Core Values

Sumo Sundays is a grassroots organization that carries a plurality of identities and connections to community.

These identities, connections and our lived experiences shape all aspects of how we operate. From how we make space for ourselves and others to creating genuine connections and bridging gaps, our approach to sumo aims to be community-centred.

Learn more about how we approach our work by reading our policies and procedures below.

Policies & Procedures

Learn about how we operate through the following policies and procedures.

Most of our operations take place at Sumo Sundays’ training grounds, the Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall (VJLS). Located in what is presently known as Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, VJLS remains the only property to retain ownership by any Japanese Canadian, including businesses and organizations, after the Second World War.

Rooted in the centre of what was once referred to as Paueru Gai (Powell Street), the area was called home by nearly 8,000 people of Japanese descent. During the war, these people were some of the 21,000 Japanese Canadians forcibly removed from the West Coast and confined to incarceration and prisoner of war camps, and forced to labour on sugar beet projects and highway projects in B.C.’s interior, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. During this time, the Canadian government seized and sold their property and possessions without their consent. Further, Japanese Canadians were not permitted to return to the West Coast until 1949. By this time, many families had settled elsewhere.

For those who returned to Vancouver, some community members fought to reopen VJLS as a way to reclaim their identity. (During the war, VJLS facilities were occupied by the Canadian Armed Forces. Half of the property was eventually sold to pay for maintenance expenses and from 1947 to 1953, the remaining building was rented to the Army and Navy Department Store.)

The remaining half of the VJLS property was restored to the Japanese Canadian community in 1953.

Today, the area is home to residents of the Downtown Eastside (DTES). Many of these residents are affected by a complex of challenges within the neighbourhood, which includes houselessness, unemployment, drug use and more. We understand that the DTES is a contentious conversation for many in Vancouver but Sumo Sundays supports the work of those organizations advocating for our unhoused and low-income neighbours.

Further, we acknowledge that this land was once the traditional, unceded and occupied territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations. Until European settlers colonized the land in the late 1800s, Indigenous peoples were the original stewards of this land and have been for time immemorial. A disproportionate number of unhoused residents in the DTES are Indigenous.

In an effort to be more inclusive and accessible, Sumo Sundays hosts two types of brackets, depending on the event:

Open gender, meaning folks of all genders were invited to compete in the same brackets.

Gender diverse (inclusive of women, non-binary and gender diverse folks) and men’s

Trans folks are welcome to participate in all brackets.

We understand that sumo continues to be a sport dominated by cis-men. While our open gender brackets attempted to eliminate gender, these were still largely participated by men.

Our decision to use a gender diverse bracket (#2), inclusive of multiple identities, was made in consultation with Sumo Sundays members who identify as women, non-binary and trans. Not only does this decision reflect the lived experiences and interests of the broader Sumo Sundays community, but it also reflects the lived experiences of primary Sumo Sundays’ organizers.

As a group whose mission is to be an all-bodies space for all genders and experiences, we understand that gender is not exclusive to the binary. Further, as a grassroots, volunteer-led group, we do not have the capacity to offer more brackets this year that further silo competitors based on identity or gender.

While the basho and exhibition at Powell Street Festival are framed as a tournament, they are a celebration of the Sumo Sundays community and serves as an introduction of the sport to the larger public. In addition, neither exhibitions are meant to be qualifications into the competitive sumo world but we understand that some of our members and competitors are interested in and part of that.

All material created by Sumo Sundays is human-generated. We will never generate AI content due to ethical and environmental reasons.

Our visuals are real, representing real participants and activities, and are often documented by photographers who have an understanding of the people, stories and communities we aim to represent. Similarly, all artwork designed for Sumo Sundays is commissioned by local artists who represent our story.

Our work aims to be intentional and authentic to who we are.

Mutual Care

How we talk to and about each other matters. Below are a few resources we've put together for how to navigate our multiple communities.

Language

In addition to the history, past and present, of the DTES neighbourhood, Sumo Sunday participants and spectators often includes queer and trans folks, people of colour, those descended from Japanese settlers and those with disabilities.

How can we better care for each other and keep this a safe space for everyone? These notes are not exhaustive and are only meant to provide some pieces for consideration.

The neighbourhood. Treat all people with kindness and respect, regardless of their housing or financial situation. It is okay to feel uncomfortable but please keep unkind comments, stereotypes and assumptions to yourself. These are not welcome in our space.
Japanese/Japanese Canadian community/culture. As a result of the history of Japanese Canadians in B.C., many multi-generational descendants of Japanese settlers do not have direct connections to language or traditional culture. Assuming we do or sharing how much knowledge you might have of Japan/Japanese culture over us can be uncomfortable and triggering. Not only was Japanese language, culture and identity erased during the Second World War, many people were forced to assimilate into western/white identity to fit in.
Gender. We use an all-bodies, open-gender approach for Sumo Sundays because we understand that people do not fit into traditional silos that often define gender by only two genders. The language and brackets we’ve created are intentional and are efforts to create an inclusive and accessible space. Ask for people’s pronouns (they/she/he etc.) and avoid assumptions about their identity. Remember: Gender is more than a binary and includes folks who identify as non-binary, gender diverse and more. To keep things equitable, we maintain a clothing-on space.

TLDR; don’t assume. Whether it’s gender, pronouns, identity, language, size, experience etc., err on the side of caution and don’t project assumptions onto another person. If you are unsure, ask or avoid the topic altogether if not relevant to the conversation or situation.

Resources

Again, not an exhaustive list, but a few places to start.

History: Vancouver Japanese Language School & Hall
On Hyphens and Racial Indicators (JSTOR Daily)
Why We Say Powell Street and Not “Japantown” (360 Riot Walk)
Books on the history of the Downtown Eastside/Strathcona (Vancouver Public Library)
Highway of Tears (Jessica McDiarmid)
A Better Future is Possible for the Downtown Eastside (The Tyee)
Gender-Neutral Language Sheet (Qmunity)

Shaped by intersection.