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Sumo ring purification ceremony

A "dohyo matsuri" ring-purifying ritual is performed at Edion Arena Osaka in western Japan on March 11, 2023, the day before the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament opens.

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Sumo ring purification ceremony

A "dohyo matsuri" ring-purifying ritual is performed at Edion Arena Osaka in western Japan on March 11, 2023, the day before the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament opens. Wrestlers did not attend for COVID safety reasons.

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Sumo: Ailing ozeki Kotoshogiku pulls out of Nagoya basho

NAGOYA, Japan, July 16 Kyodo - Japanese ozeki Kotoshogiku leaves the dohyo surface after suffering his fifth loss, this time at the hands of Okinoumi, on the sixth day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 15, 2016. His stablemaster Sadogatake said a day later Kotoshogiku has pulled out of the tournament due to knee and foot injuries.

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"Dohyo-matsuri" ritual ahead of New Year sumo tourney

TOKYO, Japan - A customary "dohyo-matsuri" ritual is held at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 10, 2015, on the eve of the start of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament to pray for the safety of the tourney.

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"Dohyo-matsuri" ritual ahead of New Year tourney

TOKYO, Japan - A customary "dohyo-matsuri" ritual is held at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 10, 2015, on the eve of the start of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament to pray for the safety of the tourney.

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Yokozuna Hakuho attends "dohyo-matsuri" ritual

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Hakuho, aiming to capture an unprecedented 33rd career championship, attends a customary "dohyo-matsuri" ritual at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan to pray for safety of the 15-day tourney on Jan. 10, 2015, a day before the start of the New Year tournament there.

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Ceremony before Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament

FUKUOKA, Japan - A ceremony is held at the "dohyo" ring in Fukuoka City on Nov. 8, 2014, to pray for the safe holding of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament starting the next day in southwestern Japan.

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Sumo yokozuna dedicate Dohyo Iri performances

FUKUOKA, Japan - Sumo yokozuna (grand champion) Hakuho of Mongolia performs the Dohyo Iri (Ring Entering Ritual) at Sumiyoshi Shrine in Fukuoka on Nov. 2, 2014. Hakuho and the two other yokozuna -- Kakuryu and Harumafuji, who like him come from Mongolia -- dedicated their Dohyo Iri performances to the shrine before the Nov. 6 start of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in the city.

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Sumo yokozuna dedicate Dohyo Iri performances

FUKUOKA, Japan - Sumo yokozuna (grand champion) Hakuho of Mongolia (R) performs the Dohyo Iri (Ring Entering Ritual) at Sumiyoshi Shrine in Fukuoka on Nov. 2, 2014. Hakuho and the two other yokozuna -- Kakuryu and Harumafuji, who like him come from Mongolia -- dedicated their Dohyo Iri performances to the shrine before the Nov. 6 start of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in the city.

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Sumo wrestlers donate 'dohyo' ring to tsunami-hit town

KESENNUMA, Japan - Members of the Association of Sumo Wrestlers pose with junior high-school students of tsunami-hit Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, at a ceremony to donate a "dohyo" ring to the northeastern Japanese city on Aug. 13, 2014, about three years and a half after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami hit the region.

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Sumo wrestlers donate 'dohyo' ring to tsunami-hit town

KESENNUMA, Japan - Members of the Association of Sumo Wrestlers, including yokozuna Hakuho (3rd from R), mimic the pose of 19th-century grand champion Hidenoyama Raigoro depicted in a statue at Iwaisaki cape, which withstood the tsunami that hit northeastern Japan in 2011, before a ceremony to donate a "dohyo" sumo ring to the city government of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, on Aug. 13, 2014.

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Sumo wrestlers donate 'dohyo' ring to tsunami-hit town

KESENNUMA, Japan - A "dohyo" sumo ring donated to the municipal government of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, by the Association of Sumo Wrestlers is shown ahead of a dedication ceremony on Aug. 13, 2014, about three years and a half after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami hit the region.

