Sumo performances in restaurants to attract tourists.

A tourist from the US, dressed in Sumo attire, attempts to push former wrestler Towanoyama in the ring at the Yokozuna Tonkatsu Dosukoi Tanaka restaurant. Photo: REUTERS

Bring laughter to everyone.

Sumo is a highly aesthetic and artistic sport in Japan. Before the 9th century, it was used in court ceremonies. By the 18th century, Sumo had developed into a form of entertainment for the people. However, the Sumo ring is purified before matches by throwing salt and the roof is designed to resemble the roof of a Shinto shrine, making it a rare opportunity to watch a Sumo match.

However, nowadays, at a restaurant in the heart of Tokyo, tourists can watch or even participate in sumo matches with wrestlers for just 11,000 yen (approximately $76). In addition, they can enjoy delicious traditional Japanese cuisine .

The story begins with a sumo wrestler named Yasuhiro Tanaka, the owner of this restaurant. Previously, he founded a company that helped former sumo wrestlers find additional work in advertising and film. In November 2022, he decided to open Yokozuna Tonkatsu Dosukoi Tanaka restaurant after Japan resumed visa-free travel .

The restaurant features a sumo wrestling ring and 14 dining tables. One of the six wrestlers performing is Koto Ohtori. After two decades of top-level sumo competition, Ohtori is delighted to once again perform this traditional martial art for tourists and witness the joyful smiles on their faces. “I can interact with people. I hope that tourists, as well as the Japanese people, will gain a better understanding of this sport,” Ohtori shared.

Tourists particularly enjoyed participating in Sumo wrestling at the Yokozuna Tonkatsu Dosukoi Tanaka restaurant. Jose Aguillar, 46, from Mexico, shared his joyful experience of enjoying this iconic Japanese sport. He got to wear a Sumo outfit and face his opponent, Jumbo, in the ring. “At first, I was quite confused and wondered why I chose to go first. But it was actually a great decision,” Aguillar said excitedly after pushing Jumbo out of the ring.

Sumo wrestling has helped the restaurant thrive to the point that Mr. Tanaka says he is looking to recruit more wrestlers for the evening shows.

Contributing to cultural preservation and promoting tourism.

In Tokyo, there's a similar restaurant called Hananoma, which transports diners back to the Edo period, a time when Sumo culture flourished. The restaurant boasts a nostalgic decor with sliding doors and a front area resembling an old Japanese house with tiled roofs and traditional woodblock prints. Inside, in the center, is a dohyo (sumo ring), resembling a stage where bands, singers, or even retired sumo wrestlers perform for the diners. Performances might include songs or drumming commonly seen in traditional sumo matches. Diners can even challenge wrestlers for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to enter the sumo ring.

Of course, in a restaurant, the most important thing is still the food. Everything in the restaurant, like the space itself, is inspired by Sumo wrestling. The most famous and sought-after dish is the "Sumo hot pot" chanko-nabe. Looking at the "giant" pot, many might be skeptical, but this is just a normal portion in the diet of Sumo wrestlers.

It can be said that restaurants like Hananomai and Tanaka are repositories of golden moments in Japanese history, contributing to the preservation of culture in the "Land of the Rising Sun." They are also part of a tourism ecosystem that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hopes will contribute 5 trillion yen to the national budget annually. In fact, the number of tourists visiting Japan this summer is estimated at 1.2 million, double the number from the same period last year.

THAI AN

Source