Yoi Matsuri - Japan

We call the Eve of Autumn Festival 
"Yoi Matsuri". We have a children's sumo
tournaments in the precincts of the village
shrine in the evening.

Children and parents in the community 
prepared "dohyo", the sumo-wrestling ring 
prior to the tournament.

Dohyo before purification

Can you see salt outside
the dohyo and "sakaki" in 
the center of the dohyo?
"Sakaki" is a kind of 
camellia tree whose twigs
are offered to the gods
in rituals.

Shinto priests of the
village shrine were 
purifying the dohyo and
"gunbai", the referee's
fan.

Every kindergarten and elementary school
children in the community joined the 
tournament. There was a large audience. 

Created by TORIGOE Yuko
Okayama, Japan
October 18, '99