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'Dohyo' sumo ring donated to tsunami-hit town

KESENNUMA, Japan - A "dohyo" sumo ring donated to the municipal government of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, by the Association of Sumo Wrestlers is shown ahead of a dedication ceremony on Aug. 13, 2014, about three and a half years after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami hit the region.

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Sumo association trying to attract youth of Net generation

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken March 2014 shows new yokozuna Kakuryu (R) performing in the "unryugata" style during his "dohyo-iri" ceremonial ritual at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward.

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Newly promoted yokozuna Kakuryu practices 'dohyo iri' ritual

OSAKA, Japan - Newly promoted yokozuna Kakuryu (2nd from R) practices the unryugata style "dohyo iri" ring-entering ritual at the lodgings of his stable, the Izutsu Beya, in Osaka, western Japan, on March 27, 2014. He is accompanied by his ceremony attendants Kagamio (R) and Ikioi (2nd from L), and gyoji Kimura Shonosuke. (Pool photo)

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Newly promoted yokozuna Kakuryu prepares for 'dohyo iri'

OSAKA, Japan - Newly promoted yokozuna Kakuryu (R) watches fellow sumo wrestlers as they wove a heavy, white rope belt to be donned around his waist during the "dohyo iri" ring-entering ritual, at the lodgings of his stable, the Izutsu Beya, in Osaka, western Japan, on March 27, 2014. (Pool photo)

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Hakuho, Harumafuji perform dohyo-iri at Meiji Shrine

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna (grand champion) Harumafuji of Mongolia (R) performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on Jan. 8, 2014, before the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament starting Jan. 12. Around 2,800 people watched Harumafuji and his fellow yokozuna Hakuho perform the ritual in the drizzle.

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Hakuho, Harumafuji perform dohyo-iri at Meiji Shrine

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna (grand champion) Hakuho of Mongolia (R) performs the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on Jan. 8, 2014, before the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament starting Jan. 12. Around 2,800 people watched Hakuho and his fellow yokozuna Harumafuji perform the ritual in the drizzle.

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Harumafuji beats Hakuho

NAGOYA, Japan - Ozeki Harumafuji (L) sends yokozuna Hakuho out of the dohyo at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in central Japan on July 23, 2011, capturing his second career title on the penultimate day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. Both wrestlers are Mongolians.

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Harumafuji beats Hakuho

NAGOYA, Japan - Ozeki Harumafuji (L) sends yokozuna Hakuho out of the dohyo at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in central Japan on July 23, 2011, capturing his second career title on the penultimate day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. Both wrestlers are Mongolians.

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Sumo 'test meet' wraps up

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hanaregoma (C) speaks on the dohyo ring as a 15-day May Technical Examination Tournament wrapped up at Ryogoku Kokugikan hall in Tokyo on May 22, 2011.

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Sumo 'test meet'

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hanaregoma (C) speaks on the dohyo ring as a 15-day ''test meet'' began at Ryogoku Kokugikan hall in Tokyo on May 8, 2011.

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Sumo 'test meet'

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hanaregoma (C) speaks on the dohyo ring as a 15-day ''test meet'' began at Ryogoku Kokugikan hall in Tokyo on May 8, 2011.

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Hakuho ready for New Year tourney

TOKYO, Japan - Grand champion Hakuho (R) demonstrates his ''dohyo-iri'' ritual at Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine, in Tokyo on Jan. 6, 2011, ahead of the start of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Topknot cutting ceremony of retired yokozuna Asashoryu

TOKYO, Japan - Retired Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu performs his last ''dohyo-iri'' ritual before his topknot is cut off during a retirement ceremony at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 3, 2010. Asashoryu, whose real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj, retired in February amid allegations of assault.

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'Devil of the Dohyo' Wakanohana dies at 82

TOKYO, Japan - The original former grand champion Wakanohana (C), whose nickname in the ring was the ''Devil of the Dohyo,'' is seen holding a trophy after winning the spring tournament in 1960. Wakanohana, whose real name was Katsuji Hanada, died of kidney cancer Sept. 1, 2010 at the age of 82.

