Most viewed - Grand Sumo Tournament 大相撲 |
Grand sumo tournaments are held six times a year in Jan., March, May, July, Sept., and Nov. They are held at Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo in Jan., May, and Sept. In March, it is in Osaka, July in Nagoya, and Nov. in Fukuoka. This is the Kokugikan.833 views
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The bow twirler is a Makushita Division wrestler (third highest division). Afterward, the entire sumo ring is covered with a cloth. Also see my Kokugikan photos here.607 views
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Bow twirling (called Yumitori-shiki) is the final ceremony at the end of the tournament day which is around 6 pm. 536 views
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The yobidashi changes once in a while. Dressed in black and sitting as one of the judges is former yokozuna Chiyonofuji, now Kokonoe oyakata.464 views
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The thrown cushions are hastily piled up at ringside.452 views
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Asashoryu collects a big paycheck.379 views
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Ama, another Mongolian and now Yokozuna Harumafuji. The Mongolians are taking over the top echelons of sumo dominated by foreigners. We haven't had a Japanese yokozuna since 2003.338 views
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Hakuho collects his pay.324 views
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Wrestlers wait until everyone is on the ring. Notice that Takamisakari (second from the left) and the rikishi on the far right have almost the same aprons. They will serve as the sword bearer and dew sweeper for the yokozuna ring-entering ceremony.307 views
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Baruto, from Estonia, at the center. He's well on his way to become Ozeki. There are many foreign sumo wrestlers. Unfortunately, there are none from Hawaii. Mostly Europeans and Mongolians.307 views
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Musoyama (in Sept. 2004).299 views
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The striking yokozuna upset makes the crowd go wild as they throw zabuton cushions in glee.299 views
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He stomps the ground to drive away evil.288 views
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He extends his arms to show that he conceals no weapons. I'm not too crazy about the way Asashoryu does the dohyo-iri though. A few little details make it less dignified.283 views
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Kotooshu sits on his own cushion at ringside before his bout.264 views
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The chairman of the Japan Sumo Association (shown here is Kitanoumi) greets the crowd and thanks everyone for coming.248 views
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Asashoryu performing the yokozuna dohyo-iri or ring-entering ceremony. There are two styles of the yokozuna dohyo-iri. One is the Unryu style which Asashoryu performs. One hand is on his hip as he rises here. 雲龍型246 views
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He claps his hands to get the attention of the gods. 横綱土俵入り245 views
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During a sumo exhibition tour in the US, first lady Nancy Reagan rejected having the yokozuna ring-entering ceremony performed in the Rose Garden of the White House. It was performed at the State Department instead with Secretary George Schultz attending.228 views
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The sumo matches have five judges (shinpan), dressed in formal black kimono, sitting on each of the four sides of the sumo ring. There is also a referee (gyoji) on the ring. This is former yokozuna Takanohana who has lost much weight and looks like a kid.225 views
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There are about 800 sumo wrestlers, called rikishi, and they belong to one of six divisions. Each day of the tournament starts in the morning with the lower divisions as you see here. They are skinnier and wear drab-looking black mawashi.225 views
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Ozeki Kakuryu in an 2013.225 views
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If you want to photograph sumo, you'll need a good telephoto lens. The sumo ring has mostly tungsten lighting.223 views
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The higher ranking rikishi are at the end of the line. (Hakuho and Kotooshu here).219 views
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Hakuho throws salt on the sumo ring.219 views
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Each tournament is 15 days long, and each wrestler in the top two divisions wrestle once a day. A wrestler must win at least 8 times during a tournament to get promoted. Otherwise, he is demoted in rank. The more he wins, the higher he is promoted.217 views
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Ozeki Kotooshu.217 views
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Kokkai means "Black Sea."217 views
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Yokozuna Hakuho215 views
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Yokozuna Harumafuji207 views
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The wrestlers are divided into east and west, and both groups perform the dohyo-iri. They wear colorful ceremonial aprons called kesho mawashi made of silk. They can cost up to 500,000 yen.205 views
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Roho vs. Tochiazuma204 views
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On the first day of the tournament, the chairman of the Japan Sumo Association (shown here is Kitanoumi) and top rikishi go on the ring to convey greetings to the crowd.202 views
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Ozeki Kotooshu with an apron by Bulgaria Yogurt. (Kotooshu is from Bulgaria.)202 views
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One colorful highlight each day during a tournament is the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony performed by rikishi in the top two divisions. These are rikishi in the second highest division called Juryo. 十両201 views
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The colorful kesho mawashi are expensive to make, and each wrestler has a sponsor who donates an apron. The sponsor's name is usually on the bottom.201 views
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Often the wrestlers will lock onto each other while gripping each other's mawashi belts (made of silk). (Ozeki Kaio vs. Tamanoshima in May 2005.)200 views
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There goes Asashoryu.200 views
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Takamisakari196 views
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They glare at each other a few times before the match. They repeat the salt throwing and glaring for four minutes before the match starts.190 views
