History Main / SumoWrestling

Contrary to popular belief, actual sumo techniques and training regimes are far more complex than it looks, as the open nature of the ruleset allows for more or less all wrestling moves and standing Judo techniques, including those grabbing the opponent's loincloth (which is called ''mawashi'') for leverage. It also contains a rudimentary form of striking, as palm or forearm blows are legal, so knockouts do happen from time to time, but are rare because [[MadeOfIron most Rikishi are more than ready to leave the ring a little roughed up]]. Most notably, although there are minimum height and weight requirements, there are no weight divisions, meaning DavidVersusGoliath is an everyday scenario and a big factor on victory. Sumo wrestlers are called ''sumotori'' or ''rikishi'', and after a certain level they compete under a ''shikona'', a ring name formed by a given name (usually theirs, if they are native, or a Japanese traditional name if they are foreigners) and a surname with a [[MeaningfulName meaningful]], often poetically powerful composition (for instance, famous champion Asashoryu's means "Morning Blue Dragon", or Wakatakakage's ''shikona'' meaning "Young Eagle Shadow").

* ''Manga/AahHarimanada'' is one of the earliest manga and anime series dedicated to the subject, starring a polarizing new yokuzuna (both in universe and out) who fashions himself as something of a wrestling heel, acting out as rebelliously and arrogantly as possible, while declaring if he loses even once before surpassing the real life legend Futabayama's 69-win streak, he will immediately retire from sumo.

* ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' features actual Sumo fighters (in some translations "Assault Ninjas") as EliteMooks, being noticeably bigger than most mooks and able to perform surprisingly deadly attacks on players, including a charge of palm strikes, powerful stomps and grabs, which can make them a pain to deal with if you're already busy fighting other enemies. In the second game you can hire them as Bodyguards, all carrying the names of famous Sumo wrestlers of old such as Mataichiro Namasue, who was said to be admired by UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga himself.

Contrary to popular belief, actual sumo techniques and training regimes are far more complex than it looks, as the open nature of the ruleset allows for more or less all wrestling moves and standing Judo techniques, including those grabbing the opponent's loincloth (which is called ''mawashi'') for leverage. It also contains a rudimentary form of striking, as palm or forearm blows are legal, so knockouts do happen from time to time, but are rare because [[MadeOfIron most Rikishi are more than ready to leave the ring a little roughed up]]. Most notably, although there are minimum height and weight requirements, there are no weight divisions, meaning DavidVersusGoliath is an everyday scenario and a big factor on victory. Sumo wrestlers are called ''sumotori'' or ''rikishi'', and after a certain level they compete under a ''shikona'', a ring name formed by a given name (usually theirs, if they are native, or a Japanese traditional name if they are foreigners) and a surname with a [[MeaningfulName meaningful]], often poetically powerful composition (for instance, famous champion Asashoryu's means "Morning Blue Dragon").

The sport is OlderThanTheyThink, with the current ruleset having undergone very little adjustment since the Edo period, and the bout before the emperor in 23BC between one Nomi no Sukune and one Taira no Kehaya is considered the UrExample of a "sumo" bout on record, though it was radically different from today's sumo (indeed, before the Sengoku period, "sumo" was instead known as ''Kakuriki''); No holds were barred, all techniques save for biting were allowed and fights were occasionally fought to the death. Nomi no Sukune [[FinishingStomp supposedly crushed Kehaya's spine and killed him with a stomp]].

Fictional sumo can be BigFun guys or {{Fat Bastard}}s, depending on their place on the moral spectrum, and tend to be {{Big Eater}}s. Almost always Japanese, much like real ones, although a few Brazilian, European, Slavic, Pacific Islander and later Mongolian wrestlers exist.[[note]]The top of the field as of this writing is often dominated by Mongolians, and has been for a few years now; there are a handful of Caucasian rikishi and they tend to be Eastern European where folk wrestling is still popular, with former Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu noteworthy as the first Caucasian rikishi to become an elder and open his own stable.[[/note]] Tend to have their hair tied in topknots and rarely wear much other than a pair of shorts and sandals. Of course, real ones wear other garments when not competing or training.

Fictional sumo can be BigFun guys or {{Fat Bastard}}s, depending on their place on the moral spectrum, and tend to be {{Big Eater}}s. Almost always Japanese, much like real ones, although a few Brazilian and later Mongolian sumos exist.[[note]]The top of the field as of this writing is ''entirely'' Mongolian, and has been for a few years now; there are a handful of Caucasian rikishi and they tend to be Eastern European where folk wrestling is still popular, with former Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu noteworthy as the first Caucasian rikishi to become an elder and open his own stable.[[/note]] Tend to have their hair tied in topknots and rarely wear much other than a pair of shorts and sandals. Of course, real ones wear other garments when not competing or training.

The sport is OlderThanTheyThink, dating back many centuries.

* ''VideoGame/MysticalFighter'' have sumo wrestlers as mooks in several stages

* ''VideoGane/NinjaCommando'' have a pair of sumo wrestlers as a DualBoss. They're both surprisingly {{acrofatic}} and soaks up a lot of your projectile attacks before dying.

