No tears for second place

May 10, 2000

Showcasing their natural talent, Japanese babies Rikuto Akiyama, left, and Yuto Ohki went head-to-head in the Nakizumo, or Crying Sumo contest, at Tokyo's Sensoji Temple on April 26. The competition featured about 60 infants, who, cradled in the arms of collegiate sumo wrestlers, faced off in a contest of tearful one-upmanship. The spring tradition, which is believed to promote happy and healthy growth, has its roots in a Japanese saying that translates: "A baby [who] cries more, grows better." Obviously, not all parents would agree.

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