Photographing a Sumo Match 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 warning for many who don’t wish to see an excessive amount of flesh, the pictures inside this text do showcase a whole lot of pores and skin. I’ve tried to {photograph} the occasion tastefully and used artistic strategies to make the photographs a little bit extra arty…hopefully you’ll take pleasure in seeing a peek inside this fascinating Japanese sport.
On my latest journey to Tokyo, I used to be fortunate sufficient to order a ticket to the September match 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 concept as to the place we’d be sitting, however assumed it might be very removed from the motion as a result of they had been roughly $20AUD.
Spoiler, we had been within the very again row, however this truly ended up being perfect for somebody who had no concept what was taking place and wished to {photograph} as a lot as attainable with out getting in anybody’s method.
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 wish to {photograph} at a sumo match, some pictures suggestions to assist plan what lenses to pack and what digicam settings work finest, plus a little bit perception into what the heck is definitely taking place once they step into the ring, or extra particularly, dohyō.
One of the vital distinguished sumo tournaments is held yearly in September in Tokyo, just some blocks down from the Tokyo Skytree at Ryogoku Kokugikan Nationwide Sumo Enviornment. This occasion not solely showcases the bodily prowess and talent of sumo wrestlers but additionally pays homage to the wealthy custom and historical past of this revered sport. The world, the ambiance and the evident tradition present a captivating 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 solution to entertain the gods and convey luck to the neighborhood. Over time, it developed right into a extremely expert sport that calls for immense energy, agility, and psychological self-discipline. As we speak, 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 Match in Tokyo
The September sumo match in Tokyo is without doubt one of the most prestigious occasions on the sumo wrestling calendar. The match, often called 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 little bit greatly surprised 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…howdy pores and skin!
The match spans over fifteen days, with every day’s matches divided into varied divisions, ranging from the lowest-ranked wrestlers, often called “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 aim is to win as many matches as attainable to safe the next rank within the following tournaments.
The principle matches with the makuuchi begin round 4:30pm and final roughly an hour and a half. Nonetheless, the day begins at 9am and you may enter the stadium to observe the decrease ranked rivals too. We arrived at 11am, as a result of I wished time to get adjusted to the circumstances, attempt to work out what was happening and the way every part flowed. By arriving early, we had loads of area 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 artistic strategies with a whole lot of matches.
Within the morning, the ambiance 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 group chanting the names of their favorite wrestlers and waving indicators.
Picture Suggestions for Sumo Wrestling
Firstly, no flash pictures is allowed (except you’re a registered member of the press), and also you’re not permitted to stroll the aisles making an attempt to get a greater vantage level. Primarily, you are taking your seat and {photograph} from it.
As a result of structure of the world, it’s very easy to {photograph} from virtually any seat, as I mentioned, I used to be within the very again row and nonetheless liked the expertise and got here away with a whole lot of pictures I used to be actually proud of.
- Pack a zoom lens, if you happen to’re like me and find yourself within the again row, you’ll want all of the zoom you may get if you happen to’re searching for nearer pictures of the rivals. I had the OM SYSTEM OM-1 digicam 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 artistic concepts for the way.
- Go searching to see what different parts you’ll be able to embody inside your pictures, I liked bending barely in my seat to include the golden glow of the banister. At first it felt prefer it was in my method, however then I discovered a solution to compose the pictures and produce some artistic pictures 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 participating within the ambiance.
- A whole lot of the matches are over inside mere seconds, so it may be useful to set your digicam to seize a number of frames. I used to be utilizing the OM SYSTEM Professional Seize as soon as the matches received actually spectacular!
- The press pit is positioned proper beside the dohyō, if you happen to’re sitting reverse, it may be enjoyable to time your pictures with their flashes to assist create a picture that highlights the spectacle and provides an extra pop of sunshine to set the scene.
- You might want to extend your ISO to round 1600 and shoot with a quick shutter velocity 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 mild could make issues a little bit trickier.
- Earlier than every match, the sumo wrestlers will stretch and do the identical routine. This can be 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 little bit artistic along with your pictures.
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 extra money on the match, the extra vibrant banners are paraded round. It’s truly fairly enjoyable to see as a result of it could start with three banners, then an additional six will come from a unique route and the group goes wild with cheers. Throughout this time the sumo wrestlers are getting ready so you’ll be able to seize the motion of the banners whereas they’re within the body.
How you can Get Sumo Tickets
The schedule for the 12 months’s tournaments may be discovered on the official web site right here, the positioning additionally states when tickets are launched and easy methods to buy them.
For the September match, I truly bought mine about three weeks upfront, nevertheless there was solely the one date left, and the seats had been within the again row. When you’re hoping to have a little bit extra selection by way of date and seat allocation, make sure you reserve your tickets the second they’re launched, sometimes about 6-8 weeks earlier than a match.
Reserve your tickets right here – https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnTicket/ (The English model ought to be seen, if not, there’s a language tab on the high of the display screen)
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Whats up! 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 website is from my private expertise on the highway. I hope it’s helpful on your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences around the globe.
