Please Sir, I Want Sumo! Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Sumo is a form of wrestling and is generally considered to be the national sport of Japan. Broadly, the aim is for one wrestler to win by either forcing the other out of the ring, or by throwing or tripping the other so that he touches the ground with any part of his body other than the soles of the feet.

Professional bouts (honbasho) are scheduled six times a year and last for fifteen days each, with wrestlers (rikishi) aiming for a winning record (kachi-koshi) of 8-7 or better in each bout to increase their chances of promotion to a higher rank. There are ten ranks, with jonokuchi being the lowest and yokozuna the highest.

Wrestlers wear a thick loincloth/belt called a mawashi, which is both a protective garment and an aid to the opponent, who can execute grappling manoeuvres by gripping the mawashi. Bouts take place in a ring (dohyo) presided over by a referee (gyoji) who wears colourful ceremonial costume.

Judges (shimpan) are seated around the dohyo to observe the match carefully, ensuring that no refereeing errors are made. In the event that a match is very close - for example, if both wrestlers seem to hit the ground at the same time - there will be a judges' discussion (mono-ii) to review the referee's decision.

The incorrect answers - fugu, ramen, onigiri, sushi, and yakitori - all relate to Japanese cuisine.