Baseball, the great popular sport
Introduced to Japan in 1872 by an American, Horace Wilson, an English teacher in Tokyo, baseball spread slowly and the first professional team was formed in 1934. It is, today, the most popular sport among the Japanese. Two major competitions are played on TV grids and in stadiums. The professional match season runs from April to October. Travellers visiting Japan should go to a match to feel the electric atmosphere of the stadium.
The sumō, the ancestral struggle
The sumō is a ritual struggle of origin shintō. The arena is circular and symbolizes the sky. It is bounded by a straw rope that defines a sacred circle representing the Earth. Wrestling consists of pushing one's opponent out of the circle or knocking him down on the ground. Most professional wrestlers are two metres tall and weigh between 130 and 150 kg. No women are allowed on the combat area. The engagement is extremely fast compared to the ritual preparation time. The sumōtoris obey a very strict code according to which they must use only 48 holds (kimarite) duly listed.
Martial arts, a part of Japanese culture
Martial arts developed in Japan during the Heian period (9th to 12th century). It is at this time that the samurai emerged and that bushidō imposes a way of life of the warrior, as well as a particular way of creating the movement. The jutsu, i.e. the techniques, took then a dominating place: the sabre (ken-jutsu), the archery (kyū-jutsu) or the Jū-jutsu, the technique of yawara and the flexibility. The terms of dō (or path) are much more recent and imply a spiritual aspect.
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The technique is based on the basic movements of jū-jutsu, the laws of movement and their use, but also on the moral principles practiced by the bushi (in Japanese we say bushi rather than samurai). Movements that aim to use the opponent's strength to his advantage, to unbalance and immobilize. This practice is sanctioned by degrees (kyū) symbolized by belts (from white to black), then by masters (dan) from the second to the tenth.Karate.
The many exercises consist of practicing kata (typical movement sequences). The art of karate consists of having no contact with the opponent but, on the contrary, to simulate the fight by stopping the blow exactly before it is delivered.Kyūdō.
In Japan, archery is taught at school. The dō route came to replace the jutsu technique during the Edo period. Then the bow lost its importance in favor of firearms. It thus became more a mental discipline than an art of precision.Kendō.
This is the way of the sword, but the sword has been replaced by a bamboo sword, the shinai. Ken-jutsu (sword technique) was banned during the Meiji era in order to disarm samurai who did not approve of the new restoration policy. It was then transformed into a combat sport and the art took the name kendō in 1900. It requires energy and self-control, patience and extreme speed.Aïkidō. This martial art is one of the last chosen, since it was created in Tokyo in 1931. This fighting sport is based on more than 500 kata and movements. It is about mirroring the opponent's strength against himself. It is also a bare-handed martial art.
In Kansai, many activities
Hiking and trekking. The region is dotted with hiking trails that will delight walkers of all levels. In the south of the Kii Peninsula, hikers will not miss the Kumano Kodō. In the heart of the mountains, where the cradle of Japanese spirituality is located, Kumano Kodo is a complex network of ancient pilgrimage routes that all converge on Kumano Hongu Taisha, the historic Shinto shrine. These paths can be grouped into three routes, the Kiiji, Ohechi and Kohechi. Not far from Nara, which can be seen from Mount Wakakusa, the site of Yoshino, with its hundreds of thousands of cherry trees, is also popular with walkers. Then there are the pilgrimage routes of Kōyasan in Wakayama Prefecture, for example. One of the most famous is the "Choishimichi Pilgrimage Route", used by the family and imperial warriors in the past. It is about 24 km long, starting from the bottom of the mountain at Kōyasan. Today, hikers and devotees alike embark on the seven-hour journey to Daimon, the gateway to Kōyasan - one of the one hundred best places in Japan to watch the sunrise and sunset. But these are just a few examples, as there are so many hiking trails
Rafting and kayaking. There are some options for rafting on the Hozu-gawa River next to Kyōto in particular or kayaking on the Kozagawa River towards Kumano or near the coast of Awaji Island
Cycling. The area offers some great cycling trips. Cycling is the most used means of transportation in Japan. You will soon realize this in the cities. Otherwise, Lake Biwa and the coasts of the inland sea are charming spots, while the more courageous will tackle the Wakayama mountains
Sailing. The Seto Inland Sea is about 500 kilometers long, shallow and includes more than 1,000 islands and islets. It is a sea full of legends through the ages, stories of pirates and heroes like the Mediterranean is. A real playground for sailors
Skiing. There are hundreds of ski resorts in the country. Kansai is one of the most popular areas for skiers, which can be found in Hachi Kita Kogen, Biwako Valley, Ojiro or Oku Ibuki.
Diving. Some options for diving, especially in Ise Shima National Park where Ago Bay and its islands are located
Onsen. As everywhere in the country, Kansai offers many opportunities to enjoy onsen, in Kinosaki for example. These are hot baths, whose water is generally from volcanic springs, sometimes reputed for their therapeutic properties. The Japanese love to laze in them for hours.
