Meiji

MEIJI


During the Meiji era sumo experienced one of it's lowest periods in history, when it was almost totally banned, and belittled by the Japanese people in their push for Westernization. Edo was renamed Tokyo, a change which brought many changes in government policy, in which it aimed to modernize and westernize the country as quickly as possible after the turmoil of the initial years of the era.

Daimyo lords were forced to release their sumo vassals following the abolishment of of feudal domains, which came as a great blow to to the sumo organisation in that wages were suddenly cut and incomes disappeared.>

Westernization meant that sumo was considered a source of embarrassment for the Japanese people, who thought it primitive and backward in light of sophisticated Western culture, and moves were made to have it abolished. These moves were never actually put into action, but it was indicative of the threat westernization proved to Japanese culture at the time.

The sumo movement also went through great upheavals, with the rebel Takasago Uragoro causing a split in the sumo club. He was protesting against the hierarchy and dominance of certain groups within the club, specifically the director and his assistant, who held unwarranted and personally biased positions of power, and the handling of finances within the club. He established a separate association in the Kansai region in protest in 1873, but reunited with the Tokyo club five years later after a series of major financial and power structure reforms were made.

Public attitude remained cold towards sumo until 1884, when Emperor Meiji organised a sumo tournament. He had realised the detrimental effect of Westernization on Japanese culture and was attempting to counteract it, an attempt which was successful, as the popularity of sumo and national pride both subsequently increased.

The Tokyo club became the Tokyo Sumo Association in 1889, and sumo enjoyed a ressurgence of popularity, strengthened by Japans victory in the Sino-Japanese war, after which a nationalist surge was experienced, and the Japanese people began to once again take pride in their unique culture.

Sumo has since been a source of national pride and has enjoyed immense popularity since the Meiji period, and to this day, holds pride of place as Japan's national sport.

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