Pingtung: Sumo wrestlers from Japan on Monday participated in various activities, including guessing the weight of a bluefin tuna, at Donggang Fishery Port in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan. This event is part of a 25-year-old seasonal tourism festival centered around the local bluefin tuna catch.
According to Focus Taiwan, the second day of their visit saw 13 sumo wrestlers from the Shikoroyama Stable in Japan, along with Master Shikoroyama Tsuneyuki, visiting Donggang Auction Ground. This location is significant as it ships 80 percent of its catch to Japan. The sumo wrestlers took part in a guessing game involving the weight of a bluefin tuna, a major catch from April to June, celebrated through the Pingtung Bluefin Tuna Cultural Festival since 2001.
The wrestlers, dressed in their wrestling outfits, attracted onlookers as they attempted to guess the weight of the bluefin tuna, which was suspended by its tail. The tuna, comparable in length to an adult human, weighed 224 kilograms with the wrestlers’ guess being 220 kg.
Additionally, 20-year-old Mikazuchiyama, also known as Tomoya Miyata, engaged in a contest with Legislator Hsu Fu-kuei to see who could drag a fish to the nearby seafood market the fastest. Mikazuchiyama emerged victorious, after which the Japanese visitors enjoyed tuna sashimi at the market, which features 400 stands offering both cooked and raw tuna dishes.
Mineyaiba Kishamaru, a 26-year-old wrestler whose real name is Chikashi Ito, expressed surprise at the size and slipperiness of the fish. He remarked that visiting the port was the highlight of his two-day trip to Pingtung, organized by the Pingtung Tourism Association.
During their visit, the sumo wrestlers also engaged in various activities and visited several attractions, including water activities in Kenting, Wanluan known for its braised pork knuckle, Pingtung Cocoa Park, and Taiwan’s oldest church, Wanjin Catholic Basilica. They also explored the Luo Shan Feng Recreation Area and the newly opened Pingtung King Boat Cultural Museum, as Pingtung is renowned for its “King Boat” religious events.