Tony Stinson Photography
The Sumo of Ryogoku
The origins of sumo（相撲）date back 2000 years. Strict rules and traditions are observed in the sport which is highly steeped in ceremony based on its Shinto traditions. "Shinto" itself, means "the way of the gods’ and the sport of sumo was traditionally performed to entertain the gods (kami) during festivals (matsuri) in ancient Japan. These photos were taken in Ryogoku, Tokyo, where most of the Tokyo "sumo beya" or sumo training stables are located. I had wanted to photograph them for some time as they are a dominant image of all things Japanese in the West, and the sumo world is rather closed off to the general public, so it isn't easy to see what life may be like on a day-to-day basis for them. These photos were all taken at two different stables over a few different training sessions. In the future I hope to be able and go back and delve a little more deeply.
