Begin Japanology
Season 6 Episode 1 - Sumo
Sumo is often called Japan's national sport. Wrestlers, naked except for a special loincloth, face off, smash into each other, and battle for victory. Sumo is both a martial art and a highly stylized slice of traditional Japanese culture, with its own codes of appearance and conduct. Sumo originated centuries ago as a test of strength. It evolved over time into a harvest divination ritual. And in the 18th century, it developed into a popular form of mass entertainment. Sumo is more than just the "grand sumo" contested by professional wrestlers. Youth sumo toughens young minds and bodies, and there is women's sumo too. In recent years, a growing number of foreign wrestlers have internationalized sumo. Sumo is widely enjoyed in Japan, regardless of age or gender. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is sumo. We examine the deep appeal of a sport that dates back over 1,500 years.
Episodes in Season 6
Sumo
28 min
Bathroom Scales
28 min
Enka
28 min
Small Factories
28 min
Japanophiles - Azby Brown
28 min
Japanophiles - Ernst Seiler
28 min
Japanophiles - Yasokichi Konishiki
28 min
Ume Plums
28 min
Storehouses
28 min
Wagyu
28 min
Uniforms
28 min
Rice Cookers
28 min
Burial Mounds
28 min
Stationery
28 min
Bread
28 min
Pine Trees
28 min
Parcel Delivery
28 min
Pro Wrestling
28 min
Strawberries
28 min
Calculators
28 min
Television
28 min
Lake Biwa
28 min
Expressways
28 min
Beer
28 min
Japanophiles - Mike Harris
28 min
Japanophiles - Karl Bengs
28 min
Japanophiles - Kenny Omega
28 min
Shakuhachi
28 min
Convenience Stores
28 min
Used Books
28 min
Women's Nylons
28 min
Remote Islands
28 min
Characters and Mascots
28 min
Grapes
28 min
Makeup
28 min
Ukiyo-e
28 min
Buses
28 min
Parties and Gatherings
28 min
Conveyor Belt Sushi
28 min
Pets
28 min
