Hiyori Kon

Hiyori Kon (Japanese: 今 日和) is a Japanese amateur sumo wrestler, who is known for advocating for equal rights for women to compete professionally in Japan. She has been included in the BBC's list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2019.[1][2]

Hiyori Kon
BornAugust 1997 (age 23)
Ajigasawa, Aomori, Japan
CitizenshipJapan
OccupationSumo wrestler

Life

Born August 1997 in Ajigasawa, Aomori,[3] Kon started wrestling in first grade when she was six, inspired by her siblings' interest, and began competing and winning against boys.[2][4] When she reached university, studying gender theory at Ritsumeikan University, she became the third woman to join its sumo club.[2][5] Kon believes sumo wrestling is not just a sport, but a form of expression.[2]

Japan is the only country in the world where sumo is practiced professionally, governed by the Japan Sumo Association. According to sumo's ancient Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, women are not allowed to enter or touch the wrestling ring (dohyō) as they are "impure."[2][6] The JSA follows this tradition that has been firmly maintained through the centuries, believing it would be a dishonor to all of their ancestors to change it.[7] This has been enforced to the point where two women had gotten in trouble with a referee for entering the ring to perform first aid on a man who had collapsed in 2018. Although a JSA official later disapproved of the referee's actions as it was a life-threatening situation.[8]

There are several amateur sumo competitions in Japan and around the world where women compete. Kon won the heavyweight division of the Women Junior World Sumo Championships in 2014 and 2015.[3] She also competed in the 2018 and 2019 Sumo World Championships, where she won silver both times.[9] Kon was the subject of Little Miss Sumo, a 2019 Netflix documentary directed by Matt Kay that followed her to the 2018 championship.[5][10] After graduating from university, Kon joined the sumo works team sponsored by Aisin Seiki as its first female member.[9][11]

References
  1. "BBC 100 Women 2019: Who is on the list?". 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
  2. Taylor, Michael (2019-11-04). "'Little Miss Sumo' wrestles with sexism in Japan's ancient sport". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  3. "いつかアフリカに相撲を 女性力士がキャンパスで描く夢". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 2019-06-27. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  4. Little Miss Sumo | Main Trailer | Netflix, retrieved 2019-12-04
  5. Julian, Jordan (2019-10-28). "The Incredible 20-Year-Old Woman Tackling Sexism in Sumo Wrestling". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  6. Yoshida, Reiji (30 April 2018). "Banning women from the sumo ring: centuries-old tradition, straight-up sexism or something more complex?". The Japan Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  7. "ReDotPop Sumo". PopMatters. April 5, 2000. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
  8. "'Impure' Women Giving First Aid Ordered Out of 'Sacred' Sumo Ring". The Daily Beast. 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  9. "英BBCの「今年の100人の女性」に女子相撲の今選手 自身の映画通じ競技普及目指す". Kyoto Shimbun (in Japanese). 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  10. "The Female Sumo Wrestlers Who Are Trying to Beat the Sport's Sexist History". MEL Magazine. 2018-06-29. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  11. 月刊「相撲」(ベースボールマガジン社)2020年1月号・国技を支えるこの情熱を見よ アマ翔る！ 立命館大学相撲部 今日和選手 132-134p
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