Mawashi (silk belt loincloth): the rikishi's only attire during competition; ~9-13 m long, folded + wrapped around the waist + crotch; color varies by rank (Makuuchi: vibrant colored; lower divisions: black cotton); Chonmage (topknot hair-style): traditional samurai-style hair worn by all profess...
Why people argue about this
People often assume that sumo rikishi use special dohyo mats for comfort when in fact they compete barefoot on a traditional clay surface. The misconception stems from the visual similarity between dohyo and running tracks, leading folks to believe protective mats are used instead of feet.
