Episode 44: Holiday Sumo

This entire episode started witha simple question- what do professional wrestlers do over the holidyas?

It led us through conversation ranging from bintsuke, the hair wax/oil that wrestlers use in their hair, to the history of Christmas in Japan. We touch on Japanese winter illuminations, celebrations of light, traditional holiday foods, and the romantic night of Christmas eve. Oh yes, December 24th is a romantic holiday in Japan.

Also, we opened up the phone line this week to ask you about your favorite sumo related memory fof 2020.

Sources

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202012040000354.html
https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202012020000326.html
https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202012010000285.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adelsteinjake/2017/12/19/why-christmas-eve-is-the-busiest-day-of-the-year-for-japans-love-hotels/?sh=f0380b7e2cc3
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2298.html#:~:text=Today%2C%20about%20one%20to%20two,greatest%20during%20the%2016th%20century.
https://www.kanpai-japan.com/travel-guide/christmas#:~:text=The%20celebration%20of%20December%2024%20and%2025%20in%20Japan&text=On%20December%2024%20evening%2C%20in,in%20a%20love%20hotel%20%F0%9F%8F%A8.
https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/japan.shtml
https://www.japan-experience.com/to-know/understanding-japan/christmas-in-japan
https://www.tokyocreative.com/articles/20429-tokyo-over-the-holidays-what-to-expect-and-look-forward-to
https://tokyocheapo.com/travel/holidays/christmas-japan-timeline/
https://www.kcpinternational.com/2013/12/the-story-of-christmas-in-japan/
https://blogs.transparent.com/japanese/christmas-in-japan/
https://www.chichibu-omotenashi.com/en/festivals.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_Birthday
https://preventioncdnndg.org/eco-quartier/japanese-christmas/
https://www.sapporo.co.uk/news/15-japanese-christmas-traditions/
Japanese KFC Christmas Commercial