Evening star., 1898-10-29
WRESTLING TOURNAMENTS
A Sport Which is Extremely Popular All
Through Japan.
Umpire is Usually q Shinto PRIEST
Contests Last All Day-The
Three Classes.
From Frank Leslie's Weekly.

From Frank Leslies Weekly.
The tournament lasts all day, and the
wrestlers are divided into three classes
The first class men. the masters of the
art, are all well advanced in years. Some
of them are enormously stout-a physical
condition which does not seem to militia e
against strength and agility. The wres-
tiers, as class, are taller than the aver
age Japanese. They wear their hair in
the ancient style. shaved al found the fore
head, and brushed from the back and side
ard made into a queue, turned up and
knotted with string On the top Of the
poll. First class men wear no clothes
other than loin cloth and an embroidered
apron. These aprons are marvellous af-
fairs. 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 this country would be called anna
teurs. They are not allowed to compete
for prizes, and they are not proof against
the wiles of the foa es until they are grad
uated and enter the professional lists. The
third class is the novitiate, composed of
youths, none of whom is more than twen-
ty years old.
The contests commence at 10 o'clock in
the morning. The youngsters appear first.
They are followed by the amateurs, AMI
their bouts usually evoke more hiarity
than enthusiasm. When the amateurs
spectators
are in rare good humor, and they cheer
When the umpire announces the names Of
the professional cGmbatants. The umpire
is usually a Shinto priest and he wears
"kamishmo,' the ceremonial garb Of hia
once. Fer the first class combatS the UNI
pire is a venerable man, one of long expe-
rience; while for the minor matches his
place is taken by young priests who are in
training for this most important branch of
their profession.
After the umpire has called the names of
the combatahts the men themselves make
their appearance. Two of the naked gi-
gantic, muscular fellows slowly ascend to
the arena. drink little rice water from
ladies, take pinches of common salt from
small baskets hanging on two of the posts,
ard, looking up reYerently to hideous
wooden god squattirg on one of the posts,
throw the salt around 1t is an act of
publication, and while doing it each prays
secretly for his own success. They then
march slowly arouId the arena, stamping
neaVlly on the ground, rubbing their Limits
and making hideous grimaces and gestures
OF defiance. After this preliminary show
ing 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 toward each other until
their foreheads nearly touch. Strained as
the position is. they remain in it for sew
eral minutes before attempting any grip.
Then. when the umpire spreads his fan
they both spring up and clutch at each
o'ilei me @iiu peastS, ana each tries to
throw the other. or force him across the
straw rope which is laid around the edge
OF the arena. If the grip is unfair or un-
satisfactory to one of the opponents, he
Immediately puts Up his hands, and the
umpire stops the bout. and the prelimi-
nary business is repeated, If the contest
lasts five minutes, and neither man has
gained any advantage, the umpire stops
the bout, and the two wrestlers are com
PEELED to wait until their turn comes
around again.
AS soon as point is decided the umpire
indicates the victor's side with his fan
and then follows a demonstration of 10Y
among the patrons of the successful ath-
lete. almost as boserous and en1husias 5ic
as American collegians at a foot bail con-
test. The thousands sitting hitherto we'll
behaved on the matted ground rise un and
shout themselves hoarse. Cups, bottles,
lacquered boxes, and not ;nfreauently
money are thrown into the arena