Struggling Japanese women try to find a footing in the male-dominated realm of Japanese sumo wrestling
At Tottori Johoku High School, Japan's largest girls' sumo club, young women from across the nation have been attending week-long spring and summer training camps since 2016. This tradition, however, likely began around the year 2000.
The training of female sumo wrestlers at Tottori Jōhoku Hōshu High School is a testament to their resilience and dedication. Despite the occasional teasing and bullying due to their weight, these athletes remain focused on their passion for the sport.
A typical day at the training camps involves rigorous sessions of getting stronger, improving technique, and bulking up. The diet, too, plays a crucial role in their journey. A typical meal consists of pork in a tangy sauce, vegetables, white rice, candied sweet potatoes, and a weight check before and after eating.
For Sora Kusuda, a 15-year-old rikishi from Osaka who has been practicing sumo for seven years and weighs 110 kilograms, standing at 1.65 meters, eating is not about losing weight but about building muscle and maintaining it. Kusuda's goal is to become a world champion, not to conform to societal norms of weight.
Shiho Suzuki, a 19-year-old rikishi at Keio University, shares a similar sentiment. She believes that a strong and healthy body, regardless of weight, is attractive in sumo. Suzuki's journey in sumo began as a way to overcome the bullying she faced due to her weight.
However, not every story is one of triumph. Nana Nishida, a Keio University sophomore, lost 20 kilograms (about 45 pounds) as a middle schooler in an attempt to stop the bullying. Nishida now emphasizes that sumo requires the use of one's body type for success.
The issue of underweight women in Japan is a pressing one. Government data show that more than 20% of Japanese women in their 20s and 30s are underweight. The training camps at Tottori Johoku High School provide a counterpoint to this trend, promoting a healthy lifestyle and a positive body image.
In the world of sumo, strength, technique, and resilience are the keys to success. The young women at Tottori Johoku High School's sumo club are living testaments to this fact, proving that with determination and hard work, one can overcome obstacles and achieve greatness.
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