Depicting the Essence of Sumō: Traditional and New Ideals in Manga “Hinomaruzumō”

The Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo is known as the home of professional sumō. Of the six main tournaments held each year, three take place here. (© Jiji)

Then sekiwake Kiribayama defeats Daieishō in the final bout to win the spring tournament at Edion Arena in Osaka on March 26, 2023. The tournament was notable for the absence of rikishi from the top two ranks of yokozuna and ōzeki. (© Jiji)

Hawaiian-born rikishi Takamiyama, popularly known as “Jesse,” helped pave the way for foreign wrestlers. After retiring from the ring, he became the stablemaster Azumazeki and worked to train the next generation of wrestlers, including fellow Hawaiian Akebono, who would go on to become a yokozuna. (© Jiji)

Mongolian-born Hakuho (now stablemaster Miyagino) was a yokozuna for 14 years, during which time he broke numerous records, including a historic 45 tournament wins in the top-flight makuuchi division. Here he performs a ring-entering ceremony during his final appearance as a professional sumō wrestler on July 4, 2021, at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. (© Jiji)

The television anime adaption of the series debuted in October 2018 and depicts how Hinomaru reaches the pinnacle of high school sumō. (© Kawada/Shūeisha Hinomaru Sumō Production Committee)