Story
Obese but immensely strong, the Japanese sumo wrestlers of the Arashio stable were beginning to stir. A young rikishi (wrestler) tripped over camp beds and heaving bodies, cajoling his fellow wrestlers out of their sweet slumbers. Some opened listless eyes, while others ignored the young man’s promptings and returned irritably to sleep. It was 5:30 am and freezing outside; what awaited the dozing wrestlers was hours of backbreaking and grueling practice in an abandoned car park in the outskirts of Osaka. Are these sumo wrestlers only in it for the money? No. Salaries of even the top sumo wrestlers are not that impressive. Is there faith in sumo wrestling?
Background Notes
Sumo wrestling is very different from professional football in England. Shinto is the traditional religion of Japan. This faith is focused on the appeasement of the gods known as ‘kami’. The best English translation of kami is ‘spirits’ and the Shinto tradition declares that there are eight million kami; there are river gods, mountain gods and even boil and smallpox deities. Shinto unfolded as a religion to appease the kami in order to ensure good harvests and divine protection. Sumo, as a sport, aims to entertain the gods, appease their truculence and protect the wrestlers from both physical and spiritual harm. Christians believe that Jesus has defeated the powers of darkness (Col 2:15) but sumo wrestlers would vehemently reject this. Sumo wrestlers spend several minutes before a match lifting their legs high in the air and stomping them down in a vigorous manner. They also throw salt into the fighting zone as a Shinto ritual. This faith in stomping and salt is believed to drive away evil spirits. Even Christian people can replace Jesus with sodium chloride when they throw salt over their left shoulders in order to blind the devil. Sumo wrestlers are also known for their huge intake of food. They are also partial to beer.
Four Ways of Looking at the Story
Materialist faith: “We believe that football is all about money and material enjoyment but sumo rituals are pagan superstitions.”
Relativist faith: “We deeply respect the Shinto faith. It is true for those who trust in its colourful ceremonies and the many gods and spirits of Japan.”
Shinto faith: “We believe that there are millions of kami and we must appease these spirits on a daily basis. Sumo wrestling entertains our Japanese gods.”
Christian faith: “We believe that Jesus is Lord. Worship the Lamb and do not worship demons that masquerade as kami.”
Questions
1) Why do people appease the kami?
2) How does the Shinto faith encourage superstition?
3) Is it possible to be a Christian sumo wrestler?
Mark is a lively storyteller and the author of four books, including The Spy, the Rat and the Bed of Nails: Creative Ways of Talking about Christian Faith. His work is focused on storytelling and how this can help us to communicate the Christian faith. He has written many articles for the Baptist Times, RE Today, Youthscape, Direction magazine and the Christian Teachers Journal.
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