Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Slovenia mushroom foraging
Slovenia • 6 days, 5 nights
Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Statue of the Buddha in the main temple
Gadaladeniya Viharaya
McClellan Falls
McClellan Falls
Kraken Habitat
Skye Textile Mill
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Caru' cu Bere
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Inside the Rothko Chapel
These Monuments Showcase the Beauty of Brutalism
1 day ago
Aerial view of Pulau Tiga
The Original ‘Survivor’ Island Changed Television Forever
2 days ago
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Roaming among Assateague's feral island ponies
2 days ago
The main reading room of the Athenaeum.
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Literary Landmarks Across Providence
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Yamagata Night-Crying Sumo Wrestlers
AO Edited

Night-Crying Sumo Wrestlers

A quartet of temple guardian statues that allegedly cry at night for being forbidden from wrestling.

Yamagata, Japan

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Senshoji Temple.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

One of the largest temples in Yamagata City, the main building of Senshōji dates back to 170. Its roof is supported by a quartet of guardian statues attributed to Hidari Jingorō, a legendary sculptor best known for his carvings of the Three Wise Monkeys and the Sleeping Cat in Nikko.

The statues were so well-sculpted that they soon became a subject of urban legend. The most popular rumor was that the guardians would cry at night, but there existed two different explanations for it.

One story is that the guardians would sneak out of the temple every night to sumo wrestle, but the monks put an end to their pastime by nailing their feet to the pillars. The other story is more simple, stating that the guardians cry from all the weight put on their shoulders. Whichever explanation you accept, the so-called Night-Crying Sumo Wrestlers are unique and interesting to look at, making Senshōji Temple well worth a visit.

Related Tags

Sculptures Temples Statues Wrestling
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

October 31, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Night-Crying Sumo Wrestlers
Yamagata, 990-0041
Japan
38.251625, 140.346378

Nearby Places

Yamadera Temple Complex

Yamagata, Japan

miles away

Tarumizu Sanctuary

Yamagata, Japan

miles away

Shinseki Shiroishi (God Stone of Shiroishi)

Shiroishi, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Yamagata

Yamagata

Japan

Places 2

Nearby Places

Yamadera Temple Complex

Yamagata, Japan

miles away

Tarumizu Sanctuary

Yamagata, Japan

miles away

Shinseki Shiroishi (God Stone of Shiroishi)

Shiroishi, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Yamagata

Yamagata

Japan

Places 2

Related Places

  • Kyoto, Japan

    Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple

    Twelve hundred stone carvings guard this off-the-beaten-path Buddhist temple.

  • Figures from Buddhist hell.

    Tambon Tham Nam Phut, Thailand

    Wat Tham Ta Pan

    Grotesque statues of figures from Buddhist hell haunt the temple's Sin Park.

  • London, England

    Leo The Lion

    A statue for a zoo that was never built.

  • Statues of Qin Hui and Lady Wang.

    Hangzhou, China

    Qin Hui Statue at Yue Fei Temple

    Visitors take revenge upon the statue of a traitor made to kneel at the tomb of his enemy.

  • Chiayi City, Taiwan

    Manneken Pis of Taiwan

    A replica of Brussels’ Manneken Pis has stood in Taiwan since 1934.

  • Chocolate Orange

    York, England

    Terry's Chocolate Orange Sculpture

    A unique tribute to the chocolatey past that helped shape one British city.

  • Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

    Hongmaogang Baoan Temple

    A rare Japanese-style temple and a Shinzo Abe Statue, honoring both spirits of the past and modern connections between Taiwan and Japan.

  • This gentleman appears to be taking in the scenery

    Madrid, Spain

    'The Curious Neighbor'

    One of Madrid's most beloved statues is of an anonymous citizen.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.