Wrestling is, par excellence, the national sport of Japan, occupying status similar to cricket in Great Britain and baseball in America. In the wrestling seasons,  which occur every January and May, crowds of all classes in Japan flock to the enormous amphitheater to witness the feats of physical strength performed by their favorite wrestlers and to patronize the national sport.
    Japanese wrestling is so indigenous as to be unlike that of any other country. Western wrestling is more like what the Japanese call judo, in which the contestants may fall and struggle on the ground for mastery, the victor coming out of the match on top, but in wrestling neither of the contestants may fall nor in any way come in contact with the ground without thereby suffering defeat. The experts in judo were usually great samurai, but wrestlers come from any class able to produce heavy physique.
    Tradition relates that in the reign of the Emperor Sujin (536 A.D.) one No-mi-no-Sukune, a man of Izumo, entered into a wrestling match with a man named Tama-no-Kehaya, of Yamato, in which the latter was not only worsted, but killed by a kick. The fatality no doubt did something to humanize the sport, for kicking is now not permitted.
    In the days of the Emperor Momonu (757 A.D.) holidays were set apart for wrestling, the Emperor honoring the occasion with his presence. The wrestling meets drew contestants from all parts of the Empire and were somewhat on a par with the Olympic games of Greece. As a result of these contests champions naturally arose, called hote, the second in honor being termed wakite. These imperial wrestlers, unlike those of today, wore a kind of hunting jacket called karigiru, with short pants and a high cap. It is said that the Emperor enjoyed the sport sufficiently to witness some 15 matches in a single day.
    Wrestling from this time was all the rage as a sport down to the year 897, after which the imperial house ceased to be so much attracted by it, when it began to decline, not being revived again until the time of the Emperor Gotoba in 1185. As an evidence of the degree to which the sport had gone out of fashion, it may be mentioned that when the Gotoba wished to have a wrestling contest umpires could not be found in Kyoto, the capital, and the only one left in the empire, one Yoshida Iyetsuzs, of Echizen, had to be sent for; and from that time the right of conducting the ceremonial pertaining to wrestling matches was conferred on the family of Yoshida by imperial favor, under the title of Oikaze.
    The increasing number of wrestlers formed themselves into a corporation, with branches or guilds, all over the empire, those in Oski and Tokyo being always the more prominent. At present the Tokyo wrestlers are regarded as superior to all others in Japan. The wrestlers' guild divides its members into two camps called the eastern and western camps, and out of these some 20 or 40 of superior dexterity are selected for the public contests and given a position above the less skillful. These first-class wrestlers are known as Maku-no-uchi or men within the curtain, and the champion among them is called the Ozeki, with the Sekiwaki as second. The champion wrestlers of both the eastern camps, after some 10 years of steady achievement, are raised to the position of Yokozuna or champion belted men, this honor being conferred by the house of Yoshida.
    These wrestlers of the eastern and western camps meet every January and May in the largest amphitheater in Japan, the Kokugikan in Tokyo and test their muscles for ten consecutive days. The gyoji, or umpires, decide the contests, and in case of double there is a court of appeal consisting of toshiyori or elders, made up from superannuated wrestlers of belted status. Wrestlers who gain successive victories are in time accorded the honor of ozeki, while those who repeatedly fall are turned down and put without the curtain.
    The great amphitheater at Ryogoku, Tokyo, capable of accommodating 13,000 spectators is open in the season from 5 a.m. until 5 in the afternoon. Thither thousands crowd, and during the tournaments the applause of so enormous a multitude is something not to be heard in any other country. The more enthusiastic become almost frantic over the exploits of their favorite wrestlers, while those who see their heroes suffering defeat pray for a return of luck.
    In the center of the vast arena is a booth, canopied by a tent-like structure on four pillars, under which is a ring, inside of which the wrestlers meet to try their strength. Around this arena circle are four galleries thronged with the excited multitude. Within a square of 28 feet is described the wrestling ring, all covered with soft sand. From the eastern and western sides contestants appear at the call of the umpire. The latter, holding aloft his war fan (karauchiwa), takes his position in a somewhat dramatic manner. By the side of the four pillars supporting the canopy are seated four elderly wrestlers as tribunes.
    A speller now announces the names of the two men about to close upon each other. Then the huge bodies of the veterans appear moving slowly toward the ring. Their great muscles stand out on their heavy limbs like mountain ranges, and their bodies are naked with the exception of the loin cloth and the wrestling belt. They enter the dohyo, or ring, and the umpire, in his green kimono and eboshi, lifts on high the fan and orders them to "eye each other." As they prepare to do so they place their hands on their legs just above the knees, stamp from one foot to the other in a dramatic way, stooping and facing each other for a moment, when one of both is seized with the passion for attack but if one seizes without the other being ready, they must begin over again. It often takes what seems a long time for both to have the spirit of attack at the same time. Before assuming position the combatants stretch out their arms horizontally and bring their hands together with a loud clap. This is to show that the hands contain no weapon.
    Every move of the struggle is now watched carefully by the umpire, and all fouling is prevented. The contestants strive to take hold of the belt. One of them succeeds and then tries to prevent the other from succeeding. When both get the belt firmly in the hands there is a terrific trial of physical strength to see which can lift or push the other outside the ring. As soon as either of them touch the ground with any part of the body except the feet, or is put outside the ring, the umpire declares the decision. If their strength appear equal he calls a "draw." If both should fall together, so that the result seems doubtful, the umpire calls azukari, decision reserved. The aid of the four tribunes beside the pillars is now called in.
    Of the 48 "dodges" admitted in the sport, four are regarded as fundamental to the art of wrestling - nage, to throw; kake, to trip; hineri, to twist, and sori, to lift up. In practice, however, it is said that no less than 200 different tricks have been noticed among wrestlers.
    One of the most peculiar tricks witnessed by the writer at a great contest, when the Imperial Crown Prince was present, was that of a very fat wrestler in jumping up like a goat and butting his opponent on the breast with his head, and then, having started him going backward, to push him outside the ring with his hands. Another wrestler put his hand under the chin of a giant and hurried him outside the ring.
    The champion Hitachiyama appeared to take the match he entered into in a calm and indifferent manner. He allowed his opponent to seize him and was simply content to lean his heavy body against him and keep him struggling till he began to blow, when the champion embraced him and lifted him outside the ring in a manner so quick and simple that one could hardly see how it was done.
    The wrestling goes on till about 2 o'clock, when there is an intermission. At this time all the first-class wrestlers perform a peculiar ceremony by marching into the arena with their professional aprons on, turning to the north and clapping their hands, stamping their feet and bowing to the guests of honor. Last of all comes the champion with a wrestler before him and one behind as attendants, the one behind holding an upright sword. After the yokozuna wrestlers have gone through this ceremony all the others come in wearing their ornamental aprons and do likewise. These, ornamental aprons are gorgeous in the extreme, embroidered in heavy silk and costing some hundreds of yen even for the cheapest. Some of the wrestlers have to buy them, but favorites have them presented by patrons and friends.
    All professional wrestlers are known under assumed names, those selected usually having preference to place of birth or some favorite scene in nature. For example, the greatest wrestler in Japan is called Hitachiyama, mountain of Hitachi; another is called Komagatake, after one of the great mountain peaks of the empire; another has taken the name of Tachiyama, or sword mountain, while the champion of the eastern camp, Umegatani; is Plum Valley.