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The two rikishi who were called up go on the ring and stomp their foot.188 views
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There are many sumo techniques (called kimarite) to defeat the opponent. This is okuridashi or rear push out. Once your back is toward the opponent, you have little chance to recover.188 views
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Next we have the ring-entering ceremony by the top division wrestlers in the Makunouchi Division. Rikishi from the east side come down the aisle first. They are led by a referee.187 views
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Then they throw salt onto the ring for purification. They do this a few times before the match. These are all Shinto-based religious rituals. Even the roof above the sumo ring looks like a Shinto shrine roof.187 views
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The sumo tournaments are broadcast live every day on TV by NHK, focusing on the Makunouchi Division matches.185 views
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The initial charge or tachiai is crucial, and can determine who will win the match. The rikishi on the right has charged earlier than the other, giving him the advantage.185 views
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Overarm throw called uwatenage.185 views
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After the last wrestler is on the ring, they all turn around and raise their arms.184 views
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The referee is thrown into the crowd by the wrestler (by accident, of course). An attendant carries the water bucket out of the way so the referee does not crash into it and spill the water. A judge looks on concerned, while some spectators are amused.180 views
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Asashoryu and Hakuho glare at each other.180 views
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Kotooshu is from Bulgaria.179 views
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Many matches also have sponsor who pay money to the winner of the match. Each banner represents a sponsor.178 views
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The rikishi sits at ringside until his name is called by the yobidashi (caller or usher) here who is announcing the wrestler's name while holding a fan.177 views
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Takamisakari does his "Robocop" act in his corner to psych himself up.177 views
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Getting off the sumo ring.176 views
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Then they rinse their mouths with water for purification. Another wrestler holds the water ladle and tissue paper.176 views
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Hakuho, before he became yokozuna.175 views
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On the ring, they spread their arms to show that they carry no weapons.175 views
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Sumo scoreboard. The names of all the wrestlers are displayed in the order of the sumo matches (from right to left). The winner is indicated with a red lamp.175 views
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Sometimes a match is too close to call. The ringside judges will hold a conference in the ring and either decide who was the winner or declare a rematch. The referee must accept the decision. Judges in the video room may also examine a replay on video.171 views
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Yokozuna Hakuho vs. Ozeki Kakuryu in Jan 2013. They are both Mongolian.165 views
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Besides Europeans, there are numerous Mongolians in sumo. This is Hakuho in May 2005. He's now a yokozuna.164 views
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Referees are also ranked. The higher ranking referees appear for the matches of the higher-ranking rikishi. They have different dress as the rank goes higher. The lowest-ranked referee may be barefoot.162 views
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Hakuho beats Kakuryu.162 views
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Kisenosato loses this one.159 views
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Harumafuji doing his very low stance.158 views
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This is Hakurozan, who was arrested for drug use in 2008 and booted out of sumo along with his brother Roho.157 views
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Fortunately, there are many people who do appreciate sumo, like former French president Jacques Chirac. (THe current French president has no interest in sumo.)157 views
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Ozeki Kisenosato vs. Yokozuna Harumafuji in Jan. 2013.155 views
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The cushions are quickly cleared away.154 views
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You can see sumo for as cheap as 2100 yen. You can buy tickets at the box office where the tournament is held. The cheap tickets may sell out, so go early.153 views
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Harumafuji's common technique is to sidestep his opponent and push him out from behind.151 views
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The ring-entering ceremony starts at around 4 pm. The yokozuna's rope belt and zig-zag paper streamers look very similar to the sacred rope found at Shinto shrines.149 views
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Yokozuna Harumafuji from Mongolia performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony.149 views
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Next is Yokozuna Harumafuji.147 views
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Ozeki Kisenosato145 views
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Juryo wrestlers performing the ring-entering ceremony.142 views
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He claps his hands and stomps his foot.142 views
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JUryo wrestlers continue to fight.139 views
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There were also two Russian sumo wrestlers. Roho and his brother Hakurozan. This is Roho in May 2005. Both got busted for drug use in 2008 and were kicked out of sumo.137 views
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Unfortunately, there are people ignorant of sumo who think it is just nearly naked, fat men charging at each other. Famous American newspaper columnist Mike Royko once wrote one of the worse and most insulting pieces about sumo in his column.135 views
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Right after the Makunouchi dohyo-iri is the Yokozuna Dohyo-iri. This is Yokozuna Asashoryu. A major highlight during the tournament.133 views
