being all of this latter type, the mode of wrestling is modified by common consent to suit the motions of such organisms. Such seems he only rational reconciliation of the typical Japanese wrestler with our conception of physical culture. The Japanese athletes, or Soumos, as they are called, form a peculiar class, and enjoy a certain consideration. The middle classes are very proud to be seen in their company, and invite them to their houses; even the nobles do not disdain their acquaintance. There are different orders of these wrestlers. The champion of each is also the head, and, like the heroes of our own prize ring, wears a belt, which he fastens round his waist. It is usually the gift of the lord of his native province, and he takes every opportunity of wearing it, rarely appearing without it, except when actually engaged in conflict.
    Wrestling, as a profession, is not practised indiscriminately. Every professional must be incorporated with some society, and is obliged to be content with whatever salary is accorded him. The chief helps himself liberally from the profits of their entertainments. He nevertheless, is not absolute master of the company, but is, in his turn, under the authority of the king of the wrestlers, who presides over the principal society at Yedo or Rioto, and to whom he pays an annual tribute. The chiefs of these societies hold the rank of officers, and wear two swords, the sign of nobility. They travel continually through the various provinces, sojourning in the principal towns during a period fixed by the Emperor. They amass immense sums, for the Japanese are enthusiastic lovers of their art.