The Japan Sumo Association holds tournaments every other month and each tournament lasts for 15 days. Each sumo wrestler must fight a match everyday during the tournament otherwise it’s considered a loss. There are six ranking divisions; Makuuchi, Jūryō, Makushita, Sandanme, Jonidan, and Jonokuchi. Furthermore, there are five rankings within the top Makuuchi division; Yokozuna, Ōzeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi, and Maegashira. After each tournament, a wrestler’s ranking will be revised based on their result except for Yokozuna. Once a wrestler becomes a Yokozuna, he will never be demoted. But Yokozuna are expected to be the top sumo wrestlers and it is disgraceful and dishonorable if one does not achieve good records for several tournaments. Usually a Yokozuna will retire when he starts failing to win or even to be included in championship matches. Please click here for details on sumo.
In Japan, traditional dolls are called ningyō, but contemporary dolls are called dolls. These dolls are gaining popularity nowadays. They are made with cast resin and their joints are spherical so that you can move their body parts. Doll sizes are usually about 40-60cm (15-24 inches). There are custom made dolls, anime character dolls, and dolls called one-off models, etc. The one-off models are unique and are usually sold by lottery. They often cost more than one thousand dollars.
This doll is a one-off model and was sold by auction at a charity event for about $60,000.
There are many fans of anime, novels, movies, artists, singers, actors, celebrities, sports teams, etc. These fans support what or who they love in many ways. Collecting subject-related consumer goods, and attending special events are the most common fan activities. These commercialized events are usually just fan activities, but sometimes fans help to support a social cause. For example, many fans have volunteered to clean and rebuild an old structure (a swimming pool, garden, park, monument, etc.) which was featured in a story, or happens to look similar to a scene from a movie. Fans may also support the area where a celebrity comes from. There are people who donate money as a fan activity so that professionals can repair things like old swords and statues. There are even young fans who move to the location where a story took place even though it may lie deep in the countryside where mostly only old people live. Traditional Japanese culture may not be so popular among the young, but it is becoming common for young fans to gain an interest in it because of a movie or the influence of a celebrity. Fan activities like these help to keep Japan’s traditional culture alive.
Gokusaishiki Umeiro Komachi Ezu (極彩色梅匂小町絵図) is the title of a fusuma painting by contemporary painter Daruma Shōten (だるま商店) in 2009. The life of the mysterious poet, Ono no Komachi is depicted in this painting. You can see it in Zuishin-In temple (随心院) in Kyoto. This temple is believed to be related to Ono no Komachi.
Ono no Komachi (小野小町) is a Japanese female poet from the 9th century. There are no pictures or sculptures of her, but she was believed to be the most beautiful woman in Japan. She is described as having been as beautiful as Cleopatra. In contrast to the popularity of her poems, we know almost nothing about her life, such as her birthday, birth place, her family, where she lived, the date of her death, etc.
If you go to a Shinto shrine, there may be a bridge over a pond or a stream. It is said that water can purify your body and mind when you cross it, the same as using a chōzuya. Using chōzuya is a good respectful gesture, but it may still be off-limits due to the COVID pandemic. Crossing a bridge is another way to enjoy your visit and feel the sacred energy.
Natural whetstones are very precious. Yōzō Tsuchihashi (土橋要造) is the last miner / artisan family still producing natural whetstones in Japan. Mining whetstone is dangerous to one’s health. In fact Yōzō’s father died from pneumoconiosis. Once artificial whetstones became available, most natural whetstone mining was discontinued. But traditional Japanese cutting implements, including swords, and wood-working tools such as those used to produce Buddhist statues require delicate sharpening techniques that are best obtained using natural whetstone. Artificial whetstones cannot meet this refined standard of work. Mining whetstone is a tough job, but Yōzō says he wants to continue working as long as possible.
Omiwatari is a natural phenomenon that occurs on lakes such as Lake Suwa. In winter the entire lake surface freezes, and, due to the temperature change, the volume of the surface ice changes. When the volume increases, sections of the ice push against each other. When the volume decreases, the ice sections pull apart. This causes the ice to make noise, crack and rise, forming what is called a; pressure ridge. In Lake Suwa, these pressure ridges form a path that can extend for several miles. Japanese people call it Omiwatari or “God’s Crossing” instead of a pressure ridge… it’s romantic, isn’t it? Unfortunately, because of global warming, it’s getting harder and harder to see one.
Japanese Snow Monkeys bathing in hot springs are probably well-known around the world, but it was not known that these monkeys could catch fish. Footage of this behavior was broadcast on a Japanese TV show in July 2022, and in November of that year, it was published in the international scientific journal Scientific Reports, shocking the world.
Sanjūrō is a cat that was found inside Matsuyama Castle (備中松山城). He stayed in the castle and became popular among visitors. There was an incident when he went missing, but he was found and brought back to the castle safely. Afterwards he officially became the lord cat of the castle (猫城主).
