Sumo's finest expansively recognized as toast of town
By Chen Hua (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-05 00:04

Wherever they go, they're attention getters.

Passers-by stop to catch a glimpse of the leviathans; tourists rush to take pictures of the rarity; people can't help but shout and wave...

They're Japanese sumo wrestlers on a visit to Beijing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of air links between China and Japan.

The heaviest among them is 170 kilograms, or a bowl of rice and a beer or two under 400 pounds.

On Friday, they visited the Great Wall, Forbidden City, the Japanese School in Beijing and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).

In the association's antique and classical quadrangles, children from nearby Donghuamen kindergarten presented bouquets to the honoured guests and gave a dance performance.

Staring at these formidables, several children even attempted arm-wrestling with them.

The wrestlers also enjoyed Chinese tea ceremonies and traditional Chinese music, and made time to chat with awed students majoring in Japanese from the Capital Normal University.

Their hosts did all they could to make the Goliaths comfortable.

"We tried to make sure that water is available to these special guests almost wherever they go," said Meng Dong, sales manager at Chang Fu Gong Hotel where the Japanese delegation is staying.

"They are giant sportsmen and very susceptible to heat, so they have the habit of drinking water from time to time," he added.

More than 40 wrestlers will take part in a two-day sumo exhibition at the Capital Gymnasium in Beijing this weekend and then display the Japanese traditional sport at Shanghai Gymnasium June 9 and 10.

"I'm grateful that we can hold sumo exhibitions here in China," Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying, "especially after 31 years.

"I hope this event will lead to an exchange between sumo and Chinese traditional Wushu, I hope China's Wushu will visit Japan in 2005," he added

The last time Japanese sumo was performed in China was in 1973, then celebrating the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations.

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