Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated "yamahoko" float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the annual Gion festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2025.

E

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

A decorated "yamahoko" float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during a parade of 23 floats, a highlight of the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2025. The parade is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

E

Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament

Sekiwake Wakamotoharu (L) and rank-and-file wrestler Meisei grasp each other's mawashi during their bout on Day 4 of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Sept. 13, 2023.

E

Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament

Ozeki Kirishima (L) picks up komusubi Tobizaru by his mawashi and lifts him out of the ring during their bout on the opening day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Sept. 10, 2023.

E

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Spectators hold up cameras and smartphones as a richly decorated float does a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2023.

E

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Spectators hold up cameras and smartphones as a richly decorated float does a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2023.

E

Former ozeki Kotooshu hangs up mawashi

OSAKA, Japan - Kotooshu, a 31-year-old Bulgarian-born sekiwake, whose real name is Karoyan Ando, announces his retirement at a press conference at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka on March 20, 2014. Kotooshu, the first European to ever win an Emperor's Cup and achieve sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki, said he has reached his physical limits and no longer possesses the energy to continue wrestling.

E

Former ozeki Kotooshu hangs up mawashi

OSAKA, Japan - Kotooshu, a 31-year-old Bulgarian-born sekiwake, whose real name is Karoyan Ando, wipes tears at a press conference at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka on March 20, 2014, after announcing his retirement. Kotooshu, the first European to ever win an Emperor's Cup and achieve sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki, said he has reached his physical limits and no longer possesses the energy to continue wrestling.

E

Former ozeki Kotooshu hangs up mawashi

OSAKA, Japan - Kotooshu, a 31-year-old Bulgarian-born sekiwake, whose real name is Karoyan Ando, sheds tears at a press conference at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka on March 20, 2014, after announcing his retirement. Kotooshu, the first European to ever win an Emperor's Cup and achieve sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki, said he has reached his physical limits and no longer possesses the energy to continue wrestling.

E

Injury-plagued Kotooshu hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows Kotooshu, a Bulgarian rikishi whose real name is Karoyan Ando. Kotooshu, 31, the first European wrestler to ever win an Emperor's Cup and achieve sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki, retired March 20, 2014.

E

Hakuho manhandles Kotooshu to stay perfect at summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Hakuho (R) overpowered ozeki Kotooshu to keep his undefeated streak alive on the 14th day of action at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 22, 2010. Donning a spanking new gold mawashi, the Mongolian grand champion toppled the Bulgarian over the ridge to improve his slate to 14-0 at the 15-day meet.

E

Ex-ozeki Chiyotaikai hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former ozeki Chiyotaikai wraps up a press conference at his Kokonoe stable in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on Jan. 13, 2010. The 33-year-old veteran sumo wrestler said he will retire from the sport after losing all three opening bouts in the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

E

Ex-ozeki Chiyotaikai hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former ozeki Chiyotaikai speaks to reporters at his Kokonoe stable in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on Jan. 13, 2010. The 33-year-old veteran sumo wrestler said he will retire from the sport after losing all three opening bouts in the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

E

Ex-ozeki Chiyotaikai hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former ozeki Chiyotaikai (in this undated file photo) announces Jan. 31, 2010 that he will retire from sumo.

E

Harumafuji claims 1st title at summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Harumafuji (L), placing his left hand on the back of yokozuna Hakuho's mawashi and making his first attempt at an underarm throw in a playoff, uses his right hand to sweep out the yokozuna's knee to capture his first career title at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 24.

E

Tochiazuma suffers 2nd defeat at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (back), who recently had surgery on his left knee, never got anything rolling against Russian komusubi Roho (front), who got both hands around the ozeki's mawashi and powered him out of the ring for the fourth ozeki upset at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 8.

E

Bulgarian sumo wrester Kotooshu presented with apron

TOKYO, Japan - Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu (L) looks at a sumo wrestler's ''kesho mawashi'' ceremonial apron presented to him by the European Union at the office of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (2nd from L) on April 24. At right is European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and second from right is Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel.

E

Ex-ozeki Takanonami hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former ozeki Takanonami speaks to reporters about his retirement form professional sumo at a news conference at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 11. Takanohana won two Emperor's Cups in his career since he made his debut at the spring tournament in 1987.

E

Former sekiwake Takatoriki hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former sekiwake Takatoriki speaks at a news conference in Tokyo after submitting his official resignation to the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) on Sept. 20. ''I've been allowed to wrestle on my own terms (for all these years) but my power has been drained,'' said Takatoriki, who is currently an 11th-ranked wrestler in the second-tier juryo division.

E

Bulgarian sumo wrester Kotooshu presented with apron

TOKYO, Japan - Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu (L) looks at a sumo wrestler's ''kesho mawashi'' ceremonial apron presented to him by the European Union at the office of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (2nd from L) on April 24. At right is European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and second from right is Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel. (Kyodo)

E

Tochiazuma suffers 2nd defeat at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (back), who recently had surgery on his left knee, never got anything rolling against Russian komusubi Roho (front), who got both hands around the ozeki's mawashi and powered him out of the ring for the fourth ozeki upset at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 8. (Kyodo)

E

Harumafuji claims 1st title at summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Harumafuji (L), placing his left hand on the back of yokozuna Hakuho's mawashi and making his first attempt at an underarm throw in a playoff, uses his right hand to sweep out the yokozuna's knee to capture his first career title at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 24. (Kyodo)

E

Former sekiwake Takatoriki hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former sekiwake Takatoriki speaks at a news conference in Tokyo after submitting his official resignation to the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) on Sept. 20. ''I've been allowed to wrestle on my own terms (for all these years) but my power has been drained,'' said Takatoriki, who is currently an 11th-ranked wrestler in the second-tier juryo division. (Kyodo)

E

Floats turned at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Photo taken July 24, 2015, in Japan's ancient city of Kyoto shows people taking part in "tsuji-mawashi," or turning a decorated float, during the Yamahoko parade, part of the city's traditional Gion Festival. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Floats turned at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Photo taken July 24, 2015, in Japan's ancient city of Kyoto shows people taking part in "tsuji-mawashi," or turning a decorated float, during the Yamahoko parade, part of the city's traditional Gion Festival. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Ex-ozeki Chiyotaikai hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former ozeki Chiyotaikai wraps up a press conference at his Kokonoe stable in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on Jan. 13, 2010. The 33-year-old veteran sumo wrestler said he will retire from the sport after losing all three opening bouts in the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. (Kyodo)

E

Hakuho manhandles Kotooshu to stay perfect at summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Hakuho (R) overpowered ozeki Kotooshu to keep his undefeated streak alive on the 14th day of action at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 22, 2010. Donning a spanking new gold mawashi, the Mongolian grand champion toppled the Bulgarian over the ridge to improve his slate to 14-0 at the 15-day meet. (Kyodo)

E

Ex-ozeki Chiyotaikai hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former ozeki Chiyotaikai speaks to reporters at his Kokonoe stable in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on Jan. 13, 2010. The 33-year-old veteran sumo wrestler said he will retire from the sport after losing all three opening bouts in the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. (Kyodo)

E

Yamahoko parade during Gion Festival in Kyoto

People take part in "tsuji mawashi," or turning a decorated Yamahoko float around a corner, during the Yamahoko parade of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto on July 24, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Ex-ozeki Takanonami hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former ozeki Takanonami speaks to reporters about his retirement form professional sumo at a news conference at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 11. Takanohana won two Emperor's Cups in his career since he made his debut at the spring tournament in 1987. (Kyodo)