TOKYO — Sanae Takaichi, who made history as Japan’s first female prime minister in October, now faces another cultural barrier: the longstanding taboo that bars women from entering the sumo ring.
The winner of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, concluding Sunday, will be presented with the Prime Minister’s Cup. Several of Takaichi’s male predecessors, including former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, have entered the ring to hand over the trophy.
Takaichi, a conservative known for supporting Japan’s traditional gender norms and paternalistic values, is unlikely to break the taboo. She will not attend this year’s Kyushu tournament because she returns a day after the event from the Group of 20 summit in South Africa. Her next opportunity will be the New Year’s tournament in Tokyo.
The debate over the exclusion of women is expected to continue, particularly as a woman now leads the country. Critics argue that the ban in sumo and other religious settings is out of step with the evolving role of women in Japanese society.
In Japan, women have historically been banned from certain sacred mountains, religious training sessions, temples, shrines, and festivals. The restrictions are linked to beliefs about female “impurity” from menstruation and childbirth, as well as some traditional Buddhist views, says Naoko Kobayashi, professor of religion and gender at Aichi Gakuin University. While most bans have been lifted over the years, some shrines and festivals still enforce them.
Sumo, with a history of around 1,500 years, is rooted in Shinto rituals dedicated to kami, or spirits. The dohyo, an elevated clay ring, is considered sacred and is off-limits to women in professional sumo. Some scholars argue the exclusion is tied to Shinto ideas of female impurity. However, the Japan Sumo Association has rejected this interpretation, stating that sumo rituals focus on harvest blessings rather than religious restrictions.
Historical records indicate that women performed sumo as early as the seventh century and that female sumo wrestlers were documented as early as the 16th century. Sumo gained national prestige when Emperor Meiji attended matches in 1884 and was officially recognized as a national sport with the completion of Ryogoku Arena in 1909.
The ban on women has faced criticism for decades. In 1978, a female labor ministry bureaucrat protested when a girl was barred from competing in a sumo final. In 1990, the same official was prevented from presenting the Prime Minister’s Cup. In 2018, the mayor of Maizuru collapsed in the ring, and female medical staff were asked to leave while performing first aid. Another female mayor was similarly barred from speaking inside the ring during an exhibition. The Sumo Association apologized and formed a panel to review the ban, but no decision has been made.
“Excluding women under the premise of male-centered traditions can no longer be justified under the values of the times,” Kobayashi said.
Takaichi, who is not considered a feminist, supports traditional family values and male-only succession in Japan’s monarchy. She also opposes a law that would allow married couples to keep separate surnames. Observers note that entering the sumo ring could alienate right-wing supporters.
Her office has indicated that she does not plan to step into the dohyo. “Prime Minister Takaichi intends to respect the tradition of sumo culture,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
