KonnichiWATSON!
On Wednesday the 24th, I made a post on LinkedIn about sumo wrestling.
Why sumo, you ask? Because it's not just a traditional sport—it’s also a unique platform for advertising.
Someday, I’d love to see a WATSON banner parading around the ring. That thought sparked this post!
Lately, I've been sharing serious topics like “how to choose the right pipette,” so today I wanted to dig a little deeper into a piece of Japan’s rich cultural heritage.
What is Sumo Really About?
Sumo isn't just about large men clashing in a ring.
It originated as a Shinto ritual to pray for a bountiful harvest and traces its roots back to ancient mythology.
Over time, sumo evolved by absorbing elements from various eras and now stands as a sport where tradition and modernity meet.
There are two major types of sumo wrestlers:
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Sekitori (関取): The elite wrestlers who compete for 15 days per tournament.
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Rikishi (力士): Lower-ranked wrestlers who participate for 7 days.
All wrestlers receive a salary, but only upon becoming a sekitori are they considered “full-fledged” professionals.
To move up in rank, you must win. No wins? No promotion. It’s a meritocracy at its finest.
Size Matters... but Not Always
Modern sumo has become a game of mass.
In April of this year, the average wrestler weight was 157.1 kg (346 lbs)—up from 147 kg in 1989 and peaking at 164.3 kg in 2018.
To even enter the world of sumo, you need to be at least 165 cm tall and weigh 65 kg. Reaching the average? You’d need to more than double your body weight.
But sumo isn’t divided into weight classes like other combat sports.
That means you’ll often see a huge sekitori face off against a much smaller opponent. The sheer force of the tachiai (initial clash) can reach 2 tons of impact—a thrilling collision that keeps fans glued to the match.
A Sacred Ring and Global Stage
The dohyo (sumo ring) is considered sacred.
If a wrestler starts bleeding, the match is paused until it stops—blood is taboo because the ring is said to house the gods.
Interestingly, when matches resume, they pick up exactly where they left off—something you rarely see in other sports.
In recent decades, sumo has gone global.
Wrestlers from Hawaii like Akebono and Musashimaru once reigned as Yokozuna (the highest rank).
Today, athletes from Mongolia, Egypt, Ukraine, and Bulgaria are making their mark in the ring.
Having lived abroad myself, I deeply admire these wrestlers.
To step into a foreign culture, compete under ancient traditions, and earn your place by sheer ability—that’s truly inspiring.
Sumo, with all its traditions, still has room for evolution.
And who knows? One day, WATSON might just be waving a sponsorship flag in the dohyo.
If you're curious about this uniquely Japanese blend of religion, ritual, and raw power—let’s chat sumo sometime!
#WATSONBioLab #SumoScience #MadeInJapan #ScienceMeetsCulture #PrecisionMatters