Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday 9th November 1947 (Page 3)

Autumn Sumo Matches Underway At Meiji Bowl
By CPL. BEN -GIULIANO, Sports Writer

    A chance to witness Japan's number one traditional sport sumo, awaits all occupationers at Meiji Bowl where the autumn matches are now taking place. The days festivities, starting at 9 A.M. and over about 4 P.M., is free to all Allied Forces and reserved seats are at their disposal, The tournament is scheduled to last through the 13th of Nov.
    Introduced about 1200 years ago sumo (Japanese for wrestling) has grown into the most popular sport in Japan. Sumo promises to provide the fans who have never witnessed it before with a new and different form of wrestling, that sees balance as one of the most important factors.
    Ranging in over 23 classes, the sport is officiated by a referee and an umpire. The matches take place in a ring 15 feet in diameter, which is lined with either sandbags or straw bales. The bout is started with both wrestlers in a squatting position in the center of the canvas with the lowering of the umpires baton the go-ahead signal.

Some Judo Connected

    The battle of balance has 48 different types of falls along with some judo in it and is over just as soon as one of the entrants falls to the canvas or is thrown out of the ring.
    Classification of a wrestler is determined by the Sumo Association of Japan by his record, with classes ranging from grand champion on down. The weight of a wrestler varies from 200 to around 250 pounds.
    A mitsu belt, the only clothing used by the wrestlers, is a piece of loin cloth that is wrapped in diaper fashion.
    Entrants are paid according to their respective weight class by the association with appreciative fans also contributing.

Some Of Grand Champions

    Some of the grand champions in the present meet include, Haguroyama, one of the outstanding entrants who won the spring tournament; Terukuni, one of the youngest grand champions and Maedayama, who jumped into the coveted class as the result of his outstanding record in the last matches.
    Other entrants include: Saganohana, Azumafuji, Nayoroiwa, Shionoumi and a string of others who are waiting to show the fans Japanese wrestling at its best at Meiji Bowl.
    To reach Meiji Bowl take a Yamate Line car south from track four at Tokyo Central to Harajuku Station which is at the entrance of the gardens.