FUKUSHIMA TOWN
Hokkaido
Fukushima Town, Hokkaido
Fukushima Town
Fukushima Town is located in the southwestern part of Hokkaido,
bordered by the Tsugaru Strait to the south
and surrounded by the vast Mount Osenken to the north, rich in nature.
Including the untouched Iwabe Coast in southern Hokkaido,
you can enjoy the beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons.
Chiyonoyama became Hokkaido’s first Yokozuna,
and Chiyonofuji was the first sumo wrestler to receive the People’s Honor Award.
It is the only town in Japan to have produced two Yokozuna.
This memorial hall showcases the history and glorious trajectory of the two Yokozuna.
ACCESS
Hokkaido
About 4 hours total
FlightAbout 1h 40m
BusAbout 20m
TrainAbout 1h
BusAbout 1h
At the entrance, there is a display of the Yokozuna rope worn by former Kokonoe (former Chiyonofuji) when he entered the ring to celebrate his 60th birthday. Next to it is a display of the rope of an active Yokozuna who served as Tsuyuharai and Tachimochi at the time, paying homage to Chiyonofuji’s character and the traditions passed down through generations of the Kokonoe stable, as well as celebrating his great achievement.
On the second floor, there are exhibits such as the mawashi (apron) worn by Chiyonofuji when he entered the ring, the Emperor’s Cup (champion’s trophy), and the large ginkgo topknot from his retirement ceremony, allowing visitors to learn about his career and the culture of sumo.
The sumo ring on the first floor is a reproduction of the training hall and ring of the former Kokonoe stable, open to the public every summer during the stable’s training camp. During the camp, visitors can watch basic practice such as shiko stomping and suriashi sliding steps, as well as collision drills, and after training, a tokoyama hairdresser demonstrates traditional sumo hair styling.
