KATSURAGI SUMO HALL
“KEHAYAZA”
Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture
Katsuragi City Sumo Hall “Kehayaza”
This is a rare sumo museum in Japan, dedicated to honoring Taima Kehaya and promoting sumo.
There are about 12,000 sumo-related materials, including valuable items such as kesho-mawashi,
and regular special exhibitions are held.
Inside the building there is a sumo ring the same size as that used in official tournaments,
and anyone can step up freely.
Commemorative photos in sumo wrestler costumes and salt-scattering experiences are also popular.
Box seats in front and opposite the ring allow visitors to experience the atmosphere of sumo.
ACCESS
Nara Prefecture
About 1h 15m total
TrainAbout 1h 10m
WalkAbout 5m
Taima Kehayazuka
The five-ringed pagoda in front of the sumo hall is called “Taima Kehayazuka.” It is said to be the grave of Taima Kehaya, and active sumo wrestlers sometimes visit the site before tournaments. Every July, a “Kehaya Memorial Service” is held to mark the anniversary of Taima Kehaya’s death. After the service, a “Kids Sumo Tournament” is held, where elementary school students engage in heated matches.
Over 12,000 Items in the Collection
The museum displays a wide range of sumo-related materials, including a timeline of sumo history and introductions to wrestlers from Katsuragi City, with a total collection of over 12,000 items. Limited-time exhibitions are also held several times a year. Free tablet rentals are available to explore sumo movements and materials in depth, allowing visitors to learn more about the world of sumo.
Sumo Jinku Performances
Sumo jinku is a 7-5 rhythm folk song sung by sumo wrestlers on tours, characterized by the call-and-response “Dosukoi, hoi.” At the Sumo Hall, the Kehaya Sumo Jinku Association holds public practice sessions on the first Sunday and second Thursday of every month, performing jinku for visitors. Come and experience this traditional culture passed down through the world of sumo.
