The Changing Face of Sumo Wrestling

The Changing Face of Sumo Wrestling

Racked by scandal and inundated with foreign competitors, the traditional Japanese sport struggles to keep up with the times
James Whitlow Delano / Redux for TIME

Souvenir Stand
The new face of sumo is reflected on bath towels for sale at the Nagoyo Basho, in July. In addition to the Estonian Baruto, the towels display two highly ranked wrestlers from Mongolia. "The foreigners are trying very hard, so they deserve to win," says Koji Mizuno, a 67-year-old Nagoya spectator. "But as a Japanese watching my national sport, I do feel a bit forlorn that there aren't more strong Japanese wrestlers."

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