Figure 1.--Here we see a team of summo competitors (maku-uchi rikishi) participasting in the picturesque 'entering the ring' ceremony (doyo-iri) at a Shinto shrine. Notice the rice reeds marking out the doyo. The boys wear the elaborate aprons (kesho-mawashi). Norice they are uniform but not identical. I am not sure why one boy has a burgandy rather than a black kesho-mawashi, but notice the basic style matches the black ones. We are guessing that he is the ranking wrestler. Also notice the ritual arm gestures. Put your cursor on the image to see the boys wearing shifts.

The ritual and decorum of sumo is very formal and complex and involves elabotate costumes. We notice boys participating in summo at Shinto shirines. The ritual seem at least as important as the actual summo matches and costuming is an important part of the overall event. Mothers are there to help with the costumes. The actual summo matches involve very minimal clothing. Actual summo costumes, however, are much more elaborate. The boys wear shifts over the very elaborate costumeaprons. We are not sure whst the shifts are called. The principal item is the beautifully emroiderd silk apron (kesho-mawashi). They look very expensive for something a boy would wear for presumably rare occassions. They are made of silk, richly embroidered with different elaborate designs and hemmed with gold fringe. The ones worn by adult wresters can cost $4,000-$5,000. They are of course removed before the actual sumo wrestling matches. The kesho-mawashi worn by the boys on a team can be idebntical or at least coordinatred. The boys here have kesho-mawashi done in the same colors aand basic desigbn but with different embrodered animals. The uniform styling represents a summo club or team. Perhaps clubs have association with specific shrines. Hopefully our Japanrse readers will be able to provide some insight here. We are not sure if the boys involved are especially interested in summo or perhaps their parents are particularly devoted to Shinto. Over the kesho-mawashi the great sumo masters yokozuna wears a massive braided hemp rope tied in a bow at the back and ornamented in the front with strips of paper hanging in zigzag patterns. You do not see this here with the boys. The Japanese will recognize zigzag pattern as a well-known religious symbol. It commibly appears in Shinto shrines and in the home shrines positionesd over the "shelf" of the gods where ceremonial offering are made every New Year.

Created: 3:58 AM 4/27/2007
Last updated: 7:50 PM 6/16/2009