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Grabbing the opponent's mawashi belt to throw him down or out is a key technique.129 views
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Once in a while, they freshen up the sumo ring, sweeping it.129 views
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The yokozuna is flanked by two attendants, a sword bearer on the left and dew sweeper on the right. Their kesho mawashi ceremonial aprons are a matching set.127 views
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Asashoryu125 views
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Asashoryu won this one.124 views
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Takamisakari is one of the more popular rikishi.121 views
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Some of the designs on the aprons are quite beautiful. Some are also pretty much advertisements for the sponsor who could be a support group, fan club, company, or rich individual.120 views
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The most famous Mongolian sumo wrestler is Asashoryu who has been quite controversial at times.120 views
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Roho's apron actually had little lights which flashed.118 views
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They enter as wooden clappers are clapped by someone.115 views
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Also on the first day of the tournament, the previous tournament winner receives a large portrait of himself to be hung in the Kokugikan. This is the ceremony for it.115 views
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Another match with Asashoryu.115 views
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Kotooshu on the right.114 views
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The referee points his fan toward the side of the winner.114 views
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They spit out the water into a small bucket in the corner.113 views
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Lots of sponsors for this match between Asashoryu and Hakuho on Jan. 19, 2006. Both Mongolians.113 views
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Asashoryu113 views
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Seeing sumo live is much better than seeing it on TV. The atmosphere can't be beat when you're actually there. Taking photos and videos are of course permitted.112 views
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The two rikishi who escort him are either from his own sumo stable or an affiliate sumo stable.111 views
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He defeats his opponent who also pushes down the referee.111 views
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They make their way around the ring.110 views
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Next are rikishi from the west side.110 views
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A false start by Hakuho.110 views
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Side view of Asashoryu's dohyo-iri. Looks like we'll have to wait a lot longer to ever see another Japanese yokozuna. No one is even on the horizon as of this writing. The next yokozuna might as well be another foreigner (Baruto perhaps).109 views
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In this case, Asashoryu receives a new portrait which is then unveiled. The portrait is usually sponsored by a major newspaper.108 views
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He turns around and goes back to his place. You can see that his rope belt is tied with a single loop on the back. This is the Unryu style. It differs from the Shiranui style performed by Hakuho.108 views
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Oshidashi or frontal push out, a common technique.108 views
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Kokkai on the left. He is from Georgia in eastern Europe.108 views
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Yokozuna Harumafuji from Mongolia performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony.108 views
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The yokozuna dohyo-iri ends. It is performed every day during the 15-day tournament as well as at exhibition tournaments.107 views
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Hakuho107 views
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Hakurozan at the initial charge.107 views
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The color of the tassel hanging from the referee's fan indicates his rank. Purple or purple and white indicates the highest ranking referee who judges the yokozuna matches. A red tassel is for the sanyaku matches (Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi).106 views
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The wrestler must start the match from a "three-point stand" position where both his feet and at least one of his hands are touching the ground.105 views
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Roho vs. Tochiazuma105 views
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Hakurozan on the right in Jan. 2006.105 views
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Then he steps forward and turns to the front.104 views
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Claps his hands for the last time. The man in purple is the referee.104 views
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And so the day's sumo matches continue as the wrestler walks up to the sumo ring to wait his turn.104 views
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A portrait of Asashoryu is ceremoniously unveiled in the Kokugikan. On the right is the tournament date, on the left is the rikishi's name, and the sponsor's name is on the bottom. The portrait is actually B/W photo hand-painted in color.104 views
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Trying for a yorikiri or frontal push out while grabbing the belt.104 views
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After losing, Takamisakari dejectedly leaves the ring. The crowd sympathizes with him and applaud.103 views
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A large cushion is brought in for Kotooshu.103 views
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Both tumble off the ring...102 views
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And into the front row of spectators. I've never heard of any spectators who got injured by sumo wrestlers falling on top of them.102 views
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Yokozuna Hakuho from Mongolia performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony in Jan. 2013.99 views
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The "Full House" banners are unfurled above the Shinto-style roof.96 views
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Ozeki Kotooshu in Jan 2013.94 views
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