The daily routine of a sumo wrestler is highly regimented: getting up at 4:30 in the morning, training, lunch, siesta and then dinner. Sumo training sessions include a number of traditional rituals and the highest ranked wrestlers are served by the trainees. Unfortunately these trainee sumo wrestlers are often the target of violent bullying, as I witnessed at a session with the world's top ranked sumo wrestler. Japan appears to have turned a blind eye towards these practices until recently, in June 2007, the suspicious death of a young 17 year old sumo wrestler aroused strong public interest in the training conditions endured by young sumo wrestlers.
Sumo Bullies. Photos and text ŠAndrew Mc Leish/Lightmediation Contact - Thierry Tinacci Lightmediation Photo Agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry@lightmediation.com
1409-01: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one. The other wrestlers test a young sumo's suppleness by climbing on his back while he stretches on the stable floor.
1409-01: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one. The other wrestlers test a young sumo's suppleness by climbing on his back while he
1409-02: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-03: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-04: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-22: At the end of the training session a trainee was attacked and insulted by the other sumo wrestlers, who punched and kicked him before striking him with a kendo stick.
1409-05: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one (foreground).
1409-06: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-07: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-10: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-25: At the end of the training session a trainee was attacked and insulted by the other sumo wrestlers, who punched and kicked him before striking him with a kendo stick.
1409-11: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-12: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-13: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-14: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-26: At the end of the training session a trainee was attacked and insulted by the other sumo wrestlers, who punched and kicked him before striking him with a kendo stick.
1409-15: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one. The higher ranked sumo wrestlers are served by the trainees.
1409-16: Young fans watch the sumo wrestlers train.
1409-17: Young fans watch the sumo wrestlers train.
1409-18: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-28: Fresh wounds are clearly visible on a young sumo wrestler after he is violently attacked and bullied by the higher ranking sumo.
1409-19: A training session at the Takasago Beya stable in Tokyo, in the presence of Asashoryu, the world number one.
1409-20: Salt is scattered to purify the ring.
1409-21: Asashoryu inspects a toy version of himself which is due to go on sale.
1409-23: A trainee wrestler is taunted and insulted by the higher ranking sumo.
1409-23: A trainee wrestler is taunted and insulted by the higher ranking sumo.
1409-27: Fresh wounds are clearly visible on a young sumo wrestler after he is violently attacked and bullied by the higher ranking sumo.
1409-29: At the end of the training session the higher ranked sumo wrestlers, like Asashoryu (centre) are served by the trainees.
1409-28: Fresh wounds are clearly visible on a young sumo wrestler after he is violently attacked and bullied by the higher ranking sumo.
Sumo Bullies The daily routine of a sumo wrestler is highly regimented: getting up at 4:30 in the morning, training, lunch, siesta and then dinner. Sumo training sessions include a number of traditional rituals and the highest ranked wrestlers are served by the trainees. Unfortunately these trainee sumo wrestlers are often the target of violent bullying, as I witnessed at a session with the world's top ranked sumo wrestler. Japan appears to have turned a blind eye towards these practices until recently, in June 2007, the suspicious death of a young 17 year old sumo wrestler aroused strong public interest in the training conditions endured by young sumo wrestlers.
Takashi Saito had twice tried to flee his sumo training school (called a 'stable' in Japan). When he died, the training school claimed he had suffered a heart problem. It was only when his family insisted on seeing the body that they discovered the truth; his face was swollen, his body was covered with deep cuts and he had bruises and cigarette burns on his legs. It was only after the media had started to cover the case that the Police launched an investigation into Takashi Saito's death. One third of stables admitted that violent bullying or other physical abuse regularly takes place, and 13 percent said that the use of corporal punishment is an essential part of sumo training. I had the opportunity to photograph a training session with the highly controversial Asashoryu Akinori ("blue dragon in the morning") in Tokyo. Ranked
Yokozuna (Supreme Champion), the worldwide number one is said to be the 5th greatest wrestler in the history of the sport. "Asa" recently became the first ever Yokozuna to be suspended from the sport for faking an injury and has been the subject of rumours of corruption and match-fixing. Arriving early in the morning, I found myself in the presence of about twenty sumo wrestlers. All appeared to be going well although my movements were extremely limited. After two hours of training the higher-ranked wrestlers began to threaten a more 'feeble' trainee sumo. The atmosphere in the room became very tense as he was violently struck with a cane and began to shout and scream. To prevent me from photographing the scene, two sumos sat next to me and two others stood in front of me, but I was able to continue taking pictures with my camera placed discreetly on my knees. After suffering this physical abuse for about twenty minutes, the Sumo was thrown out of the training session and walked in front of me, badly wounded and with visible scars on his backside. Such practices have discouraged young people from entering the national sport. Recently, in a tournament to recruit young sumo wrestlers to Nagoya, not a single apprentice turned up - the first time this has ever happened in the history of Japanese sumo wrestling.