The Korakuen baseball stadium in Koishikawa-ku, Tokyo this morning became the setting of spectacular Sumo bouts with the start of the 10 day summer tournament, beginning at noon each day.
    As in the past, the tournament is expected to draw record crowds with the East and West camps, captained by Haguroyama and Terukuni, respectively, battling for honors and team points.
    This is the first time in 36 years that the main professional Sumo tournament is being held outdoors instead of at the Kokugikan amphitheater in Ryogoku. Accordingly the Dai Nippon Sumo Association started construction on a special outdoor ring on May 1, which was completed Friday afternoon. The bouts will be canceled in case of rain.
    The East team under Haguroyama will be bolstered by Futabayama Yokozuna or Grand Champion, while the West team will have besides Terukuni, another Yokozuna in Akinoumi. It will be recalled that in the last tourney the present East camp triumphed over the West aggregation.
    As wrestling was to the ancient Greeks and Romans, so is Sumo to Japanese sportsdom today for it is acclaimed as one of the national sports of Japan. Particularly at this time the Japanese people have been returning to the spartan mode of living and Sumo, which calls for intense spiritual and physical training draws the interest of the entire nation.
    Unlike the Greco-Roman style of wrestling where the contestants apply their favorite holds as the full Nelson, half Nelson and hammer locks on the opponents, Japanese Sumo matches are conducted on a more conservative basis, rough tactics being strictly prohibited.
    To the Japanese, this sport has been associated with martial arts from times immemorial. As a matter of fact, Sumo is recognized particularly by the Imperial Army and Navy as the proper spiritual and physical pastime for the Japanese race.
    Indeed it can be truly said that Sumo is practiced by all classes throughout the country, in every town and village as a medium of physical training and development. Wherever boys and young men gather, they invariably turn to this sport for exercise and diversion.
    Sumo is of very ancient origin, the first bout on record having taken place as early as 23 B.C. It appears to have been a regular function at the Imperial Court, the experts in the art being summoned to Kyoto, then the capital, every year from all parts of the country to wrestle for a prize.
    Today, Japanese wrestling as a sport has attained a very high stage of perfection and refinement. In the course of its development, it has seen its ups and downs in popularity but the art of wrestling has always made steady progress.
    It is true that Sumo appears to be somewhat similar to Western boxing and wrestling for at one time the method of competition was practically the same as in these two foreign sports. But now it is quite different in the manner of Starting the Match, giving the decision and in other decisions of the match.
    This is particularly true of the spiritual element has become a force to dominate, inspire and unify the realm of Sumo. Consequently, at present, professional Sumo is enjoying the highest public favor more than any time in its history since it adheres to the time honored spirit of sumo as a national sport, and makes efforts to work out its destiny on that basis.
    An in the past, the hour which will bring the greatest excitement is mid-afternoon when the champions and near champions enter the ring for their matches. Toward the closing days of the tourney, the undefeated and favorites will be pitted against ano another and the outcome will hold the interest of the entire nation.