The Big Book of Sumo: History, Practice, Ritual, Fight

by Mina Hall

Whimsical line drawings make The Big Book of Sumo the most user-friendly sumo guide available. Super sumo fan Mina Hall covers all aspects of the sport, including its history, traditions, training methods, stable life, rankings, fighting holds, and judging. Designed as an introduction to sumo, the book contains charts, photographs, and diagrams that will be of interest to aficionados as well. Featured are maps to the training stables plus information on how to be a spectator and where to eat and stay near the main sumo arena in Japan.

Genres: Nonfiction, Japan, Martial Arts, Sports

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1996

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aug 19, 936am ~~ I remember watching sumo on Wide World Of Sports once in a while back when I was a kid. Of course I never understood it properly but it did make an impression. This year, thanks to various Japanese YouTube channels, Marco and I have been exploring Japan. Besides taking train trips around many pats of the country, we discovered quite a few channels devoted to sumo. A fascinating new interest was born!

I wanted books to help understand more of what we were seeing. Because at first a person thinks the whole procedure is just two big guys crashing together and trying to knock each other down. But there are so many details involved that made us wonder why why why! So I visited my favorite online used bookseller and ordered a few that seemed like they would be appropriate introductions.

The Big Book Of Sumo is the first I chose to read. I enjoyed it very much and learned a lot. Of course, as other reviewers have noted, it is outdated in many ways, since most of the big names the author mentions are now retired. But for a beginner with a desire to better understand what happens in the ring, it is really perfect. I am going to be keeping it here by the computer so I can refer to it once the next tournament starts!

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading The Street of A Thousand Blossoms I saw this was a reference for the author. I found this of interest but really learned more from TheSteet.. than form this.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of "The Street of a Thousand Blossoms" and become so interested in sumo, that I wanted to know more. Although the book is slim, the print is tiny so it is like a big book jam-packed with information on the traditions, positions during the actual fight which lasts anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or two depending on the fighters, and history of the sport. I enjoyed learning about the Hawaiian wrestlers, and I believe I have seen Akebono for sure and maybe Musashimaru on TV. I was amazed, like most people, that sumo wrestlers consume 20,000 calories per day (10x an average person's intake). I found it fascinating that so much of the history and traditions of Sumo are from the shogunate era and Shinto beliefs, and they continue to this day. These traditions dictate how the sport is governed, the things you can and cannot do in matches, and even how the athletes are trained. Some people have commented on the cartoons in the book making the sport seem more ridiculous than it already is, but I think they help illustrate the jobs and positions of the wrestlers better than a traditional drawing and makes them more accessible to non-Japanese audiences. I never knew that they did sumo exhibitions in the States, but now I would love to see one! Either that or go to a sumo tournament in Japan, even though I don't speak the language.

[Rustam · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are not a lot of books about Sumo wrestling. Did you know that Sumo wrestlers will sometimes consume up to 20,000 calories a day?

I question the authors excessive use of cartoon images to illustrate various aspects of Sumo wrestling culture. Sumo wrestlers already have a somewhat comical reputation (outside of Japan), and this the book's caricatures weren't helping. That being said, this book had a lot of interesting info on Sumo.

[Max Renn · Rating 3 out of 5]

a light hearted and fun introduction to the world of sumo. liberally illustrated and ultimately accessible, this is a good book to have on hand as you watch your first basho. so much so that it will serve well for any children you hope to drag along with you into the sometimes confusing ways of japan's national sport.

the reason for the three stars is that much of the book is given over to somewhat dated information such as sunday supplement style profiles of no longer practicing rikishi (a general term for a sumo wrestler, there, you've learned your first sumo fact already) and prices at restaurants and hotels in tokyo's sumo district. one wonders how much of this is still useful ten years after publication.

still, i recommend checking this book out and having it on hand throughout the fifteen days of your maiden voyage if only for the glossary alone.

[Sumo Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Praised by experts for its accuracy. A great guide to sumo... in 1998. The sport has changed immeasurably since then.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice primer for newbie sumo fans, though a bit dated insofar as it discusses sumo rikishi circa 1997.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read numerous books on sumo, I wasn't sure that another would teach me anything. But this one did provide a number of things not covered in other books.

[Jill Nachtrab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been taking an interest in sumo over the past few months and found this to be a great introductory book to sumo! Although it is dated, it is well organized, has cute illustrations, and is very informative!