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'Devil of the Dohyo' Wakanohana dies at 82

TOKYO, Japan - The original Wakanohana (R), former grand champion, as Japan Sumo Association chairman hands a trophy to his nephew Takahanada, who won the January 1992 tournament in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Wakanohana, whose real name was Katsuji Hanada, died of kidney cancer Sep. 1, 2010 at the age of 82.

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'Devil of the Dohyo' Wakanohana dies at 82

TOKYO, Japan - Katsuji Hanada (C), a former top sumo wrestler whose nickname in the ring was the ''Devil of the Dohyo,'' is seen celebrating his first victory of a tournament as ozeki Wakanohana at the Kuramae Kokugikan Sumo Arena in Tokyo in 1956. Wakanohana, who was promoted to grand champion, died of kidney cancer Sep. 1, 2010 at the age of 82.

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'Devil of the Dohyo' Wakanohana dies at 82

Tokyo, Japan - File photo taken in March 1992 shows the original former grand champion Wakanohana, whose real name was Katsuji Hanada, who died of kidney cancer at a Tokyo hospital on Sept. 1, 2010, at 82. Hanada, whose nickname was the ''Devil of the Dohyo,'' also served as a JSA chairman.

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Hakuho sole man in charge at Nagoya sumo

NAGOYA, Japan - Mongolian grand champion Hakuho (R) sends sekiwake Kotoshogiku crashing to the dohyo surface with a powerful right-handed beltless arm throw, extending his winning streak to a personal-best 43 bouts on the 11th day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya on July 21, 2010.

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Hakuho sole man in charge at Nagoya sumo

NAGOYA, Japan - Mongolian grand champion Hakuho leaves the dohyo area after extending his winning streak to a personal-best 43 bouts by beating sekiwake Kotoshogiku with a powerful right-handed beltless arm throw on the 11th day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya on July 21, 2010.

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Hakuho sole man in charge at Nagoya sumo

NAGOYA, Japan - Mongolian grand champion Hakuho leaves the dohyo area after extending his winning streak to a personal-best 43 bouts by beating sekiwake Kotoshogiku with a powerful right-handed beltless arm throw on the 11th day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya on July 21, 2010.

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Nagoya sumo meet gets under way under specter of gambling ring

NAGOYA, Japan - Hiroshi Murayama, acting chief for suspended Japan Sumo Association Chairman Musashigawa, apologizes to fans for a gambling scandal rocking the national sport before the yokozuna (grand champion) performs the ''dohyo-iri'' ritual ceremony at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 11, 2010, the opening day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Nagoya sumo meet gets under way under specter of gambling ring

NAGOYA, Japan - Hiroshi Murayama (C), acting chief for suspended Japan Sumo Association Chairman Musashigawa, apologizes to fans for a gambling scandal rocking the national sport before the yokozuna (grand champion) performs the ''dohyo-iri'' ritual ceremony at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 11, 2010, the opening day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. High-ranking sumo wrestlers joined Murayama.

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Nagoya sumo meet gets under way under specter of gambling ring

NAGOYA, Japan - Hiroshi Murayama (C), acting chief for suspended Japan Sumo Association Chairman Musashigawa, and high-ranking sumo wrestlers bow in apology to fans for a gambling scandal rocking the national sport before the yokozuna (grand champion) performs the ''dohyo-iri'' ritual ceremony at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 11, 2010, the opening day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Nagoya sumo meet gets under way under specter of gambling ring

NAGOYA, Japan - Hiroshi Murayama (C), acting chief for suspended Japan Sumo Association Chairman Musashigawa, and high-ranking sumo wrestlers bow in apology to fans for a gambling scandal rocking the national sport before the yokozuna (grand champion) performs the ''dohyo-iri'' ritual ceremony at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 11, 2010, the opening day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Nagoya sumo meet gets under way under specter of gambling ring

NAGOYA, Japan - Hiroshi Murayama (C), acting chief for suspended Japan Sumo Association Chairman Musashigawa, bows in apology to fans for a gambling scandal rocking the national sport before the yokozuna (grand champion) performs the ''dohyo-iri'' ritual ceremony at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 11, 2010, the opening day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. Yokozuna Hakuho of Mongolia (L in front) and other high-ranking sumo wrestlers joined Murayama.

