{{Infobox museum | name = Sumo Museum<br>相撲博物館 | native_name = {{translit|ja|Sumou Hakubutsukan}} | native_name_lang = ja | logo = | logo_upright = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | coordinates = {{coord|35.69694|139.79338|type:landmark|display=inline}} | former_name = <!-- or |former_names= --> | established = {{start date|1954|09|df=y}} | dissolved = <!-- {{end date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> | location = Ryōgoku Kokugikan | type = History of Sumo | key_holdings = | collections = {{translit|ja|Kesho-mawashi}} <br/> {{translit|ja|Tachi}} <br/> Woodblock prints <br/> {{translit|ja|Kimono}} and {{translit|ja|Yukata}} <br/> {{translit|ja|Emakimono}} <br/> Various archives ({{translit|ja|banzuke}}, photographs ...) | collection_size = ~30 to 40 thousand pieces<ref name=sumointerview>{{cite news|url=https://osumo3.com/2018/02/05/%E7%9B%B8%E6%92%B2%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8%E3%81%B8%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%93%E3%81%86%EF%BC%81/|title= 相撲博物館へ行こう！|date=5 February 2018|publisher=Osumo3|language=ja|accessdate=12 November 2022}}</ref><ref name=waraku>{{cite web|url=https://intojapanwaraku.com/culture/276894/|title=行かない理由がない！ “相撲の殿様”が創設した「相撲博物館」の驚くべき全貌|work={{Interlanguage link|Waraku (magazine)|ja|3=和樂|lt=Waraku Magazine}} |publisher=Shogakukan |date=17 June 2025|access-date=11 August 2025|language=ja}}</ref> | visitors = | founder = Count {{Interlanguage link multi|Tadamasa Sakai|ja|3=酒井忠正|lt=Tadamasa Sakai}} | executive_director = Hakkaku Nobuyoshi (acting director) | owner = Japan Sumo Association | public_transit = '''JR East/Toei Subway:'''<br>15px|JB Chūō-Sōbu Line and 15px|E Oedo Line at {{STN|Ryogoku|x}} | parking = <!-- or |car_park= --> | website = ('''in English''')<br/>https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnSumoMuseum/<br/>('''In Japanese''')<br/>https://www.sumo.or.jp/KokugikanSumoMuseum/index }}
The {{nihongo|'''Sumo Museum'''|相撲博物館|Sumō hakubutsukan|lead=yes}} is an institution located in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan arena in Sumida, Tokyo. The museum is managed by the Japan Sumo Association.
The museum was opened in September 1954 when the Kuramae Kokugikan was completed.<ref name=waraku/> Its collection were based on materials collected over many years by Tadamasa Sakai, a well known sumo fan and first director of the museum. Its missions are to prevent the loss of materials related to sumo by collecting them and displaying them in the premises of the museum. In January 1985, when the Ryōgoku Kokugikan opened, it moved to its present location.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sumo.or.jp/KokugikanSumoMuseum/|title= 相撲博物館とは |date=|publisher=Japan Sumo Association|language=ja|accessdate=12 November 2022}}</ref>
==History== The museum was based on the private collections accumulated by {{Interlanguage link multi|Tadamasa Sakai|ja|3=酒井忠正|lt=Sakai Tadamasa}}, a Japanese politician nicknamed {{Nihongo|Lord of sumo|相撲の殿様}},<ref name=waraku/> who became the first director of the museum. Since then, thanks to donation from individuals and institutionalized collection, the Museum gathered around 30 000 pieces, half of them still being inherited from Sakai's collection.<ref name=sumointerview/> When the association was established in 1925, the act of endowment stipulated that the Association had to maintain a library to register records as one of its activities. When the Association became a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, the maintenance of a museum was stipulated in the statutes of the Association. During the same year, 2014, the Museum celebrated its 60 years of existence by organizing a special exhibition.
