Yes, this blog is about sumo, sumo, and only sumo. There are many topics, like Japanese language, which are tangentially related to the sport and knowledge of which enriches fans’ enjoyment of the sport. While this article is not nominally related to sumo, it falls squarely in that category of related topics.

The ranking sheet (banzuke) for major sumo tournaments is usually released on a Monday, two weeks prior to the start of the tournament. However, the ranking sheet for the May tournament will be released on Tuesday because April 29 is a holiday, Showa Day. In fact, several days this week are national holidays, so called “Golden Week”.

Date	Holiday	Translation
1/1/2024	元日	New Year’s Day
1/8/2024	成人の日	Coming of Age Day
2/11/2024	建国記念の日	National Foundation Day
2/23/2024	天皇誕生日	Emperor’s Birthday
3/20/2024	春分の日	Spring Equinox
4/29/2024	昭和の日	Showa Day
5/3/2024	憲法記念日	Constitution Day
5/4/2024	みどりの日	Green Day
5/5/2024	こどもの日	Children’s Day
7/15/2024	海の日	Sea Day
8/11/2024	山の日	Mountain Day
9/16/2024	敬老の日	Respect for the Aged Day
9/22/2024	秋分の日	Fall Equinox
10/14/2024	スポーツの日	Sports Day
11/3/2024	文化の日	Culture Day
11/23/2024	勤労感謝の日	Thanksgiving

The Act on National Holidays is the law that established the official holidays observed in Japan. There are currently sixteen public holidays observed annually, listed above. So, what is Showa Day? The Showa era refers to the reign of Emperor Hirohito, from 1926 to 1989 and Showa Day was established in 2005 to reflect on that tumultuous timeframe and the historical lessons learned.

Showa Day

The era encompasses pre-World War II imperialism, World War II itself, as well as the occupation and post War economic boom, so there is certainly a lot to reflect upon. Even if we stay well away from the dramatic political and socio-economic changes, the sumo world itself underwent a massive amount of change.

Before this era, sumo was still fought in a much less systematic fashion, split between Osaka-centered competition and Tokyo-centered competition, each with slightly different rules. In 1927, the two merged and in 1957-1958 the familiar bi-monthly tournament schedule was set with three tournaments in Tokyo, one in Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyushu. (Let’s not look at the turbulent history of Kyokai chairmen and just say we did.)

The venues themselves had undergone considerable change. The Tokyo-based tournaments shifted from Kuramae Kokugikan to the current Ryogoku Kokugikan in 1985. There were also dramatic changes on the dohyo. The dohyo itself still had four physical pillars at the beginning of the Showa era. Those were replaced with the floating tassels we recognize today. Famously, the sport was also the first to have its own replay booth, implemented during the Showa period. Our black-clad shimpan have been working with their own VAR since the summer of ’69.

The wrestlers have also changed. The Showa era harkens back to Yokozuna Tsunenohana through Chiyonofuji, Hokutoumi, and Onokuni. Foreign rikishi began to compete and make their presence known in the sport. In 1972, Takamiyama won the top-division yusho. And late in this timeframe he ushered his protégé, Konishiki, to the rank Ozeki. Many of the top division wrestlers that we grew up watching were born during the era. Terunofuji is the first Yokozuna born during the Heisei era of the recently retired Akihito.

In Closing

I am sure that I am missing many monumental sumo reforms which occurred during the Showa era but it is easy to say that the period was transformational. The two gents in the picture were born during the Showa era. And sumo evolved into the modern sport we’ve come to love. If there are particular memories you have of sumo during the Showa period, feel free to leave a comment.