Sumo!

Russ went to a sumo match today after work. Picture 1 shows a mural outside the sumo stadium; there are also several nearby nabe restaurants (the stew-like dish that sumo wrestlers eat in training). Pictures 2&3 show a sumo match and entrance ceremony. Each level of sumo has an entrance ceremony, followed by quick matches.The available seats this late in the tournament were close to the ceiling - approximately the altitude on top of Mt. Fuji. The stadium is more than half empty most of the day, when lesser-known sumos compete. It fills around 4 pm when the heavy hitters arrive to wrestle. The seats on the main level are boxes for four spectators - most people purchase an immense picnic lunch for their box to graze on during the matches. However, both the lunch and the people need to fit inside the box, so it can be a challenge.

Picture 4 illustrates the sumo shrine outside the stadium.