When you realise how harsh and abrasive the 'clay' floor of a sumo ring is, how much bare flesh is involved, and all that course salt that gets scattered on it. Purification? OF COURSE the place needs purifying. Blood is extremely 'impure', almost taboo, in Shinto and that clay ring gets covered with the stuff. The salt 'disinfects' the ring, but it sure gets into those grazes . And that's without being slapped or slammed into by one of those guys (seemed to me like being hit full on by a high speed dodgem/bumper car).

Having been to a practice session I wouldn't wake up laughing if I were to have a dream like that. I was so pleased I hadn't had any breakfast first, I doubt I could have kept it down. 'Chatting' to the trainees afterwards was a lot of fun, though. Guess that was one benefit of visiting a sumo stable as a single young female, that morning still remains a highlight!

Seriously, AA767Lover, please do reassess your decision about going landside. NRT really isn't that nice a place and Narita town is so pretty!