Traditional Japanese Sports

When you think of traditional Japanese sports, what comes to mind? There are many traditional Japanese sports, including judo and karate. These sports are sometimes lumped together as budo (martial arts) because they share a common philosophy. So, in this article, we will introduce some of the traditional Japanese sports.

■ What are the traditional sports in Japan?

Sumo

Sumo is a sport that has been popular among the common people since the Edo period (1603-1868), and nowadays more and more wrestlers, especially those from Mongolia, are from overseas.

In sumo, two opponents meet each other inside the ring. The winner is the one who knocks his opponent into the ring or out of the ring.

Sumo has such a long history that it is mentioned in the Chronicles of Japan, but it was not until 1909, when the Ryogoku Kokugikan was completed, that sumo became the national sport.

It is a sport that is well known, popular, and globally recognized.

Judo

Judo began in 1882 when Jigoro Kano taught it in what is now Tokyo.

It is a sport that focuses on throwing, locking, and striking techniques, and is often practiced in junior high and high school physical education classes.

It is also famous as an Olympic sport and has spread not only to Asia but also to Europe and Brazil.

It aims to train the mind and is not limited to throwing and receiving.

Kendo

In kendo, two opponents wear masks and protective gear, hold long bamboo swords, and strike their swords into the opponent's face or body.

The sport is a remnant of the samurai swordfighting of the past.

Kendo is also practiced in physical education classes, though not to the same extent as judo.

Karate

Karate originated in the Ryukyu Islands (present-day Okinawa) to protect against the pirates that frequented the area at the time, and then spread throughout Japan.

There are two types of karate: kata and kumite. Kata is a discipline that looks at the movement of an individual's movements, while kumite involves actually teaming up with an opponent and fighting.

Rather than being taught in class, kumite is often used as one of the lessons for elementary school students.

Kyudo (Japanese archery )

Kyudo is an ancient Japanese martial art that cultivates equanimity and steadfastness through the act of shooting an arrow at a target with a Japanese bow. Kyudo is ideal not only for physical training, but also for cultivating a mental attitude that is not affected by one's surroundings. There are various schools based on the ancient martial art of Kyudo, but it is said that the majority of Kyudo practitioners are not affiliated with any particular school. Kyudo can be enjoyed by a single person, and its aspect as a sport has been attracting attention, with a wide range of people from children to the elderly taking up the sport.

■ summary

In this article, we introduced traditional Japanese sports.

In the next article, we will elaborate on the concept of Budo, which is unique to Japan.