A prospect runs the 50-meter dash as part of the “second phase” test of athleticism for undersized new recruits, held April 19 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
11:51 JST, May 15, 2024
In a form of wrestling without weight classes, there is little doubt that a sumo wrestler with a superior physique has a decisive advantage in the ring. And as such, fans get excited when they see an underpowered competitor taking on a bigger foe.
The Japan Sumo Association, facing a steady decline in the number of people seeking a career in the sport, has relaxed its physical standards for potential recruits and no longer relies solely on minimum height and weight requirements.
If a recruit does not meet the established criteria in terms of physical size, the path is no longer closed, as he can be accepted by passing a newly established test of athleticism.
Under the new system introduced in April, the athletics test is conducted as the “second stage” in the process, and one new recruit has already taken advantage of the extra opportunity. A 15-year-old scouted by stable master Hidenoyama (former ozeki Kotoshogiku) who stands only 160 centimeters, passed with flying colors.
“Becoming a pro sumo wrestler has been my dream since I was a child,” said the happy boy about his first steps in the sumo world. “It was before the new system was introduced, and I drank a liter of milk every day in the hope of growing a little bigger.”
Actually, in the past there was a similar test for athleticism that was applied to those who did not meet the height requirement. This test was used from 2001 to 2012 and was called the ‘second test’ and set a lower standard for body size than the normal screening.
It hasn’t lifted restrictions like the recent change does, but it has led to the emergence of a large number of popular wrestlers.
One who particularly stands out from this group is former sekiwake Toyonoshima, who has since left Sumo to make his way in the entertainment world. With a frame of just under 170 centimeters, he put his head like a battering ram on the jump-off and forced his opponent out or set up a throw.
It worked well enough to make him the winner of one of the three post-tournament prizes ten times during his career, making him one of the best sekiwake of all time. He came close to winning the title at the 2010 Kyushu Tournament, but lost in a championship play-off with the legendary Yokozuna Hakuho.
As I watched the new recruits undergo this year’s physical exam, I was reminded of what Toyonoshima once said: “I want to be the target for children of small stature to shoot for.”
The new system has widened the door to the sumo world, and perhaps we will see a second, or even a third, pass through Toyonoshima. And they will all arrive with big dreams.
— Kamimura is a sumo expert.
