Grand Sumo returns to the
United States
for the first time in
20 years
October 7-9, 2005
Mandalay Bay Events Center
(Friday & Saturday at 8pm,
Sunday at 2pm)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Tokyo - One of the most
popular and venerable sports in Japan is returning to the United States.
The Japan
Sumo Association, the supreme
governing body for the sport, announced that a special Grand Sumo
Tournament will be held at the
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas October 7, 8 and 9, 2005. A
field of 42 top Makunouchi
Rikishi (the highest level sumo athletes) will compete with a champion
determined
each day and a Grand Champion
named after the Sunday event.
Heading the field will be
Asashoryu, the current Yokozuna or Grand Champion of sumo. While there
can be
more than one Yokozuna,
Asashoryu currently stands alone at the very pinnacle of the sport. At the
age of
only 24, this native of
Mongolia has conquered Japan with his prowess. He is hugely popular and
appears to
be poised to hold the crown,
or in this case, the traditional belt, for many years to come.
Sumo is more than a sport in
Japan. It is an important part of the culture. According to Toshimitsu
Kitanoumi, Chairman of
the Grand Sumo Association and one of sumo’s greatest Yokozuna , “Our
Association works to preserve
Grand Sumo’s traditional culture, valuing the courtesies and rituals
cultivated
over its long history built up
by ceaseless efforts of our predecessors.” Every part of the bout, every
move,
even the construction of the
dohyo or sumo ring is governed by rules codified over centuries.
The organizers are stopping at
nothing to present a truly authentic experience for those who follow sumo
and
those merely attracted by the
novelty of this unique event. For example, a special crew will construct
the
dohyo over a three day period
to ensure that it meets all the requirements of the sport including the
proper
mixture of clay and sand and
the correct deployment of the tawara, or rice-straw bales. A traditional
yakata,
the roof over the sumo ring,
will be imported from Japan specifically for this tournament.
As 2005 is the 100th
anniversary of the city of Las Vegas, it seemed only appropriate that the
tournament be
held there. And as home to
many marquee World Championship Boxing bouts, the Mandalay Bay Events
Center is the ideal venue.
Glenn Medas, Vice President of Entertainment for Mandalay Resort Group
summed it up this way: “I wish
to express our excitement and enthusiasm for the upcoming Grand Sumo
Tournament at the Mandalay Bay
Events Center. The event is truly unique, even for Las Vegas.”
Grand Sumo Las Vegas is being
produced by Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Inc. of Japan, in association
with Mandalay Bay. It will be
broadcast in Japan by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) and is
sponsored
in part by Japan Airlines. The
producer, Dan Yoshida, handled the year-long show in Japan by Las
Vegas
icons Siegfried & Roy as well
as tours by Cirque de Soleil and other artists.
For more information or
tickets, visit:
www.grandsumolasvegas.com.
- Press Release issued by
Grand Sumo Las Vegas with a little editing from us (highlights, etc..)
(10/7/05) |