# Sumo Museum

The Sumo Museum (相撲博物館, sumō hakubutsukan) is an institution located in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan arena in Sumida, Tokyo. The museum is managed by the Japan Sumo Association.
The museum was opened in September 1954 when the Kuramae Kokugikan was completed. Its collection were based on materials collected over many years by Tadamasa Sakai, a well known sumo fan and first director of the museum. Its missions are to prevent the loss of materials related to sumo by collecting them and displaying them in the premises of the museum. In January 1985, when the Ryōgoku Kokugikan opened, it moved to its present location.

## History

The museum was based on the private collections accumulated by Sakai Tadamasa [ja], a Japanese politician, who became the first director of the museum. Since then, thanks to donation from individuals and institutionalized collection, the Museum gathered around 30 000 pieces, half of them still being inherited from Sakai's collection. When the association was established in 1925, the act of endowment stipulated that the Association had to maintain a library to register records as one of its activities. When the Association became a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, the maintenance of a museum was stipulated in the statutes of the Association. During the same year, 2014, the Museum celebrated its 60 years of existence by organizing a special exhibition.
The museum collects materials related to sumo (such as woodblock prints, banzuke and keshō-mawashi) and display them to the public. It also functions as a research center to study and examine the history of sumo and holds public conferences (called "Master talk event") where former wrestlers reflects on their career and answer questions from fans. Curators also publish a bulletin called the Sumo Museum Bulletin (相撲博物館紀要) since 2002, to publish the results of their research. The museum is a small institution (150 m$^2$), with only one exhibition room and three curators to provide visits and organization. Due to the lack of space, the exhibitions are not permanent and change every two months.
Admission is free, but since it is attached to the Kokugikan, only those who have an admission ticket for the Kokugikan can enter when there is a tournament or a paid event in the arena. However, anyone can enter freely on all other opening days. There are two entrances, one at the front gate of the Kokugikan on the second floor of the building, and another one on the side way of the arena. Guided tours are sometimes held during the exhibition period.
In January 2020, the Sumo Museum closed its door in the process of a renovation plan and in prevision of the 35th anniversary of the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.

## Past exhibitions

Exhibitions are displayed alternately six times a year, with different themes changing each time. The exhibition schedule is typically changed everytime a yokozuna retires, so an exhibition dedicated to the wrestler could take place. Between 2003 and 2022, 109 exhibitions took place in the museum.

## Sumo Museum directors

| Name | Year(s) | Notes |
| Sakai Tadamasa [ja] † | 1954-1968 | First Chairman of the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee First Director of the Sumo Museum. |
| Ishii Tsuruzo † | 1969-1973 | Member of the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee Appointed director of the Sumo Museum in 1969 until his death. |
| Ichikawa Kuniichi † | 1976-1987 | Served as the director of the Sumo Museum as a part-time member of the Japan Sumo Association after his retirement in 1976. |
| Hanada Katsuji † | 1993-1996 | Became director of the Sumo Museum after the end of his term as chairman of the Association. |
| Naya Kōki † | 2005-2008 | Assumed the position of director of the Sumo Museum after his retirement, which had been vacant for almost nine years. Until his appointment the position was taken by the Association's board directors as acting directors. |
| Ishiyama Gorō | 2013-2023 | Assumed the position of director of the Sumo Museum after his retirement. He stood down after 10 years' service when he reached the age of 75. The interim management is held by the Japan Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku Nobuyoshi. |

## Sumo Museum gallery

* Emperor Shōwa, accompanied by Sakai Tadamasa (left), visiting the Sumo Museum in the Kuramae Kokugikan (May 1955)
* The entrance of the Sumo Museum in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan
* Yokozuna exhibition featuring Kitanoumi and Takanosato tsuna belts
* A gyōji gunbai exhibited in the Sumo Museum
* Wrestler's keshō-mawashi are often exhibited in the Sumo Museum.