Tales of Old Japan - Maybe You Like It

still commemorate his deed by clapping their hands and stamping their
feet as a preparation for putting forth their strength.
The great Daimios are in the habit of attaching wrestlers to their persons,
and assigning to them a yearly portion of rice. It is usual for these
athletes to take part in funeral or wedding processions, and to escort the
princes on journeys. The rich wardsmen or merchants give money to
their favourite wrestlers, and invite them to their houses to drink wine
and feast. Though low, vulgar fellows, they are allowed something of the
same familiarity which is accorded to prize-fighters, jockeys, and the
like, by their patrons in our own country.
The Japanese wrestlers appear to have no regular system of training;
they harden their naturally powerful limbs by much beating, and by butting
at wooden posts with their shoulders. Their diet is stronger than
that of the ordinary Japanese, who rarely touch meat.
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