Photo/Illutration Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike speaks to ozeki Takakeisho at his formal retirement ceremony in October. Banned from the dohyo ring, she trimmed his topknot after he stepped down from it. (Kensuke Suzuki)

Half a century ago in 1978, a fifth-year elementary schoolgirl felt sorely let down.

She had won the qualifying round of a children’s sumo tournament and was thrilled to go to the Ryogoku Kokugikan for the final match.

However, she was told that it wouldn't be happening because the dohyo sumo ring is off-limits to women.

Mayumi Moriyama (1927-2021), who was a labor ministry bureau chief at the time, summoned a senior official of the Japan Sumo Association and asked him if the taboo would still hold even if a woman became the deputy chief Cabinet secretary.

The deputy chief Cabinet secretary acts on behalf of the prime minister by presenting the tournament champion with the Prime Minister’s Cup.

The official reportedly answered, “I do not think a woman will become a deputy chief Cabinet secretary.”

Moriyama later went into politics and became the first woman to hold the title of chief Cabinet secretary, sans “deputy.”

But the dohyo still remained off-limits to women, with the JSA stubbornly insisting on “protecting the tradition.”

Fast-forward to the 21st century and Sanae Takaichi is Japan’s first female prime minister. What if she says she wants to hand over the championship cup herself?

The question has aroused considerable public interest, as this coming Sunday will be the final day of the ongoing Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

But the JSA has not changed its stance and Takaichi apparently has no interest in giving out the award. She is reportedly in favor of “respecting traditional culture.”

I can appreciate her intent to honor the culture built by our forebears. However, there is no tradition that must never be changed.

In the case of a historic home, for example, the greater its historic value, the more repairs it needs to keep up with the times. If nothing is done, it will only fall into total disrepair.

Moriyama once noted, “I’d love to see women go on the dohyo. But I don’t think it will happen in my lifetime.”

It has been four years since she died at age 93.

—The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 20

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.