午夜剧场

In April 2018, during a regional sumo tour in Maizuru, a mayor collapsed while giving a speech on the dohyo (ring), and female medical professionals rushed up to save his life. An announcement from sumo officials followed, stating, "Women, please step down from the ring." This sparked a wave of criticism, questioning the validity of "Nyoin Kinzei" (the exclusion of women) in a life-threatening situation. This incident triggered a heated debate not only regarding the exclusion of women from the sumo ring but also in mountain sanctuaries, festivals, sake brewing, and tunnel construction. As the author of a book titled "Nyoin Kinzei," I was flooded with interview requests from newspapers, weekly magazines, television, and radio. In this book, based on those experiences and gender discourse, I reconsider the exclusion of women from the perspective of cultural anthropology and present issues for the future.

In Chapter 1, "Sumo and Nyoin Kinzei," I examine the nature of tradition and clarify that many of the current traditions in sumo are "invented traditions" established after the opening of the first Kokugikan in 1909 (Meiji 42). The discourse of sumo as a national sport is also a modern creation. I point out that the "exclusion of women from the ring" became manifest through award ceremonies introduced in the modern era and suggest directions for future improvements.

In Chapter 2, "Impurity and Nyoin Kinzei," I trace the formation and changes of the exclusion of women and female boundaries (nyoin kekkai), examine the concept of female impurity cited as the reason for the prohibition, and discuss taboos in sacred sites and sanctuaries as well as the transformation of views on women. I conduct a critical examination of movements following the lifting of female boundaries in the modern era and the expansion of the concept of Nyoin Kinzei by modern media. Finally, I discuss general theories of impurity through a comparative study of impurity concepts in Sri Lanka, India, and Japan.

In Chapter 3, "Mountain Worship and Gender," I categorize discourse on the exclusion of women into history, customs, social movements, and discrimination, discussing them in relation to gender. Focusing on Dorogawa at the foot of Mount Sanjo in the Omine Mountains, where the exclusion of women continues today, I examine transitions and discuss relationships with religious groups (ko) and Shugendo, as well as the impact of national parks and World Heritage status, considering future challenges.

Regarding the exclusion of women, opponents begin their arguments from the standpoint of "discrimination," while proponents cling to "tradition," leading to a stalemate. This book is a practical attempt to move beyond the binary choice of discrimination versus tradition, suggesting that diverse options exist and encouraging open dialogue and debate.

Masataka Suzuki

Hozokan

388 pages, 2,750 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.