Renewed interest in sumo wrestling gives boost to Japan’s tourism

Former sumo wrestlers taking part in a demonstration match in front of tourists at the Yokozuna Tonkatsu Dosukoi Tanaka restaurant in Tokyo. - PHOTO: AFP

TOKYO: Interest piqued during Covid-19 lockdowns and by a new Netflix drama is providing a fresh push for foreign tourists to flock to Japan for a look inside the insular world of sumo.

Sumo, a form of competitive wrestling, is Japan’s national sport. Sumo, which is hundreds of years old and steeped in tradition, has long been a source of fascination outside the country, but those in the industry say interest has spiked in recent years, and some are making the most of the new attention.