Girls wrestle in the Wanpaku sumo ring for the first time ever

Aug 27, 2019 | News On Japan

Aug 27, 2019 (Japan Times) - It was an historic weekend for sumo in Japan as the first-ever Wanpaku national championships for elementary school-age girls took place at Okudo Sogo Sports Center in Tokyoâ€™s Katsushika Ward on Aug. 25.

Previously, girls who had won through regional qualifying events were unable to take part in the national finals as that event is held in the Ryogoku Kokugikan â€” a venue that does not allow women onto its dohyÅ (ring.)

Girls in grades four to six competed in the day-long event which was live-streamed on YouTube with commentary from Japanese national team members Miku Yamanaka and Kon Hiyori.

All competitors fought in the same uniform: a mawashi over spandex shorts and tournament-issued T-shirt (color coded by year.) As with all Wanpaku competitions, event staff ringed the dohyÅ to ensure no hard landings on falls from the raised surface.

Another similarity with the original boysâ€™ version of the finals was the bestowing of the title of yokozuna on each gradeâ€™s winner.

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