The Missouri Botanical Garden, home to one of the largest Japanese gardens in North America, has announced the lineup for its Japanese Festival, held over the Labor Day weekend.
This year, the festival is welcoming sumo wrestling back for the first time since 2015. Japan’s national sport, sumo is a form of full-contact wrestling that dates back to ancient times as a form of religious performance to the Shinto gods. Many ancient rituals are still followed. The basic rules of sumo are simple: The losing wrestler (rikishi) is the one who first touches the floor with something other than the sole of his foot or leaves the ring (dohyo) before his opponent.
Among the sumo squaring off this year is Byamba, a four-time world sumo champion. By the time he was 18 years old, Byamaba was a top-ranked wrestler. Since then, the five-year pro has competed in 30 countries, amassing more than 800 live exhibitions. Joining Byamba are Yama and Hiroki. Yama claims the title of heaviest sumo ever at 600 pounds. Although he retired from pro sumo after two world titles, Yama still participates in events throughout the U.S. Hiroki is a 12-year pro, as well as a U.S. Sumo Open medalist and has captured two divisional champion titles.
The three sumo will demonstrate their craft two times a day during the festival, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday; and at noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.
This year marks the garden’s 43rd annual Japanse Festival, a celebration of the culture and traditions of Japan, in collaboration with several local Japanese-American organizations that provide authentic Japanese music, art, dance, food and entertainment throughout the three-day event.
Opening ceremonies take place on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 11 a.m. at the Japanese Garden entrance with music, remarks by distinguished guests, the ritual of kagamiwari (or breaking into the sake barrel), and a performance by the St. Louis Osuwa Taiko drummers.
Other planned activities throughout the weekend include martial arts demonstrations, a kimono fashion show, origami paper folding, and an ikebana flower arranging presentation.
The 2019 Japanese Festival is Saturday, Aug. 31, and Sunday, Sept. 1, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Monday, Sept. 2 (Labor Day), from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $16 for adults (ages 13 and older), $8 for members (free for member children ages 12 and younger). Visit mobot.org/japanesefestival for a full schedule of activities.
A Look Inside SLCL’s Soon-to-Open Mid-County Library in Clayton
