Licensing

Portland Sumo Club, 1931

Sports were a popular activity in Nihonmachi. The Portland Sumo club practiced in the Japantown neighborhood, as did Portland Obukan judo, fencing, and dance classes. Other activities included basketball (boys and girls teams), golf and baseball.

Sumo tournaments were held in the Longshoreman’s Hall at NW 4th and Everett, Portland, Oregon. In this photo, each boy is wearing a traditional sumo no maki - a wrap that was decorative and displayed each boy’s chosen wrestling name.

Photo: Portland Sumo Club 1931, ONLC 541, courtesy of Jack Yoshihara.

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