FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Sumo Terminology Trivia Quiz

The following questions regard the terms and traditions of Sumo wrestling, a fantastic traditional sport of Japan. The quiz will be quite difficult for beginners, but very informative, I hope. Please enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by thejazzkickazz. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
thejazzkickazz

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
57,081

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
717

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 1 (10/10), Guest 172 (7/10), Guest 172 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A Sumo wrestler's waist-belt is adorned by stiffened silk cords which serve merely as ornamentation. What are these dangling adornments called? Hint

Sekitori

Banzuke

Sagari

Dohyo

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What is the backless skirt called that Sumo wrestlers wear while not in the ring? Hint

Kakusage

Kesho-mawashi

Mono-ii

Nihon-sumo-kyokai

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Sumo wrestlers of the Yokozuna rank (the highest ranking) wear their hair in a style resembling the leaf of what plant? Hint

Ginko

Lotus

Cherry

Perilla

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. The referee in a Sumo match wears a hat of very distinctive style. What is this hat called? Hint

Hatsu

Matta

Jungyo

Eboshi

5. Performing a mostly ceremonial function, constantly encouraging the Sumo wrestlers to grapple, the referee of a Sumo wrestling match still plays an integral part in the spectacle. What is the Japanese term for this referee? Hint

Natsu

Gyoji

Ozeki

Shiko

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. The referee holds a ceremonial war fan or paddle which he wields along with his dagger! By what name is the fan referred? Hint

Haru

Gunbai

Kakusage

Tachiai

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The Yobidashi also performs an important ceremonial function in a sumo tournament. Yobidashis are responsible for which of the following? Hint

Caring for the wrestlers' diets

Judging the fitness of the wrestlers

Cleaning the wrestling ring

Announcing the contestants

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. While preparing for a match in the ring, or Dohyo, you will notice Sumo wrestlers tossing a white substance around the ring. What is this substance? Hint

Chalk

Salt

Rice

Flour

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following is the term for a Sumo wrestling tournament? Hint

Dogan

Bento

Eisai

Basho

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following is not a ranking in the top division (Makuuchi) of Sumo wrestling? Hint

Sekiwake

Ozeki

Juryo

Maegashira

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Dec 12 2024 : Guest 1: 10/10
Nov 23 2024 : Guest 172: 7/10
Nov 23 2024 : Guest 172: 7/10
Nov 23 2024 : Guest 47: 9/10
Nov 23 2024 : Guest 108: 10/10
Nov 14 2024 : Guest 172: 6/10
Nov 04 2024 : Guest 157: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A Sumo wrestler's waist-belt is adorned by stiffened silk cords which serve merely as ornamentation. What are these dangling adornments called?

Answer: Sagari

It is legal for a wrestler to grasp the sagari, but they fall off easily so it's of virtually no use for them to do so. Grabbing the silk waste-belt, called a 'mawashi', is another matter entirely! It's my sincerest hope that we never have to see a mawashi somehow cleanly removed from a wrestler's body during a match!

2. What is the backless skirt called that Sumo wrestlers wear while not in the ring?

Answer: Kesho-mawashi

The mawashi portion remains on as the waste-belt worn during the match.

3. Sumo wrestlers of the Yokozuna rank (the highest ranking) wear their hair in a style resembling the leaf of what plant?

Answer: Ginko

It's hard to describe the shape of the hair...it seems to resemble a small clam. Only two wrestlers currently enjoy this hairstyle...Musashimaru and Takanohana...due to their Yokozuna rankings. The famed Hawaiian wrestler Akebono also wore this hairstyle, but he has sadly retired from the Sumo ranks.

4. The referee in a Sumo match wears a hat of very distinctive style. What is this hat called?

Answer: Eboshi

This headgear is something to behold, very elaborate...and difficult to explain. The cap is of Chinese style and translates as 'Raven-cap' in English.

Answer: Gyoji

6. The referee holds a ceremonial war fan or paddle which he wields along with his dagger! By what name is the fan referred?

Answer: Gunbai

The gunbei once held a more specific function...used to lead troops into battle...but today its use is benign. Aesthetics are of extreme concern in Sumo wrestling, but the action is very real...no WWF action here!

7. The Yobidashi also performs an important ceremonial function in a sumo tournament. Yobidashis are responsible for which of the following?

Answer: Announcing the contestants

The Yobidashi's stentorian shouts are critical for audience arousal, as the waits between bouts traditionally could last for an hour or more! Now the wait is normally much shorter, perhaps 15 minutes or so...in the modern world we don't like to wait!

8. While preparing for a match in the ring, or Dohyo, you will notice Sumo wrestlers tossing a white substance around the ring. What is this substance?

Answer: Salt

The salt is tossed for luck...it's a ring purification ceremony. Salt was once a much more expensive commodity, so it was considered a sacrifice to toss the substance into the ring, giving us an idea of how important Sumo is to the Japanese. One source suggests that during an average Sumo Basho 90-100 pounds of salt may be tossed per day!

9. Which of the following is the term for a Sumo wrestling tournament?

Answer: Basho

It may be a tough go if you wish to purchase tickets for a Basho involving the top ranks, or Makuuchi, as Sumo is the national sport of Japan! Incidentally, in a totally unrelated piece of trivia, the poet Basho is considered by many to have been the greatest writer of the traditional Japanese poetry form Haiku!

10. Which of the following is not a ranking in the top division (Makuuchi) of Sumo wrestling?

Answer: Juryo

The rankings of Makuuchi include: Yokozuna, Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi and Maegashira. The Juryo division lies just below the Makuuchi.

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.