on this day: 1932

["Rowan Klein" <rowanchan@hotmail.com>]

The Osaka Mainichi and Tokyo Nichi Nichi, Sunday 17th January 1932

31 Sumo Men Slice Their Topknots Off

Decides to Forsake Wrestling World; no Chance to Settle Dispute

Realizing the impossibility of reaching an amicable settlement in regard to 
their dispute with the Japanese Sumo Society, Tenryu and 30 other striking 
wrestlers on Saturday took their final step - cutting off their topknots, 
the time-honoured symbol of the professional wrestlers.
Simultaneously they politely refused the arbitration of the kanto Kokusuikai 
(Kanto Nationalist Society).
The striking wrestlers met at 5 a.m. on Saturday at their headquarters in 
Tokyo, at which time Tenryu wanted to cut his hair, saying he would shoulder 
the shoulder the whole responsibility himself for making the situation 
unfavourable for them by accepting the offer of mediation by the Kanto 
Kokusuikai men.

Some Even Weep
Greatly moved, all the other wrestlers tried to prevent him from doing so. 
Some of the giants even shed tears. Tenryu also cried because the cutting of 
the topknot means the renunciation of the time-honoured national sport.
Finally all decided to have their hair cut. Accordingly the hair cutting 
ceremony was performed in tense atmosphere at 8 a.m.
By 8.25 a.m. the hair of all the wrestlers excepting Dewagatake was cut. 
Dewagatake wanted to have his hair cut too, but all opposed this. The reason 
given that such a hugh wrestler as Dewagatake would probably not be born 
again for years and that his topknot should be preserved as a historic 
symbol.

As Remembrance
Thus prevailed upon, Dewagatake consented to keep on cooperating with his 
colleagues without having his hair cut.
Two representatives of the patrons of the wrestlers called at the 
headquarters of the Kanto Kokusuikai in the Toranomon Building, Shiba, and 
presented a letter expressing thanks for the organization's efforts at 
mediation.
Together with the letter, they presented the wrestlers' topknots - the 
symbol that means life and death to the professional contestants of the 
time-honoured national classic.



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