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It is is the most exotic of Japanese exports. Interest in the ancient sport of sumo is growing--especially in Europe, the United States, Brazil and Peru. Capacity crowds have flocked to exhibition tournaments held during the past year in London, Madrid and Dusseldorf.
The sumo world in Japan revolves around six 15-day tournaments a year. Only wrestlers in the senior ranks--from Juryo up (see chart)--compete in daily bouts. Lesser ranks fight only seven times during a tournament. Some 70 different throws are recognised and a bout is won--typically in 10-15 seconds--when one wrestler forces his opponent to the floor or out of the ring. The senior wrestler with the most wins is awarded the Emperor's Cup and declared the tournament champion.
Hawaii, home of some of the most avid fans outside Japan, sends a stream of young hopefuls to the sumo stables of Tokyo. One of its favourite sons, Akebono (ne Chad Rowan), recently won the Emperor's Cup, clinching the November tournament in Kyushu by 14 to 1. For the first time in sumo's 2,000-year history, two foreign-born rikishi (wrestlers)--Akebono and another Hawaiian called Musashimaru (ne Fiamalu Penitani)--are within striking distance of being promoted to the sport's highest rank: yokozuna (grand champion).
All this is happening just as the sport is going through an upheaval in Japan. The changing of the guard in sumo--which has proceeded smoothly in every decade since the end of the second world war--has suddenly gone badly wrong....