A sacred venue for the sport of sumo has joined the battle to inoculate Japan's population against COVID-19.
About 230 elderly residents of Sumida Ward, Tokyo, and 10 Japan Sumo Association officials, including stablemaster Nishikijima, were inoculated Monday at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in the ward. It was offered as a venue for the ward's mass vaccinations by the JSA.
In addition to the association staff and stablemasters aged over 65, Sumida residents chosen from among applicants received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on the day.
Masu-seki box seats were used as a waiting area for follow-up observations after the shots, and lucky recipients won yokozuna autographs and other prizes in a raffle.
"I wasn't scared of being vaccinated at this familiar place," an 80-year-old sumo fan said excitedly.
The Kokugikan will host vaccinations again on June 23 and 24. After people aged 65 and older, about 160 Sumida residents with underlying conditions and about 800 sumo wrestlers are scheduled to be inoculated.
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