A sumo wrestler throws salt before he enters the ring (credit)
Nov 8Nov 22

Six major sumo tournaments (called honbasho) are held during the year—one on each odd month, each taking place over 15 consecutive days. Three of these honbasho are held in Tokyo at the famous Ryogoku Kokugikan in Sumida and the others are held in Osaka, Aichi, and Fukuoka prefectures.

The event is broadcast on NHK (Japan’s BBC), but watching it on the television can never replicate the intensity of sitting in silence among 10,000 fans as the sumo wrestlers poise behind the white battle lines, choosing their moment to lunge. See here for information on how to buy tickets and here for a brief introduction to the sport.

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