紀元前300年頃から行われていたとされる相撲は奈良時代、平安時代には朝廷の公式行事となり、鎌倉時代、室町時代には武芸の一つとしても発達していきました。
Sumo which had been practiced since around 300 B.C. was performed as the dynasty’s official event during Nara Period and Heian Era, and it was even developed as one of Samurai’s practical martial arts during Kamakura Period and Muromachi Period.
そして、江戸時代には職業力士が勧進相撲を行なうようになり、庶民の娯楽となっていました。
In Edo Era, professional Sumo wrestlers entertained people by showing their matches in public to raise money for the offering to shrines and temples.
また、印刷技術が17世紀末頃から大幅に発達し、浮世絵や俳句本が世に出回り、流行りの出版物となりました。
Also, as printing techniques got improved so much since around the end of the 17th Century, Ukiyoe pictures and Haiku poem books became available to public and popular published goods.
寺子屋が18世紀末頃から全国に普及していったおかげで庶民の識字率が劇的に高まると、大衆向けの娯楽本もとても流行るようになりました。
Thanks to an increasing number of Terakoya schools opening throughout Japan since around the end of the 18th Century, the literacy rate of people in general went up dramatically, and the entertainment books for them became very popular as well.
