Wrestlers wash their faces, mouths, and armpits before entering the dohyo (ring), on whose sacred sand neither shoes nor women may tread. Before a match starts, the two contestants raise their hands to show that they are not hiding weapons in the folds of their loincloth-like belt.
发自大阪——对于日本人来说，可能没什么运动要比相扑更富有宗教意味了。在比赛之前，裁判（同时也是神道教神职人员）在平台四角撒上海藻，盐和沙子来“净化”场地，相扑手则必须在上场之前沐浴更衣，洗净污秽，而中圈以内的沙子也是神圣之物，不能被鞋子和妇女所玷污的。在比赛开始之前，两位相扑手都必须高举双手，示意自己没有在腰带中暗藏武器。