Kotozakura, new sumo star, this may be a detail for you…

Wrestler king

This is happening in Japan, of course, in Fukuoka, in the west of the country. At the end of fifteen days of wrestling, sumotori Kotozakura won, at the age of 27, on November 24, his first major trophy, the Grand Sumo Tournament. He racked up 14 victories and conceded only one defeat. At the end of the celebrations, he was able to joyfully celebrate his triumph, surrounded by the organizers of the event and weighed down with a trophy which will remind all football fans of another. These two large handles obviously evoke the “cup with big ears” reserved for the winner of the Champions League.

Missing bun

Speaking of cutting, note that Kotozakura sports a sort of bun here, or bun. This is the traditional chonmage, which originally allowed samurai to stabilize their helmet on their skull. Its function today is mainly symbolic. Cut the chonmage has become the flagship ritual of retirement. During a well-choreographed ceremony, the dignitaries and members of the wrestler's entourage are invited to each take a lock of his chonmage, the last of them going to his trainer… But, despite a nine-year-long career, Kotozakura is not there yet. Many sumo wrestlers stop between 30 and 35 years old.

Mawashi aguerri

In addition to its chonmage, Kotozakura wears the traditional mawashi, a strip of fabric, 6 to 8 meters long and weighing more than 4 kilos, which surrounds the pelvis in very tight loops and is tied in the back, at the level of the lower back. White or gray among amateurs, the mawashi is always brightly colored among professional fighters, who accessorize it with a decorative apron of rigid cords, like the one hanging here between the legs of the champion. In this regard, know this: if a fighter loses his mawashi during the fight he is automatically disqualified.

La base du blazer

To the right of the wrestler, the man who is jubilant is more amply dressed. In particular, he wears a navy blazer, forcing us to make a fundamental reminder of the law: despite an undeniable resemblance, a blazer is not a suit jacket. Generally more textured, often decorated with patch pockets and necessarily equipped with shank buttons contrasting with the fabric, the blazer has the particularity of absolutely having to be worn with pants of another color. It's quite simple, even basic, but, judging by the gentleman's outfit, it was worth remembering.

sumo theory

Finally, note the presence of several women in the group posing in this photo. Anecdotal? On the contrary. The discipline does not shine with its spirit of openness and inclusiveness. Thus, access to dohyo, the combat platform, is still forbidden to women, according to an ancient tradition considering blood as a stain and effectively excluding women for their menstruation. In 2007, when, for the first time in the history of professional sumo, a spectator attempted to enter the arena, a wrestler rushed to forcefully block her access.