Dating can feel like a sparring match, full of strategic moves, reading your opponent, and fighting to stay in the ring. Picking the right battleground, or date spot, can eventually tip the match in your favor.
The question for any battle commander, as well as hopeful romantics looking for love, is where?
Look no further than the Marriage Matching guide to dating in Japan, full of helpful tips and gentle advice towards building meaningful connections across cultures, and helping you stay on your feet while in the ring of romantic relationships.
These days, Osaka is overflowing with touristy experiences, from Mario style karting through Osaka, to the gaudy archery games of Shinsekai. How do you spot the hidden gems from the high-cost flops? Make sure to check all the articles in our series: Tourist Trap or Divine Date where we tested out the trends.
Sumo Wrestling: A Sport And A Ritual
Rooted in centuries of history, sumo blends athleticism with ceremony.
Sumo is Japan’s national sport, with a history of over 1500 years. Initially part of Shinto ceremonies praying for good harvests, visitors to sumo tournaments today can see many elements of the religion in everything from the shrine roof hanging above the arena, to the purification rituals of salt throwing and clapping performed by the wrestlers, to the consecration of the sumo ring, the dohyo, itself.
All focus and tension: A sumo wrestler waits backstage, moments before stepping into the ring.
As with any sport, it’s hard to convey the atmosphere and emotion of watching it live versus through a TV screen. Sumo in person is an experience. The ritual cries of the yobidashi and gyoji raise goosebumps. The moment of hushed anticipation that falls over the crowd as the sumo face off. That second that hangs, as their fists hover over the dohyo, evaluating whether to set them down and clash, or pull back for another round of salt-throwing, sand stomping and other psyche-out style posturing. The slap of the bodies together, resounding up to nose-bleed seats in the rafters, as the titans grapple for several exciting instants until one is thrown from the ring.
Adrenaline. Spirit. Spectacle. That is the magic of sumo.
Though each bout only lasts mere moments, they are intense ones, as both wrestlers pour every ounce of effort into the clash.
Six sumo tournaments are held in Japan each year, three in Tokyo, and one each in Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka, lasting fifteen days per bout. In recent years, these events have become increasingly popular and for Kansai based romantics, it can be difficult to secure tickets to the March tournament in Osaka.
Sumo Hall Hirakuza, Solution?
Appealing to those who want to experience sumo outside of the tournament schedule, The Sumo Hall Hirakuza puts on a show at 6pm, six nights a week, except Tuesdays. There is also a sumo workshop, held irregularly, where participants can learn wrestling moves, eat the calorific chanko nabe, and even challenge a sumo themselves. Located on the 8th floor of Namba Parks, the venue is easily accessible to anyone staying in the Kansai region.
A different atmosphere to the massive tournament arena. Namba Parks dohyo sits within a small, air conditioned and audio-visual enabled theatre.
The Sumo Show is a highly choreographed affair. An opening rakugo act warms-up early audience members, before a dramatic light and sound performance explores the “ancient myths” of the sumo origin story. After an intermission, the supersized stars return to the stage, portraying different techniques and explaining the rules of sumo. Finally there are a series of matches, played out in a heightened, Hulk Hogan, WWE-esque theatrical style.
The rakugo actor playing to a half-filled room, as audience members trickle in pre-show.
Cosplaying mythical wrestlers from centuries past, the performers stomp and spin to a piece of pre-recorded sumo exposition, complete with sound effects and a smoke machine!
The wrestlers show off the different rules and “forbidden moves” of sumo with a sense of fun that leans towards the slapstick.
The opponents finally face off against each other in a series of orchestrated matches. Everyone moves with care so as not to injure each other – there are 6 shows a week, after all!
Sumo Or Something Else?
Out of the various experiences enjoyed within Osaka over many years, this is the most egregious trapping encountered yet. The eye-watering ticket price, which ranges from 12,500 yen per person at cheapest, to 21,000 for a premium couch seat, might be justified if there were less play-acting and fluff within this hour of “entertainment”.
30 minutes of the evening is spent watching a “cinematic” performance that purportedly introduces the history of sumo. This is more interpretive dance than education.
The second half of the show is no better. The enactment of “good sumo” versus “bad sumo” is highly condescending and aimed at the comedic sensibilities of young children.
Perhaps all these could be forgiven, when taking one’s date along to their very first experience of sumo culture, knowing that there will be time in the future of your long and loving relationship to witness something better.
But the food.
The food is so bad.
Each audience member receives a standard bento and one free drink with their ticket. The premium bento costs an additional 4000 yen, or Halal/Vegan bentos an additional 2000 yen.
Cold, flavourless, and unappetising: the standard Hirakazu bento is difficult to recommend let alone ingest. One wonders how much better the premium bento could be? But at 4000 yen, it would be better not to take the chance and splash out on something hot and tastier on the streets of Osaka later.
The only positive aspects about Sumo Hall Hirakazu is the full accessibility of the venue for those with mobility needs, and the genuinely cheerful and helpful bilingual staff.
Conclusion: Tourist Trap
Ok, sure, the Sumo Show should not be compared with sumo the sport or sumo the ritual. To do so is to invite bitterness and disappointment at paying so much to receive so little. In the opinion of this article, steer well clear.
Divine Date Alternative: Real Sumo
It would be far, far better to wait until March and tournament season, wake up early in the morning, and find one of the shrines dotted around Osaka where morning practices, or asa geiko, are held. Though the seats are not padded, no food is provided, and the sumo will ignore you, you will get a chance to see these truly serious athletes practising moves that are both physical and spiritual. Waiting for this will reward you with a far deeper experience of Japanese culture and history, while also demonstrating a much deeper commitment to your potential true love that you are focused on enjoying the best of life together, rather than dipping out for ‘cheap’ alternatives.
In the end, with both love and sumo, it’s all about authenticity.
Dating In Osaka Finding A Balance
Dating in Japan can be full of surprises, whether you’re dating with Japanese people or not. And that’s exactly the point. If you only ever stick to safe, familiar plans, you risk only ever seeing one side of your partner. But by stepping out of your comfort zone you invite the unexpected. And that’s where real connection can spark.
Maybe you’ll find yourselves cooling off in the maze-like underground shopping arcades of Osaka or Kyoto, or enjoying a quiet Kyoto riverside picnic. Either way, variety matters. Trying new things together helps reveal how you both react, adapt, and show up for one another.
Because dating in Japan isn’t just about where you go. It’s about discovering who you are wherever you are, with the one you love. Getting diverse experiences which yield those varying insights opens a window to the future, and understanding as to whether you have found your ideal partner, or someone else who’s a distraction along the way to finding your soulmate.