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Scandal-tainted champion Asashoryu calls it quits

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Asashoryu performing the ''Dohyo-iri'' ceremony at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 22, 2010, during the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. Asashoryu announced his retirement on Feb. 4, 2010, in the wake of a recent scandal in which he was alleged to have seriously injured a man in a drunken rampage.

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Sumo champ Asashoryu stays mum on allegation of violence

TOKYO, Japan - Sumo grand champion Asashoryu performs the ''dohyo-iri'' ritual at a retirement ceremony for a former wrestler at Ryogoku Kokugikan gymnasium in Tokyo on Jan. 30, 2010. The Mongolian yokozuna kept mum about an unprecedented allegation of drunken violence during a recent tournament.

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Asa, Hakuho march on at spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Hakuho (R) forces sekiwake Baruto of Estonia out of the dohyo ring on the eighth day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on March 22.

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Asa, Hakuho march on at spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Asashoryu (R) tugs rank-and-filer Miyabiyama, a No. 3 maegashira, to the dohyo ring on the eighth day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on March 22.

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Asashoryu, Hakuho stay spotless at spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu tugs komusubi Goeido to the dohyo ring on the fifth day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium on March 19. Yokozuna Asashoryu and Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho maintained their unbeaten records at 5-0.

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Asashoryu, Hakuho stay spotless at spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - Mongolian grand champion Hakuho (R) forces rank-and-filer Tochiozan, a No. 2 maegashira, out of the dohyo ring on the fifth day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium on March 19. Yokozuna Hakuho and Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu maintained their unbeaten records at 5-0.

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Sumo referee falls off ring during match in rare accident

TOKYO, Japan - Three separate photos show a rare accident in which a sumo ''gyoji'' referee fell off the ''dohyo'' ring during a match at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 19. (Top) Referee Waichiro Kimura falls off the ring during a match between rank-and-filers Hokutoriki and Tosanoumi after tripping over Hokutoriki's leg when the referee was trying to take a close look at the wrestlers' moves. (Center) Kimura (R) rushes into the ring again while the two wrestlers continue to fight. (Bottom) The referee judges the contest safely as Hokutoriki (L) sends Tosanoumi out of the ring.

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Asashoryu performs ring ritual ahead of July sumo tourney

NAGOYA, Japan - Grand Champion Asashoryu (R) performs a dohyo ritual at Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya on July 5 ahead of the start of the July 13-27 grand sumo tournament in Nagoya.

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Hakuho performs ring ritual ahead of July sumo tourney

NAGOYA, Japan - Grand Champion Hakuho (front) performs a dohyo ritual at Atsuta Shrine on July 5 ahead of the start of the July 13-27 grand sumo tournament in Nagoya.

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Hakuho wins on 1st day of summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Mongolian Grand champion Hakuho (L) swats compatriot Asasekiryu (R) to the dohyo surface on the first day of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 11.

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Hakuho downs Asashoryu to win New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Mongolian grand champion Hakuho leaves the dohyo with a thick cash bounty in hand after beating rival yokozuna Asashoryu to win his third straight title at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Jan. 27.

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Hakuho takes lead with win over Chiyo at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Mongolian grand champion Hakuho (R) gets ozeki Chiyotaikai in an armlock and smacks him to the dohyo surface on the penultimate day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 24.

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Hakuho performs 'dohyo-iri' on Takabutai of Itsukushima Shrine

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Yokozuna Hakuho, the Mongolian sumo grand champion, performs the traditional ''dohyo-iri'' sumo-ring entering rites on Oct. 22 on the Takabutai traditional dance platform in the off-shore Itsukushima Shrine in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture. The Takabutai, designated as a National Treasure, is traditionally used for performances of the ''bugaku'' court dance. In the background stands the Torii gate, the iconic symbol of the scenic Itsukushima island. Itsukushima Shrine is a World Heritage site.