On May 5, 2024, which is Children's Day, a "crying sumo'' event was held at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City to pray for the healthy growth of babies. Approximately 100 children, ranging in age from around 6 months to 2 years old, took to the ring in sumo wrestler costumes and let out energetic cries.
It has been held since 2015 in honor of Nomi Sukune, the ancestor of Tenmangu Shrine's enshrined deity, Michizane Sugawara, who is considered the "father of sumo."
Wearing headbands and mawashi, the baby and his parents faced each other in the ring in pairs, and when the referee called out to them, "It's left, it's left,'' they burst into tears. The one who cried the loudest was declared the "winner,'' but there were also cases where both contestants cried as if they were losing, or even looked at each other without crying, resulting in a draw.
Kazuki Kawamura, 41, a company employee from Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, whose second son Oto (1 year old) participated said, "He cried a lot.I want him to grow up healthy both physically and mentally.''
