Sumo Infographic: Fascinating Facts

What is Sumo?

Sumo, also called sumo wrestling, can be simply explained as a full-contact sport in which the goal is for one wrestler to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to force them to make contact with the ground with any other body part than the soles of their feet. Japan, where the sport was invented, is the only country where sumo is practiced professionally. You can read more on our blog about how to best enjoy the sport and how to observe a training session while visiting Japan.

History and Tradition

Dating back through ancient history, Sumo has deep and inspiring rituals and traditions. The sport was born as an integral part of the Shinto religion and sumo practitioners' lives are rigidly controlled. Wrestlers live in a separate world from the rest of society. Though some things have changed in modern times, the life of a sumo wrestler today is still dominated by the religious origins of the sport as well as by strong cultural expectations.
Want to learn more about this mysterious martial art? How many calories does it take to maintain the perfect Sumo physique? What are the big do's and don'ts for these giant athletes? Want to understand the ring, the referee and the gestures each competitor makes before a bout? Check out our infographic for all you ever wanted to know about Japan's most famous and little-understood sport.

Sumo Infographic

 Sumo Infographic by Julian Rojas and Odigo Travel (all rights reserved)

If you'd like to explore more about this ancient and amazing sport download our trip for your own Sumo-inspired Tokyo journey.


Lauren Shannon