The ancient Japanese ritual of Sumo is in crisis. Only last week, a Mongolian wrestler was forced to retire after assaulting a teammate – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Years of controversy and scandal, coupled with the country’s declining population, have greatly impacted the sport’s ability to attract new talent. The Guardian visits Tokyo’s Ryōgoku district, the birthplace of Sumo, to see how this iconic institution is adapting to life in the 21st century, and why – despite women being banned from the ring itself – young female fans are flocking to watch it like never before
Written by Richard Sprenger, Alex Healey, Ken Macfarlane, Mustafa Khalili, Shanida Scotland and Chris Michael
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2018/dec/11/can-women-save-sumo-the-crossroads-facing-japans-national-sport-video under the title “
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