Explore St. Louis

Something big is happening in St. Louis this Labor Day weekend. Something very big. Sumo wrestling is a new attraction at this weekend’s Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The much-anticipated annual event, slated for September 3 –5, celebrates the history, culture and people of Japan.

Sumo, Japan’s national sport, originated as religious performances for the Shinto gods. Each day during the festival, Sumo authority Lynn Matsuoka will give an audiovisual presentation about Sumo. Following the explanatory show, two former professional Sumo will demonstrate the sport. The Sumo schedule is:
Saturday, September 3 at 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 4 and Monday, September 5 at noon – 1:00 p.m.; 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

In addition to Sumo, visitors can enjoy bonsai and ikebana displays, Japanese cooking and ice sculpture demonstrations, kimono fashion shows, taiko drum performances, martial arts activities, hands-on origami and screenings of the anime film Metropolis. Tours of Seiwa En, the largest authentic Japanese garden in North America and traditional tea ceremonies also are on the agenda.