Style of IKIJI Part5

LINEN, that is pure, right and beautiful

The sound of the brisk drums resounds in the refreshingly clear sky of May in Ryogoku. Yes, the Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament will be held here at Kokugikan (Sumo Arena). The towns of Ryogoku will be full of bustling with “Furedaiko” (drumming in town to announce a tournament), saying “sumo will start from tomorrow!” This “Furedaiko” is also said to be “kiyome daiko” (cleansing drum), and it is also possible to clean the “Dohyo” (sumo wrestling ring floor) with the sound of this beating drum.

And the “Yosedaiko” (drums to draw the crowds to the tournament) that are beaten on the morning of the day will be beaten every morning throughout the tournament days. This is a drum for the customer’s invitation, and is called “Ichiban daiko” (first drum), and once all the sumo wrestling tournament is over for the day, it is a “Hane daiko” (“ending drum”) which everyone knows well that sounds after the “Yumitorishiki” (bow twirling ceremony) even in TV broadcast, This is something that is beaten on the top of the “Yagura” (tower). In fact, a white linen cloth is attached to the end of the stick at the top of this “Yagura” (tower). This is called as “Dashibe”, and it is a thing to wish for the fine weather in the sky.

Speaking of white linen, that beautiful white rope that is a symbol of the top rank, “Yokozuna” of Sumo is made of bleached linen. Linen is not only for its tenacity and gentle on the skin, but it has also been used in rituals to cleanse from ancient times, and that bandage which was used for the ancient Egyptian mummy to make a round roll was actually made of linen. Unlike other fibers, this linen has been proven to have a natural antibacterial function. That is why it is used for bed sheets etc. in the West.

Most appropriate clothing for this hot, humid summer in Japan is linen shirts that is both friendly to the skin, excellent absorbency and quick dry. At IKIJI, we offer light, banded collared linen shirts. The popular cotton material nowadays was also commonly used in Japan from the middle of the Edo period until then, the general townspeople spent the year with linen clothing. That is why linen was a familiar material. Yes, linen shirts are the best way to go to Kokugikan to see and support favorite “Sekitori” (upper class sumo wrestler).