Sumo (Hardback or Cased Book)

Sumo offers a unique behind-the-scenes view into the secret and fascinating world of sumo, a living breathing showcase of ancient Japan.

Sumo is one of the oldest sports in the world, stretching back over 2,000 years. Within the Japanese establishment, there exists a great sense of pride that so little about the sport has changed in the past millennium. Wrestlers still live by a strict code, in and outside of the dojo, and to commit to the sport requires complete devotion from an early age. As Japan has surged forwards into modernity, this fascinating corner of culture has remained anchored to the past. Gaining behind-the-scenes access is notoriously difficult as sumo is a sport shrouded in secrecy. A full year was spent by the author knocking on doors and filling out endless paperwork before he was eventually granted permission to chronicle the lives of wrestlers; a world where history, culture, pride, and athleticism combine. Sumo documents the strict codes to which wrestlers adhere. The photographs bring to life the stringent dietary and training regimes which require enormous dedication and the many unique practices which make sumo fascinating – a living, breathing showcase of ancient Japan.

This book offers a unique set of over 95 photographs that are sequenced rhythmically and poetically to give the armchair viewer an insight into not only the drama and excitement of the tournaments, but also the dedication of the wrestlers and the sacrifices they make to have a chance to compete at the highest level.

Lord K2 is a London born award-winning photographer with a huge passion for sports and art. In documenting sumo culture in Japan, he has been granted rare permission to photograph the wrestlers in their stables and in the Kokugikan Stadium. He has also photographed for the World Muay Thai Council and for the International Federation of Muay Thai Amateur. His work has been featured on the front cover of Asian Geographic, as well as in numerous online and offline news media. In addition to documenting his sports, Lord K2 photographs urban art, and he is author of the highly acclaimed Street Art Santiago (Schiffer, 2015), Tokyo Graffiti (Schiffer, 2018), Street Art Tel Aviv (Sussex Academic Press, 2021) and Street Art NYC (Dokument Press, 2022). He is currently based in Tokyo.