Sumo Tournament to be held in Los Angeles for the first time in 27 years
—The perfect opportunity to enjoy traditional sumo wrestling—
The Grand Sumo tour from Japan is scheduled to take place here in Los Angeles. The Japan Sumo Association organized the Los Angeles tour of this grand sumo tournament on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena starting at 4:00PM. This tournament is the first to be scheduled in twenty-seven years.
This Los Angeles tour will showcase matches by all sumo wresters, from the elite Makuuchi division, or top-division wrestlers, to Yokozunas Asashoryu and Hakuhou, grand champions in the sumo world; a spectacular lineup appropriate only for a grand sumo tournament. Yokozunas will perform the Dohyo-iri, or the ring entrance ceremony, on both days of the tour along with “Chibikko” sumo tournaments, or matches between the wrestlers and local children. In Shokkiri, wrestlers will humorously introduce prohibited strategies, among various other events. The Los Angeles Tour has been held four times since 1952. The last tournament was held in 1981.
In anticipation of the Los Angeles Tournament, a press conference was held at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles on April 18, attended by former Yokozuna and Stable Master Musashimaru, former Ozeki (champion) and Stable Master Tochiazuma, and Stable Master Sendagawa from Japan.
“This Los Angeles tour was made possible due to high expectations towards the promotional effect from our two Yokozunas Asashoryu and Hakuhou, both well-known in California,” said Wayne Miyao, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of The Los Angeles Grand Sumo Tournament 2008.
Based on the popular Hawaii tour held last June and the Las Vegas tour in 2005, Miyao explains with passion, “The Japanese-American community is growing in California, so I anticipate excitement for this tour. I want our community members to enjoy the traditional Japanese art of sumo, and I’m glad to help make this happen.”
Shigemitsu Inohana, Chairman of the Executive Committee of The Los Angeles Grand Sumo Tournament 2008, added, “During our preparations for the Honolulu tour, we received a call from Governor Schwarzenegger, asking us if we could schedule a tournament in California. Since then, cooperation by the sumo association and numerous others made this tournament possible. I want sumo wrestling to be enjoyed by all.”
Stable Master Sendagawa said, “Sumo is an extension of our Japanese culture and heritage. The wrestlers wear their hair in the ‘chon mage’ style, which was abolished when the Edo period ended and the Meiji period began. However, the Emperor of the Meiji period wanted to preserve the Japanese psyche, and proposed to preserve the ‘chon mage’ hairstyle in the field of sumo wrestling. People say the sumo world is filled with old customs, but they are not difficult to understand or live by. These principles are basic to daily life in society: greeting others, being polite, and respecting your parents and seniors. I want our audience to witness these principles come alive behind our sumo wrestling.”
Stable Master Tochiazuma further added, “Every one of our wrestlers scheduled for the Los Angeles tour is looking forward to interacting with the audience here in Los Angeles, and having them enjoy our sumo tournament. We are looking forward to performing the best matches we can for your enjoyment, so please look forward to the tournament.”
Stable Master Musashimaru added, “America is witnessing a sumo craze. I look forward to an increase in aspiring sumo wrestlers as a result of this tour. We’re planning a spectacular tournament in June, so I want to invite everyone to come see us.”
While Sumo wrestling is the oldest sport in Japan, popularity is growing in Mongolia, Korea, Russia, Bulgaria, and here in the United States. This first grand tournament in twenty-seven years is surely one you won’t want to miss, so be sure to reserve your tickets now!
TICKET INFORMATION
Los Angeles Grand Sumo Tournament 2008
Date: Saturday, June 7 and
Sunday, June 8
Place: Los Angeles Memorial
Sports Arena
3939 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90037
Tickets: SS: (Arena Dohyo Side) $420
S: (Arena and Riser) $250
A: (Riser and 2F loge) $140
B: (Riser and 2F Loge) $80
C: (3F Concourse) $35
* The seating chart is also available online
Fore more information, please call (2130 620-9723 or visit www.sumotour.com
All photos by The Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Grand Sumo Tournament 2008