Ikoko Shrine Crying Sumo

About this event

Held every year on the first Sunday on or after September 19 at Ikoko Shrine in Momiyamacho, Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, "Ikoko Shrine Crying Sumo" is a rare traditional ritual in Japan praying for the healthy growth of children. On the sumo ring in the shrine grounds, shrine parishioners dressed as mawashi-wearing sumo wrestlers hold infants and compete for vigorous crying. This originates from the ancient proverb "crying babies grow fast," and dedicated votive wooden tablets (ema) show that children's sumo wishing for the healthy upbringing of children was already taking place in the late Edo period. This event has been designated as a Nationally Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property and a Kanuma City Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property; the traditional Crying Sumo Association has been organized by united shrine parishioners, and many participants gather from neighboring areas and the Tokyo metropolitan area. The target is children from around 6 months to about 3 years old.

Venue

Ikoko Shrine

1167 Momiyamacho, Kanuma, Tochigi 322-0046