Chicago Daily Tribune, Sunday 11th July 1948 (Part 3 page 2)

NISEI GRUNT AND GROAN MEN GET PUSHED AROUND

    The ancient art of Japanese wrestling, sumo, will be demonstrated from 2 to 8 p.m. today in the large yard behind the home of Koichi Matsumoto, 3949 Lake Park av.
    The tournament, sponsored by the Chicago Shimpo, the only Japanese-American newspaper in the midwest, is free to the public. It is only the second to be held in this country, Ryoichi Fujii, editor, said. The first was in 1946.
    "Sumo is the Japanese national sport," Fujii said. "It is as popular in that country is baseball is in America. Futabayama, the sumo champion of Japan, is as much a national figure there as Babe Ruth is here. The art of sumo carries on traditions more than 1,000 years old."

Quit Your Shovin’

    Japanese wrestling is more matter of two contenders pushing one another around. The moment the body of one touches the ground even slightly he is declared defeated.
    A referee, clad in traditional garments and hat reminiscent of a Shinto priest, keeps a close watch in the do-hyo, our equivalent of the ring.
    The colorful setting of the do-hyo is filled with Japanese symbolism. The ring itself is a slightly elevated 13 foot circle over which is a canopy, vestige of the days when sumo meets were sponsored under temple roofs by Buddhist and Shinto priests to help perhaps with financing of a new shrine or temple.

Ritual Is Elaborate

    Four poles, which have strips of clean white paper streaming from them, are set around the ring. Near two of the poles sit two judges, face to face. They usually are former champions now retired, Fujii explained.
    On another pole is a small boll of salt. When the contestants come into the do-hyo, each picks up a bit of salt and spreads it on the arena. This traditional ritual, followed since the 6th century, 18 symbolic of purification of the ring.
    On the fourth pole is hung a pail of clean water some of which the player uses to rinse his mouth.

They Charge - Eventually

    The wrestlers warm up by lifting their legs high in the air and driving them onto the ground. They greet each other with much polite bowing and sucking of breath which is the quintessence of courtesy, and finally are ready to start getting ready to start.
    The fighters, crouched and taut, wait for the psychological moment (sometimes as long as 12 minutes) and then charge each other. If all goes right, the knockout round is at hand already, and the fight may be all over before the audience has time for a good hiss. Perhaps one throws the other so he touches the ground, or perhaps he merely pushes him out of the ring. Most matches are over in a matter of seconds.
    Approximately 75 wrestlers will participate in today's tournament under general supervision of Torao Hikaka, an experienced sumoist. The fighters have been trained by Hideki Miyamoto, 4753 Lake Park av., and Ryoichi Horibe, 5311 Blackstone av.