Japan's baby sumo competition

The sound of unhappy babies is very common in Japan, at the 'Crying baby sumo' contest. Pairs of babies in little sumo aprons are carried by the parents, and the couples face one another and wait.

Shigemi Fuji, the chairman, is in charge of the event in the capital, Tokyo.

Shigemi Fuji: "Some people may get surprised to see this event and think it’s terrible that we make babies cry. But in Japan, we believe babies who cry powerfully also grow up healthily. This kind of event takes place in many places in Japan."

The babies were previously lifted up by sumo wrestlers, but the pandemic has stopped that custom. Nowadays, they’re carried by their parents. Rintaro Okamura, father of an eight-month old baby, is feeling ready for the challenge.

Rintaro Okamura: "We heard about the event this year. We're happy that we can take part in it this year. Although she doesn't usually cry so much, I want her to cry today and win a bout."

This contest takes place in temples across the whole country but the rules vary, depending on the location. Sometimes, the child who cries first takes the prize and at other times, it’s the one who bursts into tears last. In Tokyo, it’s the first baby to cry.

Staff wear special "oni" masks, to frighten the babies. The winner is declared by the referee, who is dressed in a traditional uniform and who holds a wooden fan.

A crying baby is seen as a good sign in Japan, as it proves that the child is fit and healthy. Hisae Watanabe is one parent who enjoys knowing her baby’s in tears.

Hisae Watanabe: "We can tell a baby’s health condition by listening to the way they cry. Today, she may get nervous and not cry so much, but I want to hear her healthy crying." View Less