Contrary to popular belief, actual sumo techniques and training regimes are far more complex than it looks, as the open nature of the ruleset allows for more or less all wrestling moves, including those grabbing the opponent's loincloth (which is called ''mawashi''). It also contains a rudimentary form of striking, as palm or forearm blows are legal, so knockouts do happen from time to time, but are rare because [[MadeOfIron most Rikishi are more than ready to leave the ring a little roughed up]]. Most notably, although there are minimum height and weight requirements, there are no weight divisions, meaning DavidVersusGoliath is an everyday scenario and a big factor on victory. Sumo wrestlers are called ''sumotori'' or ''rikishi'', and after a certain level they compete under a ''shikona'', a ring name formed by a given name (usually theirs, if they are native, or a Japanese traditional name if they are foreigners) and a surname with a [[MeaningfulName meaningful]], often poetically powerful composition (for instance, famous champion Asashoryu's means "Morning Blue Dragon").

Contrary to popular belief, actual sumo techniques and training regimes are far more complex than it looks, as the open nature of the ruleset allows for more or less all wrestling moves, including those grabbing the opponent's loincloth (which is called ''mawashi''). It also contains a rudimentary form of striking, as palm or forearm blows are legal, so knockouts do happen from time to time, but are rare because [[MadeOfIron most Rikishi are more than ready to leave the ring a little roughed up]]. Most notably, although there are minimum height and weight requirements, there are no weight divisions, meaning DavidVersusGoliath is an everyday scenario and a big factor on victory. Sumo wrestlers are called ''sumotori'' or ''rikishi'', and after a certain level they compete under a ''shikona'', a ring name formed by a given name (usually theirs, if they are native, or a Japanese traditional name if they are foreigners) and a surname with a [[MeaningfulName meaningful]], often [[AwesomeMcCoolName poetically powerful]] composition (for instance, famous champion Asashoryu's means "Morning Bue Dragon").

Believe it or not, sumo wrestlers were not always fat. Older sumo wrestlers, while large, were [[https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/the-skinny-sumo-wrestlers-of-Japan far leaner with more traditionally athletic builds]]. This began to change around the 80's, when heavier wrestlers became the norm due to their weight making them harder to throw and their fat and mass making them more resilient to impact. Even modern sumo wrestlers are less fat than they appear. Most sumo wrestlers only have around 15-20% body fat[[note]]While not impressive for most professional athletes, this is actually considered fit to average for men by the American Council on Exercise.[[/note]] and under that outer layer of blubber is [[HeroicBuild an astoundingly muscular physique.]]

Fictional sumo can be BigFun guys or {{Fat Bastard}}s, depending on their place on the moral spectrum, and tend to be {{Big Eater}}s. Almost always Japanese, much like real ones, although a few Brazilian and later Mongolian sumos exist[[note]]The top of the field as of this writing is ''entirely'' Mongolian, and has been for a few years now; there are a handful of Caucasian rikishi and they tend to be Eastern European where folk wrestling is still popular, with former Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu noteworthy as the first Caucasian rikishi to become an elder and open his own stable.[[/note]]. Tend to have their hair tied in topknots and rarely wear much other than a pair of shorts and sandals. Of course, real ones wear other garments when not competing or training.

Believe it or not, sumo wrestlers were not always fat. Older sumo wrestlers, while large, were far leaner with more traditionally athletic builds.[[note]]https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/the-skinny-sumo-wrestlers-of-Japan[[/note]] This began to change around the 80's, when heavier wrestlers became the norm due to their weight making them harder to throw and their fat and mass making them more resilient to impact. Even modern sumo wrestlers are less fat than they appear. Most sumo wrestlers only have around 15-20% body fat[[note]]While not impressive for most professional athletes, this is actually considered fit to average for men by the American Council on Exercise.[[/note]] and under that outer layer of blubber is [[HeroicBuild an astoundingly muscular physique.]]

[[folder: Film]]

* ''WesternAnimation/RugratsInParis'': There is a scene where the characters are in a restaurant being served by sumo wrestlers who sing karaoke. The rugrats mistake them for giant babies.

* Wolfman/[[ AdaptationNameChange Rikishiman]] from ''Manga/{{Kinnikuman}}'' is a Chojin based on a sumo wrestler who challenges Kinnikuman to take his place as the Chojin representative of Japan, and uses sumo-slaps in combat with great efficiency. He's however defeated by Kinnikuman in a [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame sumo match]] and DefeatEqualsFriendship ensues.

* Wolfman/[[DubNameChange Rikishiman]] from ''Manga/{{Kinnikuman}}'' is a Chojin based on a sumo wrestler who challenges Kinnikuman to take his place as the Chojin representative of Japan, and uses sumo-slaps in combat with great efficiency. He's however defeated by Kinnikuman in a [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame sumo match]] and DefeatEqualsFriendship ensues.

* The ''Series/UltramanEighty'' episode "The Mountain Sumo Boy", in which a sumo child {{youkai}} named Jihibikiran comes down to civilization to do what he must every few years -- defeat 100 opponents in sumo wrestling. HilarityEnsues, but it soon climaxes in Jihibikiran HulkingOut to a kaiju form that Ultraman 80 must placate with a good ol'-fashioned sumo match.

* ''Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun'': The Japanese tycoon Hai Fat has two statues of them on his manor grounds; when Bond comes at night on a dinner invitation, the statues are replaced with [[GiantMook real ones]] whom he has to deal with.

* The arcade ''[[VideoGame/NinjaGaidenArcade]]'': One sumo as the boss of the first stage, and two in the fourth.

* The arcade ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'': One sumo as the boss of the first stage, and two in the fourth.