Ryōgoku

Ryōgoku (両国) is a district in Sumida, Tokyo. It is surrounded by various districts in Sumida, Chūō, and Taitō wards: Yokoami, Midori, Chitose, Higashi Nihonbashi, and Yanagibashi.

Ryōgoku Station and the surrounding area, with the Ryōgoku Kokugikan sumo stadium in the foreground
Katsu Kaishū, who was born in Ryōgoku

In 1659, the Ryōgoku Bridge was built, spanning the Sumida River just upstream of its confluence with the Kanda River. Its name, meaning "two provinces," came from its joining Edo (the forerunner of Tokyo in Musashi Province) and Shimōsa Province. The district derived its name from that of the bridge.

The Forty-seven rōnin avenged the death of their lord, Asano Naganori, by breaking into the mansion of his enemy, Kira Yoshinaka, in 1703. Part of the mansion has been preserved in a public park in Ryōgoku.

Ryōgoku Station in the neighboring Yokoami district was opened in 1904, bringing rail transportation to the area.

It is regarded as the heartland of professional sumo. Most training stables or heya are based there. The first Ryōgoku Kokugikan stadium for sumo was completed in 1909. The present one was built in 1985 in the Yokoami district north of Ryōgoku. Three of professional sumo's six annual official tournaments take place there.

Notable people from Ryōgoku

Famous people connected with Ryōgoku include Katsu Kaishū, who was born there in 1823. Novelist Ryūnosuke Akutagawa was raised in the district. Television personality and former member of the House of Councillors Kyosen Ōhashi was born there.

Ryōgoku is home to the Edo-Tokyo Museum.

Sumo

Because the Ryogoku bridge was developed in the region, during the Edo period this part of Tokyo became as significant as Ueno and Asakusa. Sumo wrestling began to grow very popular due to the Kanjin sumo, which were championships organized to raise money for the construction of temples. These tournaments were held at the Eko-in temple.

Most of the biggest Sumo tournaments are held in January, May and September at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena.

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References

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