Since the 1988 Kyusyu Sumo Tournament, the 'Hita Mayor's Prize'
has been awarded to the winning wrestler. 

In addition to the plaque in the shape of a jumbo wooden 
geta (clog) made of Hita cedar, (1 meter high, 60 cm wide and 
weighing 23Kg,) the prize includes I ton of Hita pears, 
365 bottles of Hita sake, and 200 pairs of wooden clogs.

 This links Hita's famous geta with Nagasue Hita 
(commonly known as Hita-don) the god of Sumo, who is 
enshrined at the Hita Jingu Shrine the prize was proposed
 by a group working to activate the town, and came 
into being throug their eforts.