Greetings
I would like to express my delight at the grand opening of the Sixth Sumo World Championships at the Palace of Sumo, the Kokugikan from the depths of my heart.
First, let us look at the history of sumo. A sculpture has been found in ancient Babylonian remains. It has two people with a belt wrapped around them and their arms intertwined. It is estimated to be over 4500 years old. In Egypt, a wall painting of martial arts estimated at over 4000 years old has been found. China and India also have many oral traditions and accounts related to sumo that are recorded in ancient writings.
From these relics it can be surmised that sumo is not morely from Japan, it was, in ancient times, widely known throughout the world. I am sure that I am not alone in feeling great joy in bridging the gap of time of thousands of years and taking pride in the opening of the Sumo World Championship again this year. All of this could not be done without the efforts of the International Sumo Federation and the various continental sumo federations.
Sumo is a proud martial art which aims toward true human form through the training of mind, technique, and body. Sumo respects courtesy and it is also a modern sport which follows international rules.
More than anything else, I hope that the participants of this championship respect the rules and manners of the sport while competing fairly in the name of the honor and dignity of their nations. Most importantly, victory should be without vanity and defeat should not be a discouragement. Praise should go to the winner and compassion to the loser. It is essential that through this competition, human relationships are established that surpass international borders.
Finally, I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all of those who have assisted in the holding of this championship as well as the spectators that cagerly give their support. I pray for the success of the championship and the future development of sumo.
Seiji Yoshida
President
Japan Sumo Federation
