Seventy-one percent of spectators surveyed at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in March agreed that, in sticking with sumo tradition, women should be banned from entering the ring, the Japan Sumo Association said Friday.
The survey was conducted after Osaka Gov. Fusae Ota failed to gain entrance to the ring for the sixth consecutive time to present a prefecture-funded prize to the tourney winner on the final day of the 15-day meet at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in March.
Of the 275 people (116 women) surveyed, 124 (42 women) said they were completely in favor of the ban against women. Another 71 people (34 women) said they were in overall agreement with the ban.
Also, 150 people said there should be an increase in the number of foreign-born grapplers while 126 people were against such action.