Yuya Kobayashi (second from the left) and members of JA Matsumoto Highland Sumo Club practicing hard on the first training day (in Matsumoto-shi, Nagano Prefecture)
Sumo is the hot topic in Matsumoto Highland Agricultural Corporative (JA) in Nagano Prefecture right now. Yes, seriously, the Japanese-style traditional wrestling is receiving quite a bit of attention here because of the JA Matsumoto Highland Sumo Club established by some of the JA members who were inspired by the continued efforts of Mitakeumi, an ex-professional sumo wrestler born in Nagano Prefecture, to cheer up the people of Nagano Prefecture after the volcanic eruption of Mount Ontake in September 2014.
The club members had the first practice on May 21, 2016, on the sumo ring in Matsumoto-shi. Their initial goal is to participate in the West Japan Businesspeople Sumo Championship Tournament which will start on June 26.
The club is lead by Yuya Kobayashi, a 27-year-old worker of the Finance and Mutual Assistance Insurance Division at the Shimauchi Branch of the JA Matsumoto Highland. He had been the only one person with experience in sumo until April this year when two other persons with sumo experience joined the corporative. Then the three men decided to start the sumo club and successfully recruited other workers with no sumo experience to join the club.
The future goal of the club is supporting local sumo activities including sumo clubs for children and sumo tournaments for primary and high school students.