Cultures·Events

Wrestlers keeps on going in God dwelling Dohyo 〜Visit to Minato beya・the realm of Sumo〜

　When you hear a word “Sumo”, what sort of images come up to your mind?

　Just a martial art where huge wrestlers are bumping at each other—to someone who has this idea, I would like to show you a bit about the quintessence of it hidden in the depth of the Japanese tradition.

　Originally, Sumo is a divine service offering to God. It is a sacred performance to pray for bumper crop, prosperity of a region, and a Dohyo-wrestling ring in which wrestlers stand is supposed to be “a sacred place where God dwells”.
　Even performance of Shiko (movements of a wrestler lifts a leg high up in the air and stamps it powerfully on the ground inside Dohyo) has a meaning, also competition itself is not just a strength contest. Sacredness and prayer exist within each movement.

　Still, people often say, “Do not know much about Sumo”, “How do I enjoy watching it?”. To those who have such questions, I visited Minato beya-Sumo stable seeking for answers.

◆One day at Minato beya ～Sumo wrestlers’ life～

7:00 Wake-up
　　↓
7:30 Training
　　↓
10:30 Bathing
　　↓
11:30 Chanko Lunch
　　↓
14:00 Napping・Rest
　　↓
16:00 Room cleaning
　　↓
16:30 (Tue・Thu・Sat) Self-imposed training
　　↓
18:00 Chanko Dinner・Free time
　　↓
23:00 Lights-out

　Dohyo enveloped by tenseness. The only sounds resonating in the dead-silent morning training place are bumping sounds of wrestlers’ bodies, vibrating sounds from Shiko, and breathings of wrestlers.

　At 7 am, tense atmosphere is already filling the training place of Minato beya.

　Bump……　　Bump……

　Wrestlers are repeatedly stamping Shiko steps. Shiko is said to be a traditional movement of clearing away a noxious vapor, but at the same time it is considered as one of the indispensable practical trainings to toughen wrestler’s body.

　After doing Shiko, basic training has begun.

　“Watch carefully, tighten your stomach muscle……, that is it, that is it”

　Oyakata-stable master’s voice is reverberating around the place. Wrestlers are listening carefully to Oyakata’s instructions and earnestly following them. After a while, the tenseness grew to the point of starting a match practice.

　This is a tournament-style practice match in which a winner stays in Dohyo to keep taking on new opponents.

　Bumping sound of bodies, heavy breathings started to fill the training place. No matter how many times they get thrown to the ground, they will stand up. Hungry looks of each wrestler tensed up the atmosphere of the place to a higher level.

◆“Magnetism of Sumo” talked by Minato Oyakata

　During the recess, I could have a word with Minato Oyakata.

　“Sumo match is controlled by a tiny fraction of a second. The result may be largely controlled by the slightest agitation or difference of fighting spirits. That is exactly why we give importance to an accumulation of regular training”.

　Saying this, Minato Oyakata’s eyes were still calmly fixed on Dohyo.

　“Unlike score gaining matches, we cannot get our eyes off Dohyo since a split-second movement decides the result. The slightest slackness can be fatal”.

　Oyakata even told me the points to enjoy watching Sumo matches.

　“You know that, a match commences long before the bout starts. How to block an opponent’s favorite technique, or how to attack an opponent. Watching Sumo matches will become more interesting one if you can imagine those psychological war fares behind the scenes”.

　I could feel the depth of Sumo came through here and there as Oyakata spoke.

◆Unveil faces of young wrestlers

　I witnessed different faces of young wrestlers after the training time.

Ouka

　Had been Judo enthusiast from his childhood to senior high school years. Became a disciple of Minato beya after graduated from a senior high school.

　He recalls his first tournament as “almost overwhelmed by nervousness and anxieties”.

　When I asked him “What is your favorite activity?”, he answers “Watching YouTube contents”.

Fukushoryu

　Became a disciple of Minato beya at the age of 15.

　“I like watching dramas. I am also fond of turtles” he showed an unexpected lovely face to me.

　Different from his fierce nature in the Dohyo, the soft smile he showed impressed me so much.

　Away from Dohyo, they are just aimable and friendly youngsters. This gap shows us the profound charms of the realm of Sumo.

　By touching their daily routine and true faces, you will see how wrestlers are determined and putting all their efforts to be fighters in Dohyo.

Editor’s Note

　The way to become a Sumo wrestler is far from flat.

　Youngest disciples leave their hometown at the age of 15 and start learning courtesy and rules of etiquette, making Chanko-nabe (highly nutritious Sumo-stable meals cooked by wrestlers), and spending tough days of harsh trainings.

　Accumulation of efforts leads to the day standing in God-dwelling Dohyo. I hope you can enjoy Sumo, one of Japanese tradition, more closer than ever before.　　By　TOMO

Bring a Wholesome Body and Mind with Karate Training! ～Shiwasuda Elementary School Karate Course～

“Karate”, it is one of traditional Japanese martial arts that has become an Olympic event in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Today, I visited to cover Kawaguchi Municipal Shiwasuda Elementary School and see “Shiwasuda Elementary School, Karate Course” which is held on every Monday.

