Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (Image credits: AP)
As the grand sumo tournament in Fukuoka enters its final stretch, excitement across Japan is building — not only over who will claim the championship title, but over whether Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will take an unprecedented step into the ring. The first woman to hold Japan’s top office may soon have to decide whether to uphold centuries of religious tradition or challenge it by presenting the Prime Minister’s Trophy herself.For generations, the role of presenting the winner’s trophy has been reserved exclusively for men. Whether Takaichi will enter the dohyo — the sacred sumo ring — remains unclear, with the government avoiding any definitive comment on the matter.“The prime minister wishes to respect sumo tradition and culture,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters, according to Jiji Press. “The government has not yet made a decision on the matter. We will consider an appropriate response based on the prime minister’s will.”The uncertainty surrounding Takaichi’s potential appearance highlights Japan’s ongoing tension between modern gender equality and ancient beliefs rooted in Shinto, the nation’s indigenous religion. In Shinto, the dohyo is considered a sacred space from which women are barred due to the notion that menstrual blood renders them “impure.”This belief has excluded women from the professional sumo world for centuries. They can compete in amateur events but remain barred from professional rings — whether as wrestlers, referees, or even ceremonial presenters.The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) has long defended its ban, even amid growing public criticism. In 1990, Mayumi Moriyama, Japan’s first female chief cabinet secretary, was refused permission to present the Prime Minister’s Trophy. The JSA chair at the time reportedly said there “should be at least one organisation like ours,” as noted by The Guardian.A similar episode unfolded in 2000, when Osaka Governor Fuse Ohta was blocked from entering the ring and instead handed over the trophy from a nearby walkway — an image that many viewed as a stark reminder of women’s exclusion in Japan’s public life.Public outrage intensified in 2018 during an exhibition bout when female spectators ran into the ring to save a collapsing mayor’s life. A referee’s repeated calls for the women to “leave the ring” drew immediate condemnation. Though officials later denied that “purifying salt” was sprinkled to cleanse the ring because of their presence, the association’s handling of the incident prompted an apology from Sumo Association chief Hakkaku, who called the referee’s actions “inappropriate.”Soon after, another controversy erupted when Tomoko Nakagawa, then mayor of Takarazuka, was prevented from delivering a speech from inside the ring. Speaking beside it instead, Nakagawa said she felt “mortified,” earning widespread applause for her candour.In 2019, the JSA formed an independent advisory panel to review the ban on women entering the dohyo, but the discussion remains unresolved.For Takaichi — known for her conservative views — the decision carries cultural and political implications. Entering the ring could challenge an entrenched taboo and earn praise from advocates of gender equality, but choosing to respect tradition might resonate more with her political base.The debate unfolds at a time when sumo is enjoying a resurgence. After years of scandals involving hazing and violence, the sport’s image has recovered. Fans recently celebrated when Onosato became Japan’s first homegrown yokozuna in eight years, and tickets for all six annual tournaments now sell out within hours.Sumo’s global appeal is also growing. A recent exhibition at London’s Royal Albert Hall — the sport’s first in the UK in 34 years — drew a full house and positive reviews, highlighting its enduring cultural influence.As the Fukuoka tournament nears its finale, Japan waits to see not only who will triumph inside the ring, but also whether Prime Minister Takaichi will step into history outside it — a decision that could reshape how the country balances tradition with equality in one of its most sacred sports.
