TOKYO — After making history as Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi now faces a symbolic test of the country’s deep-seated traditions: whether to challenge the centuries-old taboo barring women from entering the sacred sumo wrestling ring.
The winner of this weekend’s Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament will receive the Prime Minister’s Cup, a ceremony that has, in the past, seen male leaders like Junichiro Koizumi step into the ring to present the award. Takaichi, however, will be at the G20 summit, delaying her decision until the next tournament in Tokyo.
The dilemma is particularly acute for Takaichi, a staunch conservative who supports traditional gender roles. Her position at the nation’s helm, however, has ignited a fresh debate over a practice that many see as out of step with modern Japan.
A Ban Rooted in Tradition
The sumo ring, or dohyo, is considered a sacred Shinto space, purified for ritual combat. The Japan Sumo Association has long enforced the ban, with its chief, Nobuyoshi Hakkaku, stating in 2018 that the rule makes the ring a “serious battleground for men” and is “only natural.” He denied the ban is explicitly sexist or based on Shinto beliefs of female “impurity,” a concept historically linked to menstruation and childbirth that has been used to exclude women from various religious sites.
“This interpretation is a misunderstanding,” Hakkaku said, framing it as a tradition specific to sumo’s male-only world.
A Broader Cultural Pattern
This taboo is not unique to sumo. As explained by Naoko Kobayashi, an expert on religion and gender at Aichi Gakuin University, female worshippers have been banned for centuries from certain holy mountains, temples, and festivals, though many of these restrictions have been lifted.
The controversy places Prime Minister Takaichi at the heart of a national conversation. Whether she chooses to uphold tradition or take a historic step onto the dohyo will be a defining moment, signaling how Japan balances its revered past with its evolving future.
By James Kisoo
