Photographing a Sumo Event in Tokyo at Ryogoku Kokugikan
Sumo wrestling has been an integral a part of Japanese tradition for hundreds of years, and its tournaments have captivated audiences everywhere in the world, some intensely , others puzzled however amused by what they’re witnessing.
*A bit of warning for many who don’t wish to see an excessive amount of flesh, the pictures inside this text do showcase quite a lot of pores and skin. I’ve tried to {photograph} the occasion tastefully and used inventive methods to make the photographs a bit of extra arty…hopefully you’ll get pleasure from seeing a peek inside this fascinating Japanese sport.
On my current journey to Tokyo, I used to be fortunate sufficient to order a ticket to the September event at Ryogoku Kokugikan, the nationwide sumo area of Japan. I reserved the seat on-line, picked up the tickets at an area 7-Eleven retailer and had no thought as to the place we’d be sitting, however assumed it might be very removed from the motion as a result of they have been roughly $20AUD.
Spoiler, we have been within the very again row, however this really ended up being ideally suited for somebody who had no thought what was taking place and needed to {photograph} as a lot as potential with out getting in anybody’s manner.
So, let’s chat about sumo wrestling, a phrase I by no means thought I’d be typing. I wish to supply an perception into what it’s prefer to {photograph} at a sumo event, some pictures suggestions to assist plan what lenses to pack and what digital camera settings work greatest, plus a bit of perception into what the heck is definitely taking place once they step into the ring, or extra particularly, dohyō.
Some of the distinguished sumo tournaments is held yearly in September in Tokyo, only a few blocks down from the Tokyo Skytree at Ryogoku Kokugikan Nationwide Sumo Area. This occasion not solely showcases the bodily prowess and ability of sumo wrestlers but additionally pays homage to the wealthy custom and historical past of this revered sport. The sector, the environment and the evident tradition present an interesting perception into each the rivals and the followers.
Sumo wrestling dates to historical Japan, with its origins deeply rooted in Shinto rituals. Thought of a sacred occasion, it was believed to be a technique to entertain the gods and convey luck to the neighborhood. Over time, it advanced right into a extremely expert sport that calls for immense power, agility, and psychological self-discipline. At this time, sumo tournaments are held in grand arenas known as “kokugikan,” which interprets to “nationwide sport corridor,” symbolising the importance of this historical custom.
The September Sumo Event in Tokyo
The September sumo event in Tokyo is among the most prestigious occasions on the sumo wrestling calendar. The event, generally known as the “Aki Basho,” attracts followers from around the globe who collect on the Ryogoku Kokugikan to witness the extreme battles between sumo wrestlers, or “rikishi.” These wrestlers, carrying nothing greater than loincloths and an emblem of their secure’s crest, preserving the simplicity and sacredness of the game.
I need to admit to being a bit of bowled over after I first placed on the 40-150mm F2.8 professional lens and paired it with my MC-20 2 x teleconverter to get nearer to the motion…hi there pores and skin!
The event spans over fifteen days, with every day’s matches divided into varied divisions, ranging from the lowest-ranked wrestlers, generally known as “jonokuchi,” to the highest-ranked, known as “makuuchi.” The competitors progresses in a round-robin format, the place every wrestler fights towards each different wrestler inside their division. The purpose is to win as many matches as potential to safe the next rank within the following tournaments.
The primary matches with the makuuchi begin round 4:30pm and final roughly an hour and a half. Nevertheless, the day begins at 9am and you’ll enter the stadium to observe the decrease ranked rivals too. We arrived at 11am, as a result of I needed time to get adjusted to the circumstances, attempt to work out what was happening and the way every little thing flowed. By arriving early, we had loads of house round us as many of the crowd didn’t arrive till 3-4pm, it meant I may transfer round in my seat with out bothering anyway and gave me an opportunity to check out come inventive methods with quite a lot of matches.
Within the morning, the environment contained in the Ryogoku Kokugikan was actually fairly relaxed, as soon as the larger matches began taking place round 5pm although, it’s electrifying, with the gang chanting the names of their favorite wrestlers and waving indicators.
Picture Suggestions for Sumo Wrestling
Firstly, no flash pictures is allowed (until you’re a registered member of the press), and also you’re not permitted to stroll the aisles attempting to get a greater vantage level. Primarily, you are taking your seat and {photograph} from it.
As a result of format of the world, it’s very easy to {photograph} from nearly any seat, as I mentioned, I used to be within the very again row and nonetheless liked the expertise and got here away with quite a lot of photographs I used to be actually pleased with.
- Pack a zoom lens, in the event you’re like me and find yourself within the again row, you’ll want all of the zoom you will get in the event you’re looking for nearer photographs of the rivals. I had the OM SYSTEM OM-1 digital camera paired with the 40-150mm f2.8 professional lens and the MC-20 2x teleconverter on for many of the day.
- There are many matches all through the day, so watch a couple of first to see what elements you wish to {photograph} and begin to generate some inventive concepts for a way.
- Go searching to see what different components you may embody inside your photographs, I liked bending barely in my seat to include the golden glow of the banister. At first it felt prefer it was in my manner, however then I discovered a technique to compose the photographs and produce some inventive photographs that includes the rivals and a little bit of golden bokeh.
- Don’t be so consumed by taking pictures that you just miss the expertise and collaborating within the environment.
- A number of the matches are over inside mere seconds, so it may be useful to set your digital camera to seize a number of frames. I used to be utilizing the OM SYSTEM Professional Seize as soon as the matches acquired actually spectacular!
- The press pit is positioned proper beside the dohyō, in the event you’re sitting reverse, it may be enjoyable to time your photographs with their flashes to assist create a picture that highlights the spectacle and provides a further pop of sunshine to set the scene.
- You might want to extend your ISO to round 1600 and shoot with a quick shutter pace to comfortably seize the motion with out blur. It’s comparatively well-lit inside the world, nevertheless relying on the place you’re seated, the decrease gentle could make issues a bit of trickier.
- Earlier than every match, the sumo wrestlers will stretch and do the identical routine. It is a nice likelihood to seize portraits and experiment with varied angles, compositions and topics.
Inventive Problem – Photographing Motion
There are a bunch of matches all through the day, so many that you just’ll ultimately wish to experiment and get a bit of inventive along with your images.
Give lengthy exposures a go to seize the motion and movement of the athletes, but additionally the custom. Between matches somebody will come out to make use of a brush to brush the floor, for every degree of competitors, there’s a parade of rivals and the motion right here is extremely enjoyable to seize as they stroll across the dohyō with the colorful crests.
As soon as the higher-ranked sumo wrestlers take the stage, you’ll discover a parade of banners earlier than every match begins. These are sponsors, and the more cash on the match, the extra vibrant banners are paraded round. It’s really fairly enjoyable to see as a result of it could start with three banners, then an additional six will come from a special course and the gang goes wild with cheers. Throughout this time the sumo wrestlers are getting ready so you may seize the motion of the banners whereas they’re within the body.
How you can Get Sumo Tickets
The schedule for the yr’s tournaments will be discovered on the official web site right here, the location additionally states when tickets are launched and the best way to buy them.
For the September event, I really bought mine about three weeks prematurely, nevertheless there was solely the one date left, and the seats have been within the again row. In the event you’re hoping to have a bit of extra selection by way of date and seat allocation, make sure to reserve your tickets the second they’re launched, usually about 6-8 weeks earlier than a event.
Reserve your tickets right here – https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnTicket/ (The English model must be seen, if not, there’s a language tab on the high of the display screen)
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Howdy! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as knowledgeable journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this web site is from my private expertise on the highway. I hope it’s helpful to your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences around the globe.