Yokota goes Sumo

TOKYO -- Ushiomaru Motoyasu receives an award for winning his last sumo match at the Ryogoku Kokugikan "arena" Jan. 31. Amzumazwki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to experience this Japanese tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katrina Menchaca)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
TOKYO -- Akebono Taro, a retired sumo wrestler, cuts sumo wrestler Ushiomaru Motoyasu's hair as part of his retirement ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan "arena" Jan. 31. Amzumazeki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to experience this Japanese tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katrina Menchaca)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
TOKYO --The champions or yokozuna begins the traditional cleansing of the dohyo or ring at the Ryogoku Kokugikan "arena" Jan. 31. Amzumazeki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to experience this Japanese tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katrina)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
TOKYO -- More than six buses were used to transport attendees from Yokota Air Base to the Ryogoku Kokugikan "arena" Jan. 31 for the retirement ceremony of sumo wrestler Ushiomaru Motoyasu. Amzumazeki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to experience this Japanese tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katrina Menchaca)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Tokyo -- Students, teachers and parents wait outside Yokota Middle School to depart for Ryogoku Kokugikan "arena" Jan. 31 for the retirement ceremony of sumo wrestler, Ushiomaru Motoyasu. Amzumazeki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to experience this Japanese tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katrina Menchaca)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
TOKYO -- A crowd gathers outside the Ryogoku Kokugikan "arena" for the retirement ceremony of sumo wrestler Ushiomaru Motouyasu Jan. 31. Amzumazeki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to experience this Japanese tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katrina Menchaca)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
TOKYO -- A sumo hair stylist demonstrates how to create a traditional sumo hairstyle at the Ryogoku Kokugikan "arena" Jan. 31. Amzumazeki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to experience this Japanese tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katrina Menchaca)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
TOKYO -- Mr. Digora Watanabe, head of Azumazeki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, takes the final snip to Ushiomaru Motoyasu's hair ending his retirement ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan "area" Jan. 31. Amzumazeki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to experience this Japanese tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katrina Menchaca)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
TOKYO -- Ushiomaru Motoyasu (front) faces of in his final sumo match at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Jan. 31. Amzumazeki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to experience this Japanese tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katrina)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
TOKYO -- In a bout of comedic display of proper sumo wrestling techniques one wrestler tries to choke another wrestler at the Ryogoku Kokugikan "arena" Jan. 31. Amzumazeki-beya, a local Japanese sumo-training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to experience this long held Japanese tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katrina Menchaca)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Yokota goes sumo

Published Feb. 3, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Katrina Menchaca
374 AW/PA

Yokota AB, Japan -- Azumazeki-beya, a local Japanese "heya" or training center, invited more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Yokota Air Base to the retirement ceremony of sumo wrestler Ushiomaru Motoyasu, January 31 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan.

Azumazeki-beya invited students from Yokota's elementary and middle schools to attend the official retirement ceremony, "danpatsu-shiki," of Ushiomaru a former sumo wrestler from Shizuoka, Japan.

The retirement ceremony of a sumo wrestler is a long-held Japanese tradition.

"This was a good opportunity for us to take part in the culture here, and actually see it live versus on TV," said Tech Sgt. Yalanda Breazeale, 374th Medical Group Squadron, NCOIC of diagnostic imagery.

The retirement ceremony lasted for more than five hours and consisted of a sumo tournament, a demonstration of how to do traditional sumo hair and a comedic presentation of proper and improper techniques of sumo.

"It was funny in the beginning when the sumo wrestlers were showing us what not to do in sumo," said Ashleigh Breazeale, a Yokota Middle School 6th grader.

Malcolm Breazeale, a Joan K. Mendel Elementary School 3rd grader, said the whole day was fun for him.

Malcolm's mother, Sgt. Breazeale, added, "My favorite part would be the retirement ceremony, even though it was very long. To be able to see it and take part in it, that was good."

Yokota goes Sumo