JSランゲージスクールブログ | Sumo and Women
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Today I would like to talk about something that was in the news recently in Japan. It happened in a sumo ring. This is very shocking to me, as it is the year 2018. I didn't think there would be these kinds of problems in this day and age.
One day at a sumo match, a government official was giving a speech and suddenly he passed out. He needed to have CPR immediately. Some women got into the sumo ring to help him. However, they were told that they had to get out of the ring and that they were not able to help him because they were women. This is because women are not allowed in the sumo ring. That is according to an old tradition. I understand that sometimes traditions need to be protected, but in this case, someone's life was in danger. At these kinds of times, tradition has to step aside for practicality.
Then, not too long after this happened, there was another incident involving young girls practicing sumo. They were not allowed to participate in an event that usually they were allowed to participate in. It was only a one day event, they were not training to become sumo wrestlers. However, the board of the sumo committee decided that the girls would not be allowed to participate.
I also think these kinds of traditions are dangerous for equality. Things were different in the past, but we are now living in the future. Some traditions need to change. What do you think about this? Do you agree with the sumo committee or do you think they should have allowed women into the rings during these two situations?
