Sumo, Japan’s national sport, has continued to grow in popularity worldwide, thanks in part to a recent TV series set in the world of sumo. Even the number of female fans is increasing. Perhaps reflecting this trend, the Nagoya University Sumo Club has nearly as many managers as wrestlers. Despite the intensity of the training, the practice space offers of a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Club members from diverse backgrounds all come together to share the same pot, bonding as a team over bowls of “sumo stew.” We spoke with the members as they were preparing for the Seven Universities Athletic Meet, an annual competition between the seven former imperial universities in Japan, on September 15, 2024.
“Sumo Stew”: A Tradition After Tough Training
On a weekday during the summer break, wrestlers gathered at the club’s practice ring on the Higashiyama Campus in their mawashi loincloths and started their training session with shiko leg stomps. As the repetitions increased, sweat beaded on their skin and their breathing grew heavier. “The stomps build lower-body strength, which is the foundation of sumo,” said Masaya Hayashi (Second-year, Graduate School of Engineering) as he worked on catching his breath. The session continued with suriashi sliding footwork, butsukari full-body collision drills, and weight training with barbells.
Club members practice leg stomps around the sumo ring. New members receive a loincloth for free when they join!
Balancing on one leg for the stomps gets tough after many repetitions.
By tradition, the sessions end with the wrestlers sharing a pot of chankonabe “sumo stew,” a hearty meal filled with large amounts of vegetables and protein-rich ingredients such as chicken, fish, tofu, and beef that is prepared by the managers. “We even prepare a ‘deluxe’ version of the stew after the trial practice session for prospective members,” said club captain Mutsumi Yokoi (Third-year, School of Science). “First-year students do not pay club fees, so they get to eat for free. I was lured into the club by the stew!”
An Industrial Rice Cooker, Emptied in a Flash
Each member eats roughly 1.5 cups of rice during one meal, so, when everyone is present, the large 17-cup rice cooker is completely emptied. Hayashi, who has gained 20 kilograms since joining the club two years ago, explained that eating is part of training: “To get stronger, you have to eat a lot and grow your body.” Sharing the hot pot is a perfect chance for members to bond and get to know each other. Perhaps it is this ritual that gives the club its distinctive family-like atmosphere.
Sumo stew cooked in a giant pot by the managers.
A Female Manager With Sumo Experience Helps With Coaching
The club’s 19 members include nine managers! Tomoe Kamiyama (Fourth-year, School of Humanities), one of the managers, has a particularly unique background. She started sumo training in elementary school, meaning she has more experience in the sport than anyone else in the club. Kamiyama was raised in a sumo family—her grandfather and uncle were both coaches, and her younger brother competed in a national championship during high school—and her experience shows when coaching others. She offered advice to a member lifting dumbbells: “Focus on your pinkies! You need to have strength in your pinky fingers to grab onto your opponent’s loincloth.”
“I only found out about the sumo club after I enrolled. I am glad I get to continue being involved with the sport,” said Kamiyama. She trains with the wrestlers in her free time.
Kamiyama even scouted a new member, Egon Lucas Alves Neves (Second-year, Graduate School of Humanities), a student from Brazil studying linguistics. They happened to be taking the same class, and Kamiyama approached him after thinking, “He is perfect for sumo!” Egon, who already enjoyed weight training, joined the club to improve his physique. “This type of club activity does not exist in Brazil,” said Egon. “I wanted to experience Japanese culture, and joining a club was a big part of that. I am happy that I have grown so close to the members. We are like family.”
“My desire to get stronger helps me endure the tough training,” said Egon.
Hayashi’s Path From Judo to Sumo
Hayashi won two individual titles (“over 85 kilograms” and “open weight”) at the Seven Universities Athletic Meet in 2023. Interestingly, he originally belonged to the judo club during his undergraduate years. In his senior year, the sumo club did not have enough members to compete in the tournament, and they asked him to fill in. The experience sparked his passion for sumo: “The more I practiced, the stronger I became.” He officially joined the sumo club, steadily improving as a competitor thanks to his large frame and judo background. After the Seven Universities Athletic Meet, he also went on to win the National Public University Sumo Championship. Kamiyama refers to him as a “standout talent,” considering that he has only had two years of experience. “I have been training to make sure that a low stance is drilled into my body,” said Hayashi. “My goal is to win back-to-back titles in the individual division.”
Hayashi’s specialty is a technique in which he grabs his opponent’s loincloth and drives forward, shaking his hips up and down to push them out of the ring.
One of Hayashi’s greatest rivals is none other than Egon. Using his 193-centimeter, 108-kilogram frame as a weapon, Egon is helping to increase the team’s chances of victory. He uses his power to pull his opponent’s loincloth and throw them off balance, holding his own against top-tier competitors like Hayashi. Although Egon has not yet won a tournament, he is aiming for a title in the individual division. “I would rather not fight Hayashi,” he laughs. Since Hayashi is retiring after this year’s tournament, Egon also wants to secure a team victory “no matter what.”
In the 2023 Seven Universities Athletic Meet, the Nagoya University sumo club placed second in the team competition, where teams of five compete in a round-robin format.
Training camp held in Tōshijima, Mie Prefecture. The club also often trains in Hokkaido with Hokkaido University. Alumni sometimes join practice sessions and training camps that are held on weekends or during holidays.
Postscript:
In the Seven Universities Athletic Meet that was held on September 15, 2024, the Nagoya University Sumo Club came in second place, behind Hokkaido University. Captain Yokoi commented: “Although we ended up with a disappointing second-place finish after being tied heading into the final, I think it was a very good tournament. Each member showed their best and won a lot of their matches. Many of them will be returning next year, so we will do the best we can to get revenge in 2025!”
Related Links:
Nagoya University Sumo Club Website, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) [in Japanese]
This article was originally written in Japanese by Tatsuhiko Maruyama for the “Public Relations Meidai” web magazine and published on September 13, 2024. Unless otherwise stated, photos were taken by the author or provided by the Nagoya University Sumo Club. The Nagoya University International Communications Office has translated and edited it for clarity while preserving the original content’s intent. Certain information might be outdated. For the original Japanese version, please see here.