These Japanese sumo retirees are now entertaining tourists in a restaurant

Former sumo wrestlers Koto-ohtori (centre) and Towanoyama (right) demonstrating a sumo ritual with a Mexican tourist. — Photos: Reuters

Ohtori spent his two-decade sumo career struggling for wins so he could move up the ranks of Japan’s traditional sport, but now he is fighting to entertain a different crowd: Curious tourists.

He is one of six ex-wrestlers putting on sumo demonstrations catering to overseas travellers, who are returning in droves after more than two years of Covid-19 blockade, as the weaker yen makes such trips cheaper than they have been in decades.