The Ring, the Rules, and the No-Go
In the wild world of professional sumo wrestling in Japan, women have been on the sidelines, forever yearning for a ringside seat. The larger-than-life sport where mammoth warriors collide like titans has been traditionally seen as a sacred realm where only men can tread.
Enforcers say it’s all about preserving the sanctity of the sumo ring, as ancient beliefs considered women ‘unclean’ and feared they’d defile the hallowed ground. Interestingly, they aren’t just barred from the ring; they can’t be judges or even wield those sign-bearing yobidashi boards. And as if that’s not enough, women were banned from watching until a mere century ago, citing their alleged ‘mojo-ruining’ gazes.
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