Competing in the only traditional sumo ring outside Japan, located in São Paulo, Brazil

A man with strawberry-blonde hair crouches, preparing to face his dark-bearded, muscular rival. Both wear black loincloths and stand inside a perfectly crafted circle, surrounded by ceramic tiles that form the arena's boundary.

They're about to engage in a sumo wrestling match—but this isn’t a tourist attraction in Japan. This is a serious bout taking place in Brazil’s exclusive sumo gym in São Paulo.

Located within the Mie Nishi complex, which opened in 1958 and also includes a baseball stadium, this sumo gym in São Paulo is where Brazilians come to train, wrestle, and experience sumo. The purpose-built arena debuted in 1992.

In 2000, the Brazilian Sumo Confederation (CBS) was established in São Paulo, and the gym has since hosted both the Brazilian National Championships and the South American Championships.

Thanks to financial support from the São Paulo Federation of Sumo and a public fundraising initiative, the sumo arena underwent a major renovation in 2008, much to the joy of Brazil’s Japanese community.

According to the gym's president, Oscar Morio Tsuchiya, 'At the time, this new gym was hailed as the first and only sumo-exclusive facility outside Japan.' He adds that it remains the only one with a traditional clay ring.

The refurbished sumo gym in São Paulo was met with a full house at its grand reopening in 2008.

The renovated sumo gym in São Paulo was packed with spectators at its opening in 2008. Courtesy Mie Nishi Gym

Since then, the Brazilian Sumo Confederation has hosted annual major championships at the gym, offering free entry to the public each year.

A championship took place during the opening event in 2008, drawing around 400 competitors, including wrestlers from Japan.

The championships have since become an annual tradition, with participant numbers steadily rising. Tsuchiya credits the local Japanese community for being 'crucial' in both training the wrestlers and organizing the event.

Brazil hosts the largest Japanese population outside Japan, known as 'Nikkei,' with an estimated 1.9 million people as of 2016.

In São Paulo's Liberdade district, home to over half a million Japanese residents, Shinto shrines line the streets, with their iconic red torii gates framing the avenues in the area often referred to as Little Tokyo.

'Before, there was no permanent space for sumo practice here in São Paulo,' Tsuchiya reflects. 'The championships were held sporadically in various locations. As a result, only adults practicing in judo arenas could engage in sumo, leaving children unable to start training.'

According to him, the Brazilian community contributes by sending young wrestlers, including women, to the school for training.

A point of great pride

During a training session at the Mie Nishi gym, two competitors face off against each other.

At the Mie Nishi gym, two opponents engage in a training session. Photo courtesy of Mie Nishi Gym.

The gym hosts around 30 members, many of whom travel long distances from small towns to participate in the training.

Tsuchiya proudly states, 'The success of Brazilian sumo is a testament to the dedication of those of us who work tirelessly to uphold the sport.'

Brazil now consistently sends wrestlers to national sumo tournaments, with one of the top non-Japanese sumo wrestlers being Ricardo Sugano, a Brazilian-born competitor known as Kaisei Ichirō.

This third-generation Brazilian-Japanese sumo wrestler abandoned his country's beloved sport of soccer to pursue martial arts, ultimately leading him to sumo.

Sugano's training at the gym is a matter of great pride for Tsuchiya. When reflecting on his favorite moments, he highlights 'our beloved Ricardo' and his debut at the gym as among the best memories.

Another wrestler, Rui Junior, aged 25, drives for eight hours to train at Mie Nishi. A 10-time Brazilian champion and three-time South American champion, he also recently competed in the World Sumo Championships in Osaka.

The Japanese government is so impressed with the growth of sumo in Latin America that it even sent a coach to the gym to assist in training emerging talent.

In Brazil, unlike in Japan, women are allowed to participate in sumo, and the sport is gaining traction among both women and children.

In Brazil, women are permitted to engage in sumo, unlike in Japan, and the sport's popularity is rising among women and children. Photo courtesy of Mie Nishi Gym.

A distinctive feature of the São Paulo arena is the presence of women wrestling.

In Japan, women have long been forbidden from entering or even touching the wrestling ring, known as the dohyō. This tradition is rooted in the belief that women are 'impure' due to menstruation, a view criticized for its ties to Shinto beliefs about purity.

However, Tsuchiya emphasizes that including women in the dohyō ring was a crucial step for him.

'For sumo to be recognized as an Olympic sport, it was essential to include women's competitions. As a result, the Brazilian Confederation established women's sumo and launched the first women's championship in 2001.'

Tsuchiya has grand aspirations for the future, envisioning a day when his modest gym in Brazil will host the World Championship.

In the meantime, the gym organizes monthly tournaments that are open to the public.

Ginásio de Sumo do Bom Retiro, Av. Pres. Castelo Branco, 5446 - Bom Retiro, São Paulo - SP, 01142-200, Brazil

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