The banners announce that this sumo tournament is a fund raiser (kanjin) for the temple that has provided the (legal) grounds to set up a dohyô (ring) for the event. The drum tower on the right signals the opening and closing of a day's matches. The "fund-raising" designation was a common way to circumvent city laws against conducting tournaments within city limits since religious institutions could petition the government to allow fund-raising events. It was clearly a profit-making operation for promoters. Official unease toward sumo seems to have stemmed from its popularity among commoers. A decree in 1711 read:

It has come to our notice that commoners are employing wrestlers and holding displays in various quarters of the city . . . This is inappropriate to commoners and it must henceforth come to an end.

Like many such popular entertainments in Edo Japan, it didn't come to an end. Rather, its fandom only grew. Popular wrestlers--just like today--reached idol status and cut impressive figures on woodblock prints which, like those of Kabuki actors and famous courtesans, sold like hot (rice) cakes. For a ringside seat, click on the dohyô. Click the drum tower to see what it looks like today.

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