Clyde Newton

from dust jacket

Finally, a down-to-earth introduction to sumo that also provides the kind of intriguing, little-known facts sure to satisfy the most demanding enthusiast. Each chapter contains a wealth of practical information on the sport as we know it today and insights into its history.

It is all here, starting from the basics, including the rules of competition, daily life in a sumo stable, and the rituals that mark each transition point in a wrestler's career, from the welcoming ceremony for new recruits through the emotional hair-cutting that celebrates the retirement of those who have reached sumo's highest rank, yokozuna.

And there's much more-a concise history of every stable, an in-depth look at refereeing as a career, details on just how the ring is constructed, explanations of each of the seventy techniques that may be used to win a match. Sumo's history is treated in depth, as is the rise of several of today's most prominent wrestlers.

Striking full-color photographs illustrate the text throughout and are a pleasure in themselves. They offer close-up views of the action in the ring and rare glimplses into the stables themselves.

Whether you're a die-hard fan or an armchair spectator, Dynamic Sumo delivers a world of pageantry and oclor, and leaves you richer for the experience.

Clyde Newton is co-author, with Andy Adams, of the popular volume Sumo (Paul Hamlyn, 1989). Born in Welington, New Zealand, Newton was raised in Japan from the age of six, and received a bachelor's degree in politcal science from Sophia University in 1978. He has served as associate editor of the magazine Sumo World for fifteen years and regularly provides guest commentary on NHK's English broadcasts of sumo.

Gerald Toff has photographed sumo extensively for many years. His photographs and articles have appeared in Sumo World for the last fifteen years. He also writes on the sport in Japanese for major Japanese journals. A native of London, Toff teaches comparative culture at the Nagoya Institute of Technology and serves as a guest commentator for NHK.

Contents

Preface by Dewanoumi Tomotaka
Introduction
I What is Sumo?
An Overview
Dohyo: the sumo ring
Banzuke: the official ranking sheet
Gyoji and Shinpan: referees and judges
Honbasho: official tournaments
Dohyo-iri: the ring-entering ceremony
Shikiri: pre-bout rituals
Tachi-ai: the initial clash
Kensho: cash awards
Kokugikan: the sumo arena
II Beauty and Tradition
The Beauty of sumo
Mage: The rikishi's topknot
Keshomawashi: Colorful, decorative aprons
Yokozuna Dohyo-iri: the yokozuna ring-entering ceremony
Mawashi: the rikishi's belt
Shozoku: the referee's costume
Yumitori-shiki: the bow-twirling ceremony
The history of sumo
The earliest days
The rise of the first great rikishi during the Edo period
The Meiji and Taisho periods (1868-1926)
The Showa period (1926-1989)
Sumo and World War II
Postwar chaos
New Heroes of the TV era
The present day
III New Legends
Sumo's Hawaiian legaacy
Akebono
Wakanohana and Takanohana
New Ozeki Takanonami and Musashimaru
New hopes
IV Power and Technique
Kimarite: Winning techniques
Matta: False starts
Kinjite: Fouls
V Daily Life
Heya: 'Stables'
Keiko: Praactice sessions at the Heya
Oyakata: Elders
Shindeshi: New recruits
Jungyo: Reagional tours
Yusho and Sansho: The championship and other prizes
Senshuraku: The final day of a tournament
Hanazumo: Special exhibition tournaments
Chanko: What the rikishi eat
Additional information
Glossary… (més)