"Will Japan's First Female Prime Minister Break Sumo's Ban on Women in the Ring?"

Sumo Association: "Upholding Traditional Culture Is Our Mission
Women Must Not Enter the Dohyo, Even to Present the Trophy"

With the rise of Japan's first female prime minister, Japanese media have focused attention on whether the traditionally male-only world of sumo wrestling will now allow women to enter the ring.

The Asahi Shimbun reported on the 3rd that when it asked the Sumo Association what would happen if Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wished to personally present the Prime Minister’s Cup trophy to the tournament winner, the association responded, “It is our mission to uphold traditional culture.”

Prime Minister Takaichi. Yonhap News Agency.

Until now, the Sumo Association has maintained the traditional belief that the sumo ring, or “dohyo,” is a space women must not enter. In 2018, when a female nurse attempted to administer first aid to a male politician who collapsed during a match, officials asked her to leave the dohyo, sparking controversy. In 1990, Mayumi Moriyama, who was then Japan’s first female Chief Cabinet Secretary, was also denied the opportunity to present an award on behalf of the prime minister.

As the controversy continued, the association established the “Committee on Women and the Sumo Ring” in 2019 to begin discussions. However, no concrete conclusion has been reached to date.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office on October 21, is the first female prime minister in the 140-year history of Japan’s cabinet system.