Spiritual side of sumo -Reply

[DAVID STROTHER <STROTHER.DAVID@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV>]

While I can't answer your question, I can direct you to a fascinating place
to do some research on the point  --  the Yasukuni jinja.

At the far end of the grounds, beyond the shrine and the museum (which
is well worth a trip) there is a special area for the performance (?) of
sumo on some sort of special occasions.

.....and, of course, being an amerika-jin visitor to Yasukuni and the
museum is a very special experience in and of itself.  At the time of my
visit, my interest in sumo was only still nascent, so I didn't look into this
and therefore can't offer any more than that.