Watching the sumo tournament, I was surprised by how overflowing it was with tradition, or at least how I perceive Japanese tradition as being. From the physical arena itself to the way matches were practiced, everything seemed steeping in “Japanese-ness.” Matches began and ended with precise rituals which extended five times the length of the face-off itself; officials wore Japanese robes and carried traditional fans and brooms; salt was thrown into the ring as a way of purifying it; and the ring itself was made entirely of sand, reminiscent of a zen garden. The audience as well seemed to participate in the tradition of it all, with many people wearing yukatas and sitting on mats eating bento.
After experiencing it myself, I can see why some people might feel the connection between sumo and Japanese identity. The practices of sumo are too connected with Japanese tradition for it to have come from somewhere else; if it weren’t Japanese, it would be practiced differently. However, I think it’s overdramatic to say that sumo would be uprooted from its Japanese foundation if it were to open its doors to foreigners more freely. As the reading mentioned, sumo has already been internationalized to some extent and remained solidly Japanese despite. Something that came to my mind as an argument against the “death of sumo by internationalization” fear are traditionally Japanese martial arts which have become globally spread. As far as I am aware, these marital arts continue to be practiced in adherence to Japanese customs despite internationalization. They have not been divorced from Japanese culture or tradition, nor been shed of their “Japanese-ness.” I imagine the same would be true of sumo. If anything, being more open to internationalization might bring more attention to sumo and keep it from dying out. It was clear just by looking at the spectators present that sumo is falling in popularity with the younger generation. Of the audience, most were either foreigners or elderly Japanese individuals. Opening up its doors could draw in a larger audience and bring sumo more into the spotlight, both widening its scope and spreading Japanese culture and tradition.
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