The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-27
SPORT AMONG THE JkPS.
FASHIONABLE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE
LAND or THE MlKAD0S.

Wrestling. Foot Bali Playing and Aero
baltic Performances-The Throne of
Japan 5 a Prize In a wrestling Match.
sport for the Imperial Family.
Wrestling matches have been in vogue
in Japan for centuries and are the fashion,
able amusement of the young nobility.
The wrestlers themselves are great, fat,
unwieldy men, who look like stout old
women. They are of immense stature and
of singularly heavy build--very far re-
mote from western ideas of trained ath-
letes. There is a sort OF current tradition
in Japan, says writer in the San Fran
cisco Call, that their strength and over
grown appearance is due to a diet con-
sisting exclusively of meat, but whether
this is really the case or not / cannot say.
Like so many other vocations in Japan,
wrestling is followed as a means Of I've
hhood by father and son in the same FAM
lily for generations, and it is probably
owing to heredity that these men are OF
heavier build and greater stature than
the ordinary Japanese.
They are not usually of prepossessing
appearance, as their expression is coarse
and sensual. They ere great favorites
with the vulgar rich of sporting tastes,
who often give fine feasts and wine sup
pers in their honor. By fast young men
of good family they are allowed certain
amount of familiarity, just as jockeys are
in the western world. From their patrons
wrestlers often obtain handsome sums of
money, so that a famous athlete may al
ways feel sure of large income and
certain sort of defernce
Wrestling as a fashionable amusement
is of great antiquity. There is a historic
cal record of famous match that took
place in the beginning of the first cen
fury before Christ, in the reign of the
Mikado Suinin, when noble called
Tayma No Kehaia exulting in his great
size ana. strength asked the emperor to
put his prowess to test by proclaiming
challenge to all the world-meaning
Japan. A strong man from the provinces,
Nomi No Shikune, wrestled with Kehaia
and killed him with kick in the ribs.
The mikado gave Nomi high rank and
honors were showered upon him, but his
greatest claim to fame in western life lies
in the fact that it was he who first fash
Toned clay figures and induced the inn
perial family to bury these with the dead
mikado instead of living retainers, as
was the ancient custom.
The mikados have always extended
their patronage and taken great interest
in wrestling. But in the ninth century
there occurred the most noted match
perhaps that has ever been recorded in
the history of the world, for the prize
was no less than the throne of Japan.
The Mikado Buntoku had two dearly be-
loved sons, who each aspired to the
sovereignty, and the emperor could not
decide to whom to leave it, whether to
Koreshito, the elder brother, or Koretaka,
the younger. Finally one son came to
him and proposed that the rival claims
should be settled by wrestling match.
To this the other brother agreed, and two
famous wrestlers named Natora and
Goshihiro became the respective cham
pions of Koretaka and Koreshito. Goshi-
hiro gained the victory and Koreshito
was proclaimed mikado and reigned I'M
der the name of>Seiwa.
Ever since the seventeenth century it
has been customary to get up these
matches for the benefit of temples. The
wrestling ground of Toxic is surrounded
by wooden sheds, something like our
"grand stand" These are divided into
stalls, the price varying with the location
and ranging from ten cents to 81. About
or O'Clock in the morning drum is
beaten to announce to all that match is
going to take place. The umpire watches
the men about to wrestle as they move
from one side to the other of the stage,
and when he sees them take breath to-
gether he raises his doubled winged tan
as signal to begin. Generally there are
several false starts, as the rules are so very
exact that the sligh deviation is de-
clared =" foul"
If the contest is pretty even the specta-
tors become frantic with excitement and
often throw valuables-sashes, coats, etc.
into the arena, to be afterward redeemed
in money. Indeed, in the heat of enthu-
siasm it is said that man often snatches
a neighbours coat and throws that as well
as his own.
The game particularly under the patron
age of the imperial family is mild sort
of foot ball, and the government gazette
always announces the dates and results
of the matches. 1t was imported from
China about the latter half of the seventh
century, and, strange to say, during the
reign of woman, the Empress Kokiyoku.
The Mikado Mommu, who lived during
the eighth century, was the first emperor
to take part personally in the game, as
did also the Mikado Toba and noble
man, Asuka Chiujo. About this time a
foot ball club was established at the
palace.
During the dark days Of the emperor's
court the noble family of Asuka became
so reduced that notwithstanding their
high degree they gave lessons in the art
of foot ball and gladly received payment
for the same. Acrobats, tumblers and
contortionists are in high favor both in
the city and country. They act in the
open street and some of their perform
ances are wonderful.