Izanami: Sumo, considered the national sport, has a history of more than 1,500 years, and over this long history it has become both a stylized and a traditional culture. There are six divisions of sumo wrestlers separated according to their strength. Izanagi: The highest division is called makuuchi. There are ranks within the makuuchi divisions, with yokozuna being the highest. Izanami: Only a rikishi (wrestler) with a good record can become yokozuna. However, being strong is not enough to become a yokozuna. Izanagi: The Yokozuna Council decides whether a rikishi is fit to be a yokozuna. Its rules state that a yokozuna must have “outstanding dignity and strength.” Izanami: Dignity is required even after becoming yokozuna. Izanagi: It is not enough to just win the bout; they must also win with dignity and without tricks. Izanami: Also, even if you win, do not show joy in the ring. Care and respect for the loser is also important. Izanagi: A yokozuna from Mongolia once made a fist pump when he won an important match, and that brought a lot of disapproval frowns. Izanami: e Dutch wrestler who defeated a Japanese wrestler in the judo final of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics greatly impressed the Japanese as he gestured with his hands to calm down overwhelmingly excited Dutch fans. Izanagi: Japanese cultural training emphasizes the importance of a balance between “mind, technique, and body.” It cultivates oneʼs own mental strength, develops a superior technique, and a healthy body. In addition to consideration for others. Izanami: This attitude of consideration for others is often seen in interviews with Japanese athletes. Izanagi: Most of the winners say, “This victory is thanks to your support.” This is not a cliché; the players truly believe it. Izanami: Caring for others leads to good performance in team competitions, such as in the Olympic events. Izanagi: Many athletes, even if their individual performance is inferior, perform better because they do not want to disappoint their peers. Izanami: The word “dou” (training) is attached to many aspects of Japanese culture, including martial arts such as judo, kendo, and aikido, as well as sado (tea ceremony) and kado. Izanagi: Japanese culture can be described as a discipline meant to improve oneʼs spirituality and become a person of dignity through sports and lessons. Izanami: For example, the tea ceremony is not just about tasting tea. It is a practice to entertain others and improve \oneʼs character through the tea ceremony etiquette. Izanagi: In the world of tea ceremony, there is a saying, “once-in-a-lifetime chance.” It means that a tea ceremony is considered to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, and that both the host and the guest of the tea ceremony should give their sincerity to the event. Izanami: This awareness permeates the Japanese people and can be seen in various situations, including customer service. Izanagi: The culture of caring for others is also connected to the Japanese mentality of putting oneʼs heart and soul into creating products. ( From November issue, 2022 / 2022年11月号より）