Nomi no Sukune by Kikuchi Yosai.
Nomi no Sukune or Nomino Sukune (野見 宿禰) was a Japanese legendary sumo wrestler during Emperor Suinin era.
History[]
Allegedly, in 23 B.C., the Emperor instructed Nomi no Sukune to deal with Taima no Kehaya (当麻蹴速) after he boasted that he was the strongest man “under the heavens." Nomi no Sukune engaged Taima no Kuyahaya in hand-to-hand combat and broke his ribs with one kick and his back with another, killing Taima no Kehaya. It was not modern sumo, but he is regarded as the human creator of sumo.
Descendants[]
He was an ancestor of Sugawara no Michizane, who was a scholar, poet, and politician of the Heian Period of Japan. He is regarded as an excellent poet, particularly in Kanshi poetry, and is today revered in Shinto as the god of learning, Tenman-Tenjin (天満天神, often shortened to Tenjin).
Shrines Related to Nomi no Sukune[]
- Nominosukune Shrine (Sumida, Tokyo, Japan) - This small shrine in Sumida ward is maintained by the JSA itself. In this shrine there is a large stone tablet with the name of all yokozuna. Newly promoted yokozuna perform their ceremonial dohyo-iri in front of the shrine, in respect to the creator of sumo. Before every tournament in Tokyo, the JSA chairman and directors pay a visit to the shrine. New wrestlers that have just joined sumo always come to clean the shrine as part of the sumo school 3 month-curriculum.
- Nomi Shrine (Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture, Japan)
- Katano Shrine (Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, Japan) - Legend claims that after Nomi no Sukune defeated Taima no Kuyahaya, Emperor Suinin awarded Nomi no Sukune with Kawachi Province (eastern part of modern day Osaka Prefecture). After receiving the province, Nomi no Sukune established the Katano Shrine which is located in Hirakata, Osaka.
- Ishizu Shrine (Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan)
- Kamosu Shrine (Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan) - According to folklore, the rocks in the back of the mountain of this shrine was where Nomi no Sukune trained.
- Sugawara Shrine (Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan) - Near this shrine is the tomb of Nomi no Sukune.
- Onomijuku Reimei Shrine (Tottori, Tottori Prefecture, Japan)
- Junihashira Shrine (Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, Japan)
A mural of him, removed from the old National Olympic Stadium in 2014, will be put on display at the new stadium in 2019 for the preparation of the 2021 summer Olympic Games held in Tokyo.