As a former enthusiast of Aikido, I, who was in charge of this report, was a bit excited about bathing in the distinctive atmosphere of Dojo-gym. Members of that day were fourteen children under the age of fifteen (two of them came for a trial lesson) and an adult. Just a mere sight of them cladding in white Dogi-uniforms was enough to tense me up.

Leading warm-up exercises for the entire trainees was a Junior High schooler girl with a black belt. Now, second year of Junior High School, she has been taking training since she was attending a kindergarten.

I waited for a break to ask her about what was the Karate’s most fascinating part for her.

“At the beginning, learning new kata-fixed sequences fascinated me so much. After I was given a black belt, I am taking trainings more ardently in order to reach the level of remarkable masters around me”.

Her brisk answers made me a really good impression that Karate training will not only trains performance skills, but also trains your body and mind. She was teaching basic movements to kids of white belt group after the warm-up exercises.

I also talked with the Master of Dojo. This Dojo-gym has concrete precepts called Dojo-kun (general rule intends to regulate behaviors, mindset / method of training) and other mental preparedness. Trainees are supposed to read it out loud before starting trainings. I believe your mind must be trained through Karate because it includes disciplinary trainings like this,

Let me introduce their Dojo-kun.

1. Strive for the formation of character

2. Give prominence to the proprieties

3. Restrain an impulse of being a blind daring

4. Cultivate a spirit of effort

5. Follow the way of sincerity

Their attempt at working side by side with local community is one of the examples of putting Dojo-kun principles into practice. In September 2024, they have paid a visit to Kawaguchi City Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Elderly “Home for the Elderly Requiring Special Care : SANTEPIA” and Kawaguchi City Kamine Welfare Center to display martial arts to cheer up residents there.

This school teaches an authentic Karate, which is comprised of Kumite-sparring and Kata-fixed sequence of movements. It might be easier to imagine it from what you saw at the Olympic events. Kumite means one-on-one sparring style, and this school employs a style of “Sundome”, in which you stop your force at the very edge of the opponent’s body. “Wadoryu” is the name of this school, which is characterized by making the best of natural movements of human body. It has a similarity with the movements of Aikido.

Practice matches including matches of kata, display of fixed-sequence of movements contested by solo-player, were held on the day I visited. Each quick movement, serene voice, rustle of chafing Dogi, will never misses to overwhelm you. This really is the essence of martial arts!

Master of this school ingeniously arranges the operation of this school. Each trainee is given an attendance card. Every time they come to the training, they will get a sticker. If you win at a practice match, you will get four stickers. The school tries to visualize each trainee’s progress in this way. This method stimulates trainees’ enthusiasm, they said.

Practicing earnestly, strictly, I was impressed by this school’s brilliant operation method which employs idea of full of enjoyable arrangements.

Information on Shiwasuda Elementary School Karate Course：

Address： 11-1, Asahi 1-chome, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture.

〒３３２-０００１

URL：https://shiwasuda.crayonsite.net/

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Experience of making real kimchi with people of regional communities 〜How about getting to know each other better through “Kimjang”?〜

Have you ever heard of the word, “Kimjang”?

In Korea there’s a custom called “Kimjang”, which indicates pickling a quantity of Kimchi in each family and local communities before winter.This function which can be said a special attraction of winter is an important event in both families and local communities.Member of families and people of communities gather and cooperate pickling Kimchi on that day.

Do you know there is a workshop that we can actually experience “Kimjang “ in Kawaguchi City?

I joined a workshop of Korean cooking which was held at community center at Namiki in Kawaguchi city on December 28 (Thursday), 2024.The main event of that day was making Kimchi. In addition we cooked together three other dishes for lunch. First, Pugok, which is dried cod soup. Second, Possam, which is boiled pork and third, Chijimi.

Exactly a scenery of “Kimjang” spreaded during the workshop. Participants made a great deal of Kimchi by working together.

There are three steps to make Kimchi. Firstly we cut salted Chinese cabbages into four pieces. Secondly we spread politely between leaves two kinds of seasonings which are fermented chili peppers, shrimp and sardines and Yangnyeom which is mixed spices of like shredded radish and green onion. Then we wrap up whole of them with leaves of Chinese cabbages. Finally this is the end of making Kimchi.

We tend to eat it at once as just made Kimchi gives a nice scent. It is said that it’s better to wait until it will be fermented a bit so that we can enjoy it. We can take it home and eat it. It’s one of joy that we taste and see it how it is.

Flavor of Pugok makes us warm from both physically and mentally as the taste of cod is consented. Possam is cooking together pork back ribs with seasonings like Doenjang until it becomes soft. Then we wrap them with Sanchu or salted Chinese cabbages and eat them. In addition Chijimi including a lot of onions, carrots and garlic chives were particularly delicious with special sauce.Lunch all of the participants made included plenty of vegetables and each dishes were perfect.

