LastUpDate: October 20, 2009

Hakata Culture vol.23


Sumo Season in Fukuoka

Sumo Season in Fukuoka Picture

As November comes around, locals look forward to one thing: it’s time for Japan’s, and the world’s, sumo wrestlers to storm Fukuoka. The Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, which opens in November, is one of those events that defines the season for locals. This year the tournament runs from November 15th to 29th at the Fukuoka International Center, so if you get the chance, get on down there! Ringside seats are pricey, but arena seats are just 2,000 yen. If you want even more sumo, you can always try visiting the sumo stables. There are over fifty of them in Fukuoka and its suburbs, many boasting the champions of the day.

Takasago Stable inside Jyodo Temple in Tojin-machi is home to the famous Mongolian yokozuna (first-rank) wrestler Asashoryu. His fellow-countryman Hakuho, another yokozuna, can be found at Miyagino Stable in Chikushino City. A lower ranked Mongolian wrestler, Harumafuji is in the Isegahama Stable located on the grounds of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Two ozeki (second-rank) wrestlers, Bulgarian Kotooshu and Fukuoka-born Kaiyo, are at Sadogatake Stable in Hisayama-machi and Tomozuna Stable in Kasuya-machi respectively. The stables with famous wrestlers get a lot of visitors―no surprise there―so they can be hard to get into, but even the small stables offer the chance to have a chat with the wrestlers and their coaches. Although some stables require reservations in advance, why not look them up this November? Don’t forget, though; these are professional athletes training hard for their championships, so treat them and their stables with the appropriate level of respect should you visit.

 Stables located in central Fukuoka
 Kokonoe Stable: 2-1-17 Imagawa, Chuo-ku  Inside  Torikai Hachiman Shrine: Including Chiyotaikai
 Takasago Stable: 1-8-53 Tojin-machi, Chuo-ku  Inside Jyodo Temple: Including Asashoryu and Asasekiryu


 A public relations manager
 Kimiyo Sasaki



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お相撲さんがやってくる

 福岡の街に北風が吹き始めると、着物とチョンマゲ姿のお相撲さんが目に付くようになります。11月に行われる大相撲九州場所は、福岡に冬が到来することを知らせる季節の風物詩。今年は11月15日から29日までの2週間、福岡国際センターで行われるので、機会があれば見てください。砂かぶりといわれる土俵に近い席は高額ですが、後ろの椅子席だと一人2000円で観覧できます。それでも高くて行けないという人は、相撲部屋見学にチャレンジ。福岡市内及び近郊におよそ60近い相撲部屋が居を構えています。

 朝青龍などモンゴル出身力士をかかえる高砂部屋は中央区唐人町の成道寺に(白鵬は宮城野部屋で筑紫野市、日馬富士は伊勢ヶ濱部屋で太宰府天満宮内)、琴欧州がいる佐渡ヶ嶽部屋は久山町、福岡出身の魁皇は友綱部屋で粕屋町。有名力士をかかえる相撲部屋は人気で見学者も多く、中まで入ることは難しいようですが、力士も少ない小さな相撲部屋だと力士や親方と話をするチャンスもありそうです。中には事前に了解をとらないといけない部屋もあるようですが、11月は力士と所属部屋の名前をチェックして、相撲部屋に出かけてみては?

市内中心部にある相撲部屋
九重部屋…中央区今川2-1-17 鳥飼八幡宮内:千代大海
高砂部屋…中央区唐人町1-8-53 成道寺内:朝青龍、朝赤龍


  福岡市広報課長 佐々木 喜美代