How do sumo wrestlers live? Do they have wives and girlfriends? (5 photos)

Japan is a country of the so-called “rice culture”. Because rice is a very finicky plant and the agriculture based on it is labor-intensive, most Japanese, until relatively recently, had to work hard for most of the calendar year. And not just work hard, but work in a complex and well-organized team.





This had an impact on the entire society, and therefore social norms and attitudes towards work in general are much stricter here than here. That is why the Japanese, no matter what they do, naturally organize for themselves a “voluntary concentration camp”, in which everyone from the simple worker to the high authorities work continuously and do not see the white light.

This also applies to large corporations, where everyone is forced to sit at work until late until the boss leaves; and Japanese idols living under strict contracts, and professional sports including sumo. Since the latter was formed as a further development of Shinto ritual fights, this applies to it even to a greater extent.



Like us, school education in Japan is divided into three stages: elementary school, middle school and high school. Moreover, the latter is paid and is not considered mandatory if the student does not intend to receive a “higher education” in the future. Therefore, Japanese teenagers who aspire to become professional sumo wrestlers enter the system after completing the first two levels at the age of about 15 years. By this time, they were already very familiar with the wrestling training that took place in the school gym.





After this, their life is completely regulated by the strict rules of heya - this concept is usually translated as “sumo school”, but literally it means “stable”. In the “stable” their life is subject to both numerous traditions and sports routines, and, most importantly, the will of the owner of this establishment.

Heya look like barracks combined with a gym. At the same time, there are no strangers there, and all the necessary daily duties are performed by beginning students. They get up around five o'clock to prepare food for the experienced sumo wrestlers and coaches, then lunch and the first training session, then a break and a few more training sessions, in the evening - cleaning (for everyone), some personal time and a sound healthy sleep. There may or may not be weekends. Hazing here is not considered a vice, but a generally accepted means of raising tough Japanese men.



Sumo is divided into six divisions. Beginning athletes who compete in the lower four are required to constantly live in the “stable” and work for its benefit. With their schedules, they simply don't have time to date anyone. They are not even allowed to use mobile phones. Well, and on top of everything else, the school pays for their food and accommodation, and therefore they don’t have that much money left in their hands. As a rule, this is not enough to afford a girl. Moreover, to please the rather mercantile Japanese women.

And only rikishi (“strong men”) - representatives of the two top divisions receive big money for performances, fame, contracts with sponsors, and so on. According to tradition, they are already allowed to get married or just date girls. And in purely financial terms, they can afford it.



Who knows, by what criteria women choose men for themselves - the one who finds out can become the ruler of the world. But sumo wrestlers are considered stars in Japan - at least the top level guys. Therefore, they have no problems with the opposite sex. Although, of course, most young ladies still prefer actors and musicians from various “boy bands”.

One way or another, foreigners from the top divisions are almost all married or constantly dating someone. Their Japanese colleagues, who more often experience difficulties with socialization, also do this, but somewhat less frequently. Their main motivation is often that in this case they can move out of the heya and rent an apartment nearby.

But even rikishi spend most of their time at school, except on weekends - they are even expected to eat dinner there. Therefore, their marriage is often a formality. Not everyone can perform in bed after a hard workout. But foundThere are a lot of women who are happy with this if their husband earns well.



In general, in Japan there is a stereotype that sumo wrestlers' wives are not very smart, but beautiful. Among them there are many former actresses and singers, and therefore this is approximately the same category as “football players’ wives” around the world. But, again, this only applies to truly outstanding athletes.