Women Enter Sumo Ring to Save Man’s Life, Get Kicked Out For Being Female

A pair of women who tried to save a man’s life inside a sumo ring were ordered to leave the platform because they were deemed ritually “unclean.”

The incident took place at a sumo event in Kyoto, Japan, on April 4.

The women, both medical experts, were responding to 66-year-old Ryozo Tatami, mayor of Maizuru city, who collapsed while delivering a speech.

But as they came to his aid, the referee intervened, saying, “Ladies, please get off the ring. Only gentlemen go up.”

Nonetheless, it is understood that they were able to help with immediate intervention. In a video, one can be seen performing chest compressions.

One of the two women is seen performing chest compressions.

The ring, or “dohyo” in Japanese, is considered to be sacred in sumo wrestling. In theory, women are not supposed to enter it, a tradition seen in contemporary Japan as discriminatory.

When the female experts left, salt was thrown into the ring to repurify it.

Yurika Mita, a newscaster on Fuji Television Network, commented:

“Of course it is important to protect tradition, but the way it excludes women perhaps is out of step with the times and that’s how I feel as a woman. Without the women’s effort, the life of one person might have been lost.”

Taro Arai, a sumo journalist, told Reuters that there had been times when little girls got in the ring during fan events. That means women, technically, have already been approved on the ring.

“I think it is all right for women to get on the ring when there is a reason to do so. There is no historical ground or reason at all why they cannot,” Arai said.

Two more women got into the ring but were ordered to leave shortly.

Tatami, who suffered a stroke — a subarachnoid hemorrhage — was rushed to a hospital and underwent surgery. He has since been in stable condition, The Japan Times reported.

A Maizuru spokesperson told CNN:

“We really appreciate the women who provided the first aid. We don’t know who they were, but would like to thank them directly.”

More paramedics came to help.

The referee’s actions sparked outrage in Japanese social media, with many condemning his decision to put tradition over someone’s life.

舞鶴市での巡業中、舞鶴市長が倒れられました。ご無事を心よりお祈り申し上げます。応急措置をしてくださった女性の方々に深く感謝致しますとともに、応急措置のさなかの不適切な場内アナウンスを深くお詫び申し上げます。再発防止に向け、早急に対応方法を整備致します。→https://t.co/IjyqlHhNEh

— 日本相撲協会公式 (@sumokyokai) April 5, 2018