Gregor in Japan: Sumo

A really traditional full-contact wrestling sport in which two rikishi (wrestler) fight until one rikishi sets foot outside of the circular ring (dohyō) or touches the ground with anything other than the soles of his feet. Since it is a really traditional sport it is only men allowed to stand in the dohyō underneath the roof and after a day of fighting the dohyō is protected by security until it is covered. It was not only my first time to watch Sumo it was Emi's first time as well and I must say she has somehow a good hand with people since we got the best seats in the arena. We sat directly beside three radio broadcasters of whom two were rikishi. At one point there was a line in front of the radio casters and the people played rock, paper, scissors against rikishi Miyabi Yama. Emi said that I should go to, so I got into line. I had no clue what they said when I stood in front of a lady from the radio and Miyabi Yama, so I just asked if we can count 1, 2, 3. They seemed to agree and now IT WAS ON! First I threw in scissors and so did Miyabi san. Than I threw rock and won. It was my first fight against a rikishi and I must say, what an unbelievable fight that was! My price was some dirt in a glas. Great story. Well the dirt was actually sacred sand and salt from the dohyō (that circular ring) and it was only after the last fight that one of the broadcasters talked to Emi and told her that what I didn't understand was that they asked me for a password which they had just broadcasted on the radio and only with that password you were allowed to play rock, paper, scissors against Miyabi Yama. So it was only because Japanese are really kind to foreigners and because they will forgive them in most of the cases if they do something wrong. It was an honor for that I will be grateful for the rest of my life.