Japanese cultural and religious orientation today, including sumo wrestlers!

Today we learned some of the important religious and cultural aspects of Japan during our time of orientation. That included a visit to the Edo-Tokyo Museum, which is just next to the largest sumo stadium in Japan. We learned that even the national sport of sumo includes many ancient traditions and rituals that come from Shinto, Japan's native "religion" that believes that spirits are active in every part of life. Here is what Wikipedia says about the relationship between Shinto and sumo:

We saw real sumo wrestlers!

"Sumo can be traced back to ancient Shinto rituals to ensure a bountiful harvest and honor the spirits known as kami. In modern times, the canopy over the sumo ring, called the dohyō is reminiscent of a Shinto shrine, the officiator is dressed in garb very similar to that of a Shinto priest, and the throwing of salt before a bout is believed to purify the ring."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto_origins_of_sumo

It was great to have Jake and Liz in Japan after their arrival was delayed by a day due to mechanical problems with their domestic flight.