The unearthly hour of 2 a.m. marked the opening today of the 15-day professional Sumo (Japanese style wrestling) tournament at the Kokugikan bowl at Ryogoku.
    The gates were thrown open at 5 p.m. Wednesday and at 10 p.m. the boxes in the pit, seating 4,800 persons, were filled up. It is a case of first come, first served at one price of 50 sen on the opening day, and there naturally is a battle to get seats in the boxes, which are bought year after year by the same patrons and are good from the second day to the end of the tournament. These boxes presented a novel sight this morning with people of all walks of life, many of them employees in the wartime industries, packed like sardines in them and taking in the bouts of the future champions.
    Among the thousands that trekked their way into the bowl since Wednesday night to remain there all day today up to about 7:30 p.m., with the intention of seeing Grand Champion Futabayama performing in the day's final bout were a large number of women. The cold weather didn't stop them.
    Near 2 a.m., the bowl, which accommodates some 20,000 persons, had been virtually filled up and the moguls decided on starting the tournament. Two youngsters, Ourayama and Asamifuji, had the honor of participating in the first bout. The chap with the fancier name, Asamifuji, which might mean “looking at Mt. Fuji in the morning, smashed his opponent out of the ring for a convincing victory.
    Interest is said to be at a higher pitch this year with the revival of the East versus West system after nine years. A battle royal is expected until the final day for the championship honors. Grand Champions Futabayama and Minanogawa are leaders of the East and West sides respectively.
    Highest individual honors are expected to go to Futabayama, who went through the last tournament in May last year, when the 13-day schedule was extended to 15 days, without a defeat.