The traditional “Dohyo-matsuri” (ring festival) ceremonies to herald the opening of the annual New Year's Grand Sumo Tournament Sunday, January 10, for 15 days were observed Saturday morning at the Kuramae Kokugikan arena with the participation of tournament officials.
    At the close of the ritual, processions of drum-beating native costumed men wended through nearby streets to beckon spectators to the meet.
    The program of competitions gets underway on the first day at 7 a.m. and on the tourney's remaining days at 8.30 a.m. with preliminaries. Matches of the higher ranker contestants start at 2.30 p.m. and the main events at 5 p.m. each day.