Sumo's Ancient Ban Faces a Test as Japan’s First Woman Prime Minister May Enter the Ring

Japan’s long-standing sumo tradition of barring women from the dohyo is poised for a high-profile moment: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — the country’s first woman to hold the office — may step into the ring to present the Prime Minister’s Cup at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

What is at stake?

Sumo developed from ancient Shinto rituals, and historians trace aspects of the sport back more than 2,000 years. The prohibition on women entering the ring is rooted in traditional Shinto notions of ritual purity, under which menstrual blood has historically been considered to contaminate sacred spaces. At each of the six professional tournaments held annually, the champion receives a large silver trophy known as the Prime Minister’s Cup. While a cabinet minister typically presents the award, prime ministers have occasionally entered the dohyo to do so in person — notably when US President Donald Trump briefly stepped into the ring during his 2019 state visit to Japan.

Has it been challenged before?

Women compete in amateur sumo around the world, but professional sumo — which takes place only in Japan — has long prohibited women from entering the dohyo. In 1990, Mayumi Moriyama, Japan’s first woman Chief Cabinet Secretary, sought to present the trophy and was refused. A decade later, the then-governor of Osaka, Fusae Ota, was denied for the same reason. Public controversy reignited in 2018 when a city mayor collapsed while speaking in the dohyo: two women rushed in to give first aid and were ordered out by a sumo official. The Japan Sumo Association later apologised, with its chairman calling the decision inappropriate in a life-threatening situation. Shortly afterward, another woman mayor was barred from delivering a speech inside the ring.

Who is Sanae Takaichi?

Sanae Takaichi, 64, became Japan’s first woman prime minister last month. A veteran conservative politician known for her hawkish stance on China and admiration for leaders such as Margaret Thatcher, she has been a regular visitor to the controversial Yasukuni shrine. Takaichi has publicly discussed women's health issues, including menopause, but on gender policy she remains socially conservative: she opposes changing the law that requires married couples to share a surname and supports male-only succession for the imperial family. She had pledged a cabinet with strong female representation but ultimately appointed only two other women ministers alongside herself.

What have officials said?

Neither Takaichi nor the Japan Sumo Association has announced a firm decision about entering the dohyo for the Kyushu tournament, which concludes on November 23. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said no request had been made and that the prime minister “wishes to preserve the traditions of sumo culture.” The Japan Sumo Association has reiterated that it considers preserving sumo’s traditional practices part of its mission, and has given guarded public comments about how it would respond if a request were made.

Why it matters

The question of whether Takaichi will present the trophy goes beyond a sporting formality. It tests the balance between preserving cultural and religious traditions and responding to contemporary debates about gender equality and public leadership. Any attempt by the prime minister to enter the dohyo would likely trigger broad national and international discussion — and could prompt calls for reform within one of Japan’s most iconic institutions.

Next major dates: The Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament is in Fukuoka and ends on November 23. The New Year Grand Sumo Tournament takes place in January at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.