Baby-crying sumo contest

As much as I love Japan this is hard for me to take. Those babies made to cry. . .I couldn't watch. Japan is a great place to live and has so many charms and events that I wish they would drop this one. How loud can your dog bark? That'd be okay. Babies. . .eh, I have to turn my head.

Such a symbol of Japan and its culture. I am sure everyone is proud of it.

How about seeing which rikishi can charm the baby the best, or make him laugh first, or even put him to sleep. This just looks like plain cruelty.

Some customs in Japan, when compared to Western cultures, are merely interesting. But some show a deep disconnect which is disturbing even to long timers in the country.

Please, now I've heard it all when people are whining about an old custom of Japan and putting a 2024 twist on it. The babies won't remember it and they're at the age where they often cry over unfamiliar things or new stimuli.

Leave Japan to its customs and cut the reinterpretation and misinterpretation of a harmless, fun custom where strong lungs of a baby signify strenght in the future.

Blacksamurai I guess you’re equally defensive about criticisms of American “old customs” ( or whatever western country you’re from).

Gotta go with Blacksamurai om this one. It's harmless and fun. Babies that age cry countless times a day. This is a cute tradition and no one gets hurt, not even the babies. Relax.

Babies cry at most 30 sec. during the contest. It doesn't seem cruel. In some countries baby has own room since born. Baby always sleeps in own room. Baby wakes up sometimes and cries much longer until mother comes in the baby room. Parents and baby have separate room during night. It seems to me this is cruel.

The babies mothers are proud of this tradition and do not care about it does not match the outside "norms".

Please do not try to change the local tradition.