Sumo Wrestlers shake 200 babies until they cry

More than 200 babies took part in a “crying sumo” competition held at Chokoji Temple here in late May.

The event first began in 1993 to pray for the health of babies. Men wearing mawashi sumo belts gently shook the babies in a bid to see how powerfully they could cry. A Japanese proverb says that babies who often cry will grow up to be healthy.

About 1,200 spectators enjoyed the event held on May 27. The 214 babies who took part included those from Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.

By Sun Tzu on 03-06-2007