In January 2020, the Sumo Museum closed its door in the process of a renovation plan and in prevision of the 35th anniversary of the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://osumo3.com/2020/01/10/%E7%9B%B8%E6%92%B2%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8%E3%81%8C%E3%83%AA%E3%83%8B%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%A2%E3%83%AB%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%97%E3%83%B3%EF%BC%81/|title=相撲博物館がリニューアルオープン！|date=10 January 2020|publisher=Osumo3|language=ja|accessdate=12 November 2022}}</ref>
==Missions== The museum collects materials related to sumo (such as woodblock prints, {{translit|ja|banzuke}} and {{translit|ja|keshō-mawashi}}) and display them to the public. It also functions as a research center to study and examine the history of sumo and holds public conferences (called "Master talk event") where former wrestlers reflects on their career and answer questions from fans. Curators also publish a bulletin called the {{Nihongo|Sumo Museum Bulletin|相撲博物館紀要}} since 2002, to publish the results of their research. The museum is a small institution (150 m<sup>2</sup>),<ref name=sumointerview/> with only one exhibition room and four curators to provide visits and organization.<ref name=waraku/>
Since the museum is located at the far end of the right side of the Kokugikan, it is not uncommon for it to be relatively uncrowded, and some regular visitors to the arena have never been there.<ref name=waraku/> The museum does not intend its publications for the exclusive use of the public, and a number of wrestlers, such as the former Arawashi, come to consult the audiovisual archives to perfect their fighting style.<ref name=waraku/>
==Exhibitions== Due to its size, the museum does not have a permanent exhibition.<ref name=waraku/> Before the COVID-19, the museum used to organize six exhibitions a year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gunning|first=John|author-link=John Gunning (journalist)|title=Sumo 101: Sumo Museums|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/11/22/sumo/sumo-101-museums/|work=The Japan Times|url-access=subscription|date=22 November 2018|access-date=11 August 2025|archive-date=21 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204616/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/11/22/sumo/sumo-101-museums/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since then, new exhibitions are organized three times a year, in particular to extend the exhibition period and increase the number of visitors per exhibition.<ref name=waraku/> The exhibition schedule is typically changed everytime a {{translit|ja|yokozuna}} retires, so an exhibition dedicated to the wrestler could take place.<ref name=waraku/> Between 2003 and 2022, 109 exhibitions took place in the museum.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sumo.or.jp/KokugikanSumoMuseumDisplay/wrap/|title=現在の展示|date=|publisher=Japan Sumo Association|language=ja|accessdate=12 November 2022}}</ref>
Admission to the museum is usually free, but during Tokyo tournaments, a spectator ticket is required.<ref name=waraku/>
==Sumo Museum directors== {| class="wikitable" |- ! ! Name{{efn|name=a|Directors who were former wrestlers use their personal names because they hold the position after their final retirement.}} ! Year(s) ! Notes |- | 80px | {{Interlanguage link multi|Tadamasa Sakai|ja|3=酒井忠正|lt=Tadamasa Sakai}} † | 1954-1968 | First Chairman of the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee <br/> First Director of the Sumo Museum. |- | 80px | Tsuruzo Ishii † | 1969-1973 | Member of the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee <br/> Appointed director of the Sumo Museum in 1969 until his death. |- | 80px | Kuniichi Ichikawa † | 1976-1987 | Served as the director of the Sumo Museum as a part-time member of the Japan Sumo Association after his retirement in 1976. |- | {{CSS image crop |Image = |bSize = 500 |cWidth = 80 |cHeight = 90 |oTop = 47 |oLeft = 40 }} | Katsuji Hanada † | 1993-1996 | Became director of the Sumo Museum after the end of his term as chairman of the Association. |- | 80px | Kōki Naya † | 2005-2008 | Assumed the position of director of the Sumo Museum after his retirement, which had been vacant for almost nine years. <br/>Until his appointment the position was taken by the Association's board directors as acting directors.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/sports/general/20050526000324|title=大鵬親方が相撲博物館長に／日本相撲協会理事会で決定|date=26 May 2005|publisher=Shikoku News|language=ja|accessdate=12 November 2022}}</ref> |- | 80px | Gorō Ishiyama | 2013-2023 | Assumed the position of director of the Sumo Museum after his retirement. He stood down after 10 years' service when he reached the age of 75.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/chubu/news/20230201-OYTNT50159/|title=元横綱三重ノ海、相撲博物館長を退任 |work=Yomiuri Shimbun|date=1 February 2023|access-date=11 August 2025|archive-date=1 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201212206/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/chubu/news/20230201-OYTNT50159/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The interim management is held by the Japan Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku Nobuyoshi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202301260000568.html|title=元垣添の雷親方が入間川部屋継承、名称変え「雷部屋」62年ぶり復活 入間川親方４月定年|language=ja|date=26 January 2023|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=26 January 2023}}</ref> |}
==Sumo Museum gallery== {{Gallery |title=Sumo Museum (1954-current) |width=120 |height=100 |align=center |footer= |File:Hirohito_Sumo_Museum_Kuramae_Kokugikan_24_May_1955.jpg |Emperor Shōwa, accompanied by Sakai Tadamasa (left), visiting the Sumo Museum in the Kuramae Kokugikan (May 1955) |alt1=Emperor Hirohito in front of the exhibit in the Kuramae Kokugikan sumo museum |File:Ryogoku Kokugikan3.jpg |The entrance of the Sumo Museum in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan |alt2=At the entrance of the museum, a {{translit|ja|yokozuna}} statue posing in a Shiranui style welcomes you |File:Sumo Museum.jpg |{{translit|ja|Yokozuna}} exhibition featuring Kitanoumi and Takanosato {{translit|ja|tsuna}} belts |alt3=an exhibition located in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, sumo related artefacts are on display |File:Gunbai Sumo Museum.jpg |The {{translit|ja|gunbai}} of a {{translit|ja|gyōji}} exhibited in the Sumo Museum |alt4=A japanese referee fan exhibited in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan |File:Kesho-mawashi sumo museum.jpg |{{translit|ja|Keshō-mawashi}} are often exhibited in the Sumo Museum. |alt5=Two kesho-mawashi exhibited in the Sumo Museum. }}
==See also== *Professional sumo *Japan Sumo Association *List of museums in Tokyo
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==External links== *[https://www.sumo.or.jp/KokugikanSumoMuseumDisplay/wrap/#kakoten List of Sumo Museum past exhibits] {{in lang|ja}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Museums in Tokyo Category:History museums in Japan Category:Museums established in 1954 Category:Sports museums in Japan Category:Sumo venues in Japan