Exhibition Outline

During the Edo period, watching sumo wrestling became a popular form of entertainment for common people, and with the growing success of professional wrestlers, sumo flourished around the end of the 18th century. This was around the same time as the golden age of multi-colored nishiki-e woodblock printing. Following the development of prints of popular actors and beauties, new woodblock prints depicting the unique body shapes and facial features of each sumo wrestler started to appear—a departure in style from previous simpler sumo woodblock prints. Sumo woodblock prints, which realistically conveyed images of the wrestlers and the lively atmosphere of sumo wrestling, played a key role in supporting enthusiasm for sumo as entertainment and were essential in driving the popularity of star wrestlers. Presented with the cooperation of the Sumo Museum and the National Theatre, this exhibition will introduce the diverse appeal of sumo in the city of Edo, centering on nishiki-e woodblock prints of sumo.

 

　Outline of event

Exhibition period: Saturday, July 17 to Sunday, September 5, 2021

Location: Edo-Tokyo Museum, Permanent Exhibition, 5th Floor Feature Exhibition Room (1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)

Phone: 03-3626-9974 (switchboard)

• 3-minute walk from West Exit of Ryogoku Station, JR Sobu Line
• 1-minute walk from A3 or A4 Exit of Ryogoku Station (Edo-Tokyo Hakubutsukan-mae), Toei Subway Oedo Line

• Toei bus: 錦27, 両28, 門33, 墨38 bus routes

  Sumida City circulation bus “Sumida Hyakkei Sumimarukun / Sumirinchan (Southern Route)”

  Get off at “Toei Ryogoku Eki-mae (Edo-Tokyo Hakubutsukan-mae)” and walk 3 minutes.

 

Opening hours: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm *Admission until 30 minutes before close

Days Closed: July 19, August 10, August 23

 

	Admission fee (incl. tax)
General	600 yen
University & technical school students	480 yen
Junior high school students (from outside Tokyo), high school students, those aged 65 years and older	300 yen
Elementary & junior high school students (from Tokyo) or younger	Free of charge

 

*College, high school, or junior high school students will need to present a student ID card. Visitors aged 65 years or more will need to present proof of age.

 

*The permanent exhibition admission fee is free (for this exhibition) in the following cases. Preschool children. Anyone who has a physical disability certificate, intellectual disability certificate, rehabilitation certificate, mental health and welfare certificate, or an official designation as an atomic bomb survivor, as well as their attending caregivers (up to two people).

 

*Please be aware that the exhibition period, opening hours, admission fees, and various discount services may change depending on the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please check the latest information on the Museum’s website before visiting.

 

Sumo Wrestlers of the Kansei Era (1789-1801)

 

Tanikaze Kajinosuke Katsukawa Shuntei Sumo Musseum

Smoking Set with Sumo Ring and Referee’s Fan Design BINSETSUSAI Kyuho