The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-23
WRESTLING TOURNAMENTS.
A sport which Is Extremely Popular All
Through Japan.

The lasts all DAY, ana
IN wrestlers are divided into three
classes. The first class men. the mas
tiers of the art, are all well advanced
in years. Some of them are enormous
~ tout-a physical condition which
does not seem to initiate against
strength and agility. The wrestlers as
a class are taller tina the average
Japanese. They wear their hair in the
ancient style, shaved around the fore
head, and brushed from the back n
side and made into a queue, turned
up and knotted with n string on the
top Of the poll. First class men wear
no clothes. other than a loin cloth ard
an embroidered apron. These aprons
are marvellous affairs. They are made
of plush or velvet, on which are designs
worked in oriental gold. The second
class is made up of men who In his
country would be called amateurs.
They are not allowed TO compete for
prizes, and they are not proof against
the wiles of the foxes until they are
graduated and enter the professional
lists. The third class Is h noyiti-
ate. composed of youths. none OF whom
is more than 20 years old
The contests mmence at 10 O'Clock
in the morning. The youngsters APP
pear first. They are followed by the
amateurs, and their bouts usually
evoke more hilarity n a enthusiasm
When the amateurs nave concluded
their farce the spectators are In rare
good humor. and they cheer when the
umpire announces the names Of the
professional combatants. The umpire
Is usually a Shinto priest, and he
wears a "kamishmo." the ceremonial
garb of his Office. For the first class
combats the umpire is a venerable
man, n of long experience; while
for the minor matches his place is
teken by young priests who are In
training for this most important
branch of their profession.
After the umpire has called the
names of the combatants he men
themselves make their appearance.
Two of the naked, gigantic, muscular
fellows slowly ascend to the arena,
drink a little rice water from ladies,
take pinches Of common salt from small
baskets hanging on two of the posts,
and. looking up reverently to a hid
eous wooden god squatting on one OF
the posts, throw the salt u II
is an act of publication, and while do
ing IT each prays secretly for his own
success. They then march slowly
around the arena, stamping heavily
upon the ground. rubbing their limbs
and making hideous grimaces and ges-
lures of defiance. After his prelimi-
nary showing off they squat opposite
each other. in a posture not unlike
that of a frog, resting their fingers
on the ground, between their knees,
and leaning towards each other until
their foreheads nearly touch. Strain
ed as the position is, they remain in
IL for several minutes before attempt
ing any grip. Then. when the umpire
spreads ais fan, they both spring VI
and clutch at each other like wild
beasts, and each tries to throw the
other, or force him across the straw
rope which is laid around the edge OF
the arena. If h grip is unfair or un-
satisfactory to one Of the opponents
he Immediately puts w his hands. and
the umpire stops h bout, and the pre-
liminary business Is repeated. II thu
contest lasts five minutes. n nefthel
man has gained any advantage, thu
umpire stops the bout. and the tive
wrestlers are compelled to wait unit
their turn comes around again.
As soon as a point is decided UNI
pire indicates the victor's side will
his fan, and Their follows a demonstra
ton of Joy among the patrons OF tn
successful athlete, almost as boisterou
and enthusiastic as American collegi
ans at a football contest. The thou
sands sitting hitherto well behaved OF
the matted ground rise up and shou
themselves hoarse. Cups. bottles. lac
Quered boxes. and not infreQuentl,
money. are thrown into the arena.
Frank Leslie's Weekly.