Posts Tagged ‘Sumo Kyokai’
Discussing the Business of Sumo Wrestling
Sumo Wrestling is a popular competitive contact sport in Japan where a wrestler attempts to force his opponent either out of a circular ring, called the “dohyo”, or to touch the ground inside the “dohyo” with anything other than the soles of the feet. Japan is the only country where the sport is practiced professionally because Sumo is essentially a sport of deep and ancient Japanese traditions, where there are many rituals and rules that need to be strictly followed and obeyed.
Beyond its strict traditions, Sumo Wrestling is still a sport just like American football, where professionals can make a living from. Here, we’ll take a closer look at the business of the sport, specifically how it is organized, how profits are made through events and competitions, and how much money professional sumo wrestlers are making.
Organization
Also known as the Nihon Sumo Kyokai, the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) serves as the governing body of professional sumo wrestling. The members of JSA are former wrestlers, and they are the only people allowed to train new wrestlers. Wrestlers from foreign countries are very much welcomed to compete, but all professional competitions must take place only in Japanese soil.