This time 15 people who were both first and repeat participants lively enjoyed making Kimchi. Good-natured personality of Ms Lee who is a teacher that held the cooking class made the time pass at once in cosy atmosphere.

●Voice of participants

“A-san” whom I cooked at the same table together.(She has attended the cooking class for three years. She took part in them excitingly with her friends.) : I enjoyed making Kimchi every year.I’m very pleased to experience Kimjang with everybody.

“B-san” who was a companion at lunch. (This time, she’s attended them for the second time.): I enjoyed a lot to have participated in them as Ms Lee invited me.

●Interview with Ms Lee

First reason why Ms Lee Sookhyung to hold the cooking classes were held as return of favor for those who lived in the same flat that took care of her a lot.To get to know each other better she started to hold the cooking classes at home as she wanted to cook Korean dishes and talk with eating.Afterwards she started to hold the classes at community center as participants increased by teaching Korean, too.

The handmade Korean dishes which were made with plenty of vegetables, genuine seasonings and spices were family-minded and somehow nostalgic. How about deepening our friendship by attending “Kimjang “?

※To those who wants to join the cooking classes.

Please make it sure by calling the Namiki community center as it is held at the end of November every year.

Editor’s postscript

Making Kimchi was precious experience.

I could get a broader view of Kimchi as there were seasonings and fermented food for the first time pickled with it. Please join in making Kimchi next year if you are interested in it. By Mimoza

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We Had the Japanese Speech Contest!

On November 17^th, 2024 (Sun), “the 16^th Japanese Speech Contest by Foreign Residents” was held at Citizen’s community hall “FRIENDIA” next to Kawaguchi Station. 12 contestants from 5 countries talked about various discoveries, astonishments, thoughts they found from lives in Japan on the given theme of “(Customs of Japan that doesn’t exist in my country)”.

Nervousness seemed to prevail over the contestants when they stood before lots of people ready to listen to. I was impressed by their attitudes trying to deliver messages not only with gesticulations but also with jokes, even with hand-drawn drawings.

Stories ranged from the puzzlement of using spa facility stark-naked with perfect strangers, the trepidation of experiencing the first-ever earthquake, to the different rules of greetings, and punctuality required in Japan. It was interesting to know once again that our culture and customs, that are nothing special and almost daily routines to us, might perplex foreigners so much.

In their speeches, I heard some phrases like “We can respect each other owing to these differences”, “I want to enjoy more of these cultural differences”. I felt these were the most important way of thinking our diversifying society calls for.

After a fair and unbiased judgement, prizes went to contestants below.

Prize	Name	Country	Title
Gold prize	WENG SHITING	China	Culture of Quietness
Silver Prize	GHIMIRE PRASAMSA	Nepal	Thoughts I Found from Cultural Differences Between Japan and Nepal
Bronze Prize	TRAN THI THUONG	Vietnam	Shocked by Earthquake Frequented Japan

Photo (above) WENG SHITING

(lower left) GHIMIRE PRASAMSA

(lower right) TRAN THI THUONG

＜Interview with the Gold winning contestant＞

With stories such as the quietness of Japan’s trains where people rarely talk in loud voices, Gold Prize winner, Ms. WENG SHITNG talked in her speech titled “Culture of Quietness”, about the mind of harmony that embraces accord and mutual forgiveness. She thought it all came not from indifference, but from a tradition of cordiality that makes people stand close to each other that fascinated her so much. She was kind enough to share her time to take this interview after the contest.

－Which part of China are you from?

Ms. WENG：Fujian Province. Famous for producing Oolong tea.

－What do you usually do?

Ms. WENG：Serving as an interpreter at exhibitions and medical scenes.

Also, I am working as a volunteer staff at a vegan(※) shop, because I am a vegan myself.

－Why did you choose to be a vegan?

Ms. WENG：Because I thought it is pity to eat animals. Though I had temporarily stopped veganism because I love eating meat. I returned to being a vegan this April.

－This year’s contest was your second challenge following last year.

Ms. WENG：That is right. I won the Third-place last year. This year, at first, I had been eager to win the First-place. But as I was getting ready for the contest, I started to feel “Others are also doing their best. All I should do is keep going to the end”. However, I am really pleased to win the Gold Prize this year.

－How do you usually study Japanese?

Ms. WENG：I am attending International Exchange corner (volunteered Japanese language class) from last year. Staff there were always by my side and supported me all through the way to the speech contest.

－What is your hobby?

Ms. WENG：As I told everyone in the intermission after the speech, I love “Decluttering”.

－What would you like to be in the future?

Ms. WENG：Working for others is my dream. I also would like to disseminate veganism. I think “Veganism” is, so to say, “Food Decluttering”.

（※）Lifestyle or person follows rules of “Not eat animals”, “Not wear animal products”. Particularities and disciplines vary depending on individuals.

Editor’s note

Some contestants talked about Japanese cultures and customs as quite favorable ones. I was flattered by that as a local Japanese, but at the same time I felt a bit embarrassed by those remarks. By KISHIDA

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