You won’t want to take this guy on in the ring or at the arcade.
In sumo wrestling, tradition and pageantry are given as much importance as the bouts themselves. After all, it’s a sport with a history that stretches back hundreds of years, having not only deep cultural roots, but religious ones as well.
But while sumo wrestling itself may be centuries-old, sumo wrestlers are predominantly young men. As such, they’re not immune to the appeal of modern hobbies. Take, for example, this video shared by professional sumo wrestler Masakatsu Ishiura of 18-year-old Shou Tanikawayama, a younger sumo wrestler attached to the same training stable as Ishihura and apparently a master of arcade game Taiko no Tatsujin (also known as Taiko: Drum Master).
https://twitter.com/ghetto_stone/status/753609299713138693In case you’ve never had the opportunity to play an installment in the long-running franchise from Bandai Namco, Taiko no Tatsujin is a musical rhythm game using a model of a taiko, or traditional Japanese drum. Giving the instrument involved, Taiko no Tatsujin’s gameplay is closer to the real deal than what you get with the simplified musical instrument of Guitar Hero or DJ simulator Beatmania’s mockup turntable.
Nevertheless, the 135.6-kilogram (298.3-pound) Tanikawayama fearlessly choses to play “Yawaraka Sensha” on the game’s hardest difficulty, Oni (“Demon”) Level. Showing off the surprising quickness and coordination that belies sumo wrestlers’ large bodies, he pounds and pounds at the drums, and while his performance isn’t perfect, it’s close enough to make us think if Tanikawayama’s sumo career doesn’t pan out, he just might have a future as a drummer instead.
Source: IT Media, Twitter/@ghetto_stone

Japanese gamer “God of Akihabara” plays Taiko no Tatsujin Drum Master game with back to screen
Make (lots and lots of) room for this enormous new Taiko no Tatsujin controller from Hori
Master drummers are lurking in Japanese game centers
Gamer bandits steal Taiko No Tatsujin drum from Aichi arcade
Japanese drum game Taiko no Tatsujin celebrates 20 years with TikTok version, tournament, and more
Japanese company selling bear-proof automatic doors
Viral 3D ice creams land in Japan… but are they worth the hype?
Foreign driver’s license conversion test passes plummet from over 90% to 33% in Japan
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
A whole slew of Totoro Christmas cakes are on their way to make the season extra merry【Photos】
In real life, hitting someone with Street Fighter’s dragon punch would kill him…messily 【Video】
Nintendo releases Metroid-shaped ice cube/cooking tray and Samus arm cannon pillow【Pics】
Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki says the anime industry’s problem is that it’s full of anime fans
Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Is Kyoto less crowded with tourists after China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning?【Photos】
You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan
Japanese police attempting to clamp down on “zombie cigarettes”
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Japanese government considering tripling departure taxes to combat overtourism
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Drum roll please…Touchscreen rhythm game controller to begin crowdfunding
Man’s amazing Taiko Drum Master moves are sure to bring smiles to your face【Video】
Can rhythm games make you a pro drummer? Japanese DrumMania fans investigate【Video】
The bigger they are… Smallest top sumo wrestler takes on yokozuna with amazing result【Video】
Robot sumo wrestlers fire laser blasts in crazy, free-to-play horse racing browser game
Champion sumo wrestler show off his amazingly efficient autograph production line 【Video】
Japanese guy plays two-player Taiko No Tatsujin alone, blindfolded and backwards【Video】
Leave a Reply