CNN's Asia Now Program- Bulgarian Sumo Wrestler, Kotoōshū Katsunori (琴欧洲 勝紀, 2/3

[sgsilver]

Fascinating that they did not mention the fact that women are not allowed in the ring because they are considered "impure" (kegare). I guess that part of the "tradition" was not worth mentioning.

[wasabiwild]

@sgsilver your opinion is lttle off the track and may lead to red herring..they consider it as an insult to the shinto god and spirits that live in that sumo ring so it has more religious meaning than you might think. moreover, since women being naked in public (no brainer) or even showing your upper arms or thighs or calves for that matter is considered rude and "impure," it is absolute no-no for women to even enter the ring and practice sumo. that's the main reason they dont allow women.

[Quillons1]

@wasabiwild This is interesting. The only problem is when you get these "suffragists" that want to champion other peoples' "rights", they don't want to hear logic and reason. They just want others to disregard hundreds of years of tradition because they say it's insensitive. Unfortunately, at some point, it became taboo to enjoy tradition for tradition's sake. But go and try to get a membership at "Curves" gyms which is only for women. Only when it suits I guess...