Recently the amateur sumo association in Japan has encouraged the use of sumo shorts. Article from bbc.uk  In order to encourage teenagers to participate in sumo, the amateur sumo association has advocated ridding the sport of the traditional mawashi (sometimes referred to as "loincloths") in favor of something resembling bicycle shorts.  Competing in shorts apparently makes the youngsters less self-conscious than competing in the traditional sumo near-nakedness.

Fortunately in this case, sanity has prevailed.  The professional sumo association has decided not to allow this "innovation".  This is good news.  When I first heard about this, I was outraged.  The clothing, robes, dress, hairstyles, symbols, and rituals are all critical to giving sumo its uniqueness.  I couldn't take a sumo wrestler seriously if he were to refuse to wear the traditional dress of the sport.

Furthermore, the design of the mawashi itself is a critical part of the sport.  Often a major determinant of the outcome of a match is which sort of grip a wrestler has on his opponent's mawashi.  Regardless of the accomodations that could be made on the shorts to simulate a mawashi, it still wouldn't seem like real sumo.

I couldn't imagine Yokozuna Asashoryu strutting out to the dohyo in a pair of gold biker shorts.  It wouldn't be long before someone would want to put advertising on those things, and then...