Q 01/05

In sumo, a wrestler loses if any part of his body other than what touches the ground inside the ring?

A) The palms of his hands

B) The soles of his feet

C) The tips of his toes

D) The backs of his knees

Answer · why

B) The soles of his feet

The other route to victory is simply forcing the opponent out of the circle, which is why so many bouts end in a few seconds of shoving.

Q 02/05

What is a sumo wrestler called in Japanese?

A) Sensei

B) Rikishi

C) Shogun

D) Ronin

Answer · why

B) Rikishi

The word is often translated as 'strong man'; the top two divisions are more specifically known as sekitori.

Q 03/05

Which country is the only one where sumo is practised professionally?

A) South Korea

B) Mongolia

C) China

D) Japan

Answer · why

D) Japan

It is regarded as Japan's national sport and classified as a gendai budō, a modern martial art, despite roots going back many centuries.

Q 04/05

What do wrestlers throw into the ring before a bout as a symbolic purification?

A) Rice

B) Salt

C) Sand

D) Water

Answer · why

B) Salt

The ritual comes from Shinto; wrestlers also rinse their mouths with 'power water' before fighting.

Q 05/05

What is the training stable that most sumo wrestlers must live in called?

A) Heya

B) Dojo

C) Ryokan

D) Kokugikan

Answer · why

A) Heya

Everything from meals to dress is dictated by tradition inside the stable, and each is run by an elder who is himself a former wrestler.