In Japan, women are by tradition banned from entering the sumo wrestling ring, and this has resulted in a social dust-up over the rule on more than one occasion. Now the practice is being debated as the "no women allowed" rule is reconsidered at the highest level, and in the eyes of the world. CGTN's Steve Ross tells us more, from Tokyo.

FUSAE OHTA 
JAPAN HOUSE OF COUNCILLORS
 "The big sumo tournaments are held in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. I was the first female mayor in these four cities. That's why this "women's issue" in the sumo ring originally came up."

Fusae OHTA recalls how, some eighteen years ago, despite her pioneering role as the first female governor of Osaka, she was barred from entering the sacred sumo ring to present the Governor's Trophy. The incident ignited a debate.

And that debate was reignited this April, when women administering first-aid to a suspected heart attack victim were told to leave the sumo ring – despite there being no male first-responders at hand.

FUSAE OHTA 
JAPAN HOUSE OF COUNCILLORS
 "How does this look from the international perspective? More and more, they might say it looks strange. We call it "foreign pressure," but this is a global age, and I think it's good for Japan to shift to the correct way. I want other countries' people to express their opinion about this prohibition of women."

STEVE ROSS TOKYO "For major sumo arenas, the women and sumo issue has generated a long-term controversy, but now the debate is about to reach a higher level."

That's because the roots of sumo trace back to ancient shrine rituals that regard women as "ritually unclean" to enter the ring. These same beliefs may also bar women from attending a certain number of Imperial Succession ceremonies next spring, when the current Emperor, Akihito, abdicates, and Crown Prince Naruhito ascends to the throne. For the Japanese, the debate over the role of women in the ceremonies is a difficult push-and-pull between tradition and modern times.

DR. EIICHI MIYASHIRO ASAHI SHIMBUN "The ceremonies that were held for the current emperor ascending to the throne, the one where he received some of the sacred treasures, these could not be attended by the female members of the imperial household, and it is now considered that, because we live in different times, maybe some changes should be made."

In the months to come, the Imperial Household and other influential parties must arrive at a consensus as to the degree to which women will participate in Imperial Succession proceedings. Greater inclusion of women in the ceremonies could provide the social signal necessary to trigger greater participation of women in the workplace, in government, and – perhaps someday – even in the sacred sumo ring.

DR. EIICHI MIYASHIRO ASAHI SHIMBUN "This is an opportunity for the people of Japan to consider what the role of the emperor should be going forward; in other words, what kind of values he should have and represent."

Steve Ross, CGTN, Tokyo.