Ever wonder how sumo wrestlers train and why their loincloths never come loose? A rare look at life inside a traditional Japanese sumo stable.

Few Westerners understand the rules of sumo wrestling - if your ponytail touches the mat, do you lose? Is slapping legal? How about hair pulling? And why do they practice “stomping?

The upside to being a sumo wrestler: if you’re successful, you’ll become a household name. The downside – you have to get up at 5AM each day to train, and won’t eat breakfast until well into the afternoon.

Everything about sumo is traditional. There are even sumo hairdressers who specialize in that samurai topknot style.

Why do they do it? What drives so many young men into a sport that will destroy their bodies and give them little chance to win?

And what’s this amazing meal called sumo stew? Whole restaurants are built around it. In fact, opening a restaurant is the go-to career for retiring sumo wrestlers.

And check out those gnarly callouses on the bottom of their feet!

#Sumo #Travel #Japan

This story is part of Japanland, our 4-hour PBS series. Come check out a side of Japan that few tourists will ever see.

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Category: Travel

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