Go!Central Japan × Centrip JapanStep on to the JR Shinkansen
and Back in Time on the Tokaido

Moving west along the Tokaido, we leave Totoumi (Shizuoka) for the former fiefdom of Owari (now Aichi Prefecture). The largest city in Aichi is Nagoya. Nagoya is the fourth largest city in Japan and one of the four major cities that plays host to the major sumo wrestling tournaments here, the others being Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. While Japan's sumo wrestling association tours the country each season, there are a handful of major tournaments held each year, one of which is held in Nagoya in July.

Sumo wrestling is known around the world and has its roots in Shinto [Japan's native religion]. Sumo matches began as part of Shinto rituals and even the canopy that sits over top of the sumo ring resembles a Shinto shrine. The match official dresses similarly to that of a Shinto priest and the pre-match salt throwing is connected to the Shinto practice of purification using salt.

The life of a sumo wrestler is an interesting one. Your rank as a wrestler affects your life greatly. Highly ranked sumo wrestlers get more pay, nicer closer, private quarters at training facilities, and they have their own fan clubs. If you're interested in a sumo-themed souvenir, you can pick up a tegata, a handprint by a sumo wrestler.

If you're interested in how the wrestlers get ready for the matches, it's worth checking out the tours offered by the training facilities to see the wrestlers doing their morning workouts. Since the Nagoya tournament takes place in July, these morning tours are available only in June and July. Check out the link below to make a reservation to watch a sumo training session.

You can see the Nagoya Sumo Tournament in July each year. Individual tickets can be purchased as well as more expensive box seats that fit up to four people. The event is held each year at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium and tickets go on sale towards the end of May.