JAPANESE WRESTLERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1418, 30 June 1883, Page 3

JAPANESE WRESTLERS.

'Thero ' Tomipha several- small i. templesf-bU of only 1 local interest, and ! : once a year, on September 19, 'there is i,j a grand matmi, .or feast day, celewheji tlie'jdoorslof tlii) temple are opened.and services ; performed,, by the t '|rio3ts., : 6n this feast day celebtated. wrestlers congregate here, and Contest the championship. In-front of temple 'kn elevation ofsand about 2 feet high and 25 feet square is made, the,side protected by matting to keep the v:sand in place. On this the wrestlers try their skill for, supreinaoy . in the 'art.: They are entirely without j. clothing, offering their baro bodies to ■> ; the grasp, pf their opponents, with 1 the j' ojjfteption of a narrow band which wound about the loins a number rof times, and securely fastened, It -is : a sight that would delight the fancy iirrestiers of the Western World to witness these chaps tug at eaoli other or the mastery. As thoy take their ilaces preparatory to the ' trial of (length and skill they place themselves t ma partially squatting position, placing their limbs wide apart, and V Blap first one leg and then the othor, : ■ at the same time raising the foot and j then bringing it (the foot) with an energy and forco | a determination that their | feet shall not tie tupped from under them. They then squat facing each other, and, upon a signal, spring | iupon one another as they rise, catching - such hold as they are able to. Such Wrestling never came under our observation' elsewhere. The stylo is peculiar to Japan, and appears to be more a demonstration of power thau skill, as i they make heavy work of it, sweating and steaming as men only do when putting forth their utmost strength. ' Some heavy falls ate sustained, while) 1 it'can hardly be seen how the thing 1 was accomplished. At this mtsuri < . large; numbers of contestants appear in theJVrena, so there is a large showing cf glistening anatomy as they stand together under the full blaze of the sun, J Fieroe looks they assume as they spring'upon another in the tussle grirnacing iu all fashions of contortions. Yet the best good nature pievails at theSo 1 contests. It is ludicrous to see j .'< therp, after they have been thrown Bgaiftiand again, leave the arena'and f perform their acts of-posturing, taking position and going through manoceuvr- j jng that would impress one with the i idea,that they were the king-pins of ■ the lot if they only let themselves loose and did their best, With all the orudity of movements there must be i very much skill in the methods of these , wrestlers, for the falls come' rapidly. { Theivictorof the company is a proud I manand showsit—intimatingbyactions I that he is capable of immense achieve- ! ments of skill and dexterity in his art,