Origins Sumo

With many rituals and customs, sumo is as much a sport of Japan as it is part of the culture of Japan. Dating back over 2000 years, the sport of sumo has it’s origins in the Shinto religion. While these rules may sound simple sumo is a vastly complex and entraining sport.

To help understand this sport we are joined by Jason Harris who runs a popular YouTube channel dedicated to all things sumo.

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A sumo match consists of two wrestlers (rikishi) who fight in a ring called the dohyou and the winner is the one who pushes his opponent out of the ring or causes his opponent to touch the ground.

I am also pleased to support the Knights in White Lycra and their charity ride to raise money for the recovery work in Minamisanriku. The riders are Tokyo-based salarymen who plan to ride the 465 kms from Tokyo to Minamisanriku, in less than four days. None of them cycle for a living, a few need to shed some weight and a rather greater number have long said good-bye to their youth!

Michael Gakuran makes a return appearance on the GPod to tell us his experience in running the Tokyo Marathon. Not only was this Michael’s first time running the Tokyo Marathon but it was his first time running any marathon. He talks us through the gruelling five and half hour run and offers some training tips for anyone who wants to run next year.