Suffering falling popularity, the Japanese national sport of Sumo wrestling has introduced a new round, half way through the competition, in an attempt to boost viewing numbers, following the lead of more recent sports like K2.
The aka-demo round (short for akachan (meaning baby) and demolition from English) is where the contestants each bash each other with infants for up to 20 minutes.
The contestant wins the round by beating their opposition and or their charge out of the ring with their own toddler.
Japanese Sumo wrestlers tend to their wounded infants during the inaugural aka-demo round at the Sensoji temple in central Tokyo.
Photo: AFP
Criticised by some for the potential injuries that may be caused, organisers reacted by saying that small children were chosen for the very reason that they would minimise the risk of injuries to the wrestlers. While animals had been considered, they were more likely to react in unpredictable ways or lash out at their minders and, besides, recent strict laws prohibited what some argued could amount to abuse of animals. "We don't have to worry about those laws for children" an official explained.
Japanese Sumo Wrestlers introduce their combat kids before the second bout of an aka-demo round at the Sensoji temple in central Tokyo
Photo Reuters
