(CHEERING) These athletes have comefrom across the world seeking glory in Japan's most iconic sport, sumo. This is the most importanttournament of the year for amateur female wrestlers. The winner will be crownedworld champion. This is the one. This is the world championship, and you've got a lot of huge nameson the list.
And the fans are focusedon two heavyweight champions. Hometown favourite Hiyori Kon. Ready to be hero. (LAUGHS) Her main rival is UkrainianIvanna Berezovska. At 6'1″, she towers over Hiyori. Size isn't her only advantage. Ukrainian female sumo can getgovernment financial support. Japanese women don't. In sumo, it's all about the men.
These female sumo are determinedto change old attitudes. They're pushing for respect and even the chance to go pro. It's a huge challenge,but they're up for the fight. One of the world'sgreatest metropolises, Greater Tokyo is hometo over 37 million people. Amidst the hustle and bustleof this modern city, a deep connection to the pastremains… ..where ancient culture and traditionblend seamlessly with the future.
It's a Saturday afternoon, and kidsat the Oto Arashi sumo club are being put through their paces. (COACH SHOUTS) (SHOUTS) (SHOUTS) Today they've gota trailblazing guest. Hiyori Kon is a legend to these kids. Hiyori started sumowhen she was only six. After winning the JuniorWorld Sumo Championships twice,.
Hiyori won silver as an adultin 2018 and '19 before the pandemicput a hold to her success. Studying Hiyori's movesis 10-year-old Kanano Suzuki. Her family's behind her all the way. There's a lot of enthusiasmin this ring and you can see the kidsare really giving it their all. But the reality isclubs like this one are really few and far between. Girls aren't always welcome.
After a busy weekend,Hiyori's back home. Sumo may be her passion,but it doesn't earn an income. Her only time to trainis before sunrise. She then goes to her office job. It sounds exhausting -having a career and having to train and competeat sumo. Mmm. Hiyori's work has a corporate sumoclub, but it was for men only. Hiyori convinced them to change that.
And became the first womanto join their ranks. Despite her success, Hiyori'sfeeling pressured to give it all up, find a husband, and have a family. It's an experiencemany women here face. Japan regularly performs poorlyon issues of gender equality. On the northern tip of Japan'smain island, Honshu, is Aomori Prefecture. It's renowned for its natural beauty. It's also famous for producingmore sumo champions.
Than any other prefecture. Rio Hasegawais a rising star of the sport. Rio was born intoa sumo-loving family. She followed her brothersto train at the local club. But her dad was the biggestdriving force. He died when Rio was just 15. Rhea moved to Tokyo, some 600km away,for university. Her style is a break from thetraditional sumo look of black hair, and it gets a lot of attention.
Keio University is one ofthe most prestigious in Japan. It's never had a woman at its sumoclub in its 100-year history, until Rio pushed the door open. Do you see yourself as a pioneerfor women's sumo? With no professional competitionfor women, Rio knows she'll probably have togive it all up after university. On the southern island of Kyushulies the regional city of Oita. Today, it's hosting the Jungyo,a professional sumo promotional tour. The only women here are spectators.
So, got my press pass,my shoes are off – let's go watch some sumo. (APPLAUSE) While amateur sumoinvolves men and women, professional sumo, known as ozumo,is for men only. So, this is actually my first timeseeing professional sumo, and I must say it's quite exciting. Sumimasen. Selfie onegaishimasu? OK. OK.
(CAMERA CLICKS)Oh, perfect. OK. Arigato gozaimasu. Sumo has deep rootsin Japanese culture, said to date some 1,500 years. It outlasted the samurai. But the sport we know today emergedafter the defeat of Imperial Japan in the Second World War. These events,even if just a bit of fun, are designed toattract new audiences.
But such a highly traditional sport is struggling to get young peopleto sign up. (MEN CHANT) The world of sumois famously secretive, much of it off limitsto outsiders or the media. But I've been granted a rareopportunity to see what happens behind the scenes. (MEN CHANT) Ikazuchi stable is run byhusband and wife combo.
Stablemaster Toru Kakizoeand the manager Emi Kakizoe. (CALLS INSTRUCTIONS) The pair met 24 years ago when Emi was competing inhigh school sumo competitions. Emi and her husband are determinedto make it a more friendly place. After training, it's time to eat. There's a lot going onin this kitchen. We've got eggsthat have just been cooked. These guys are washing the dishes.
Beef simmering away. Plenty of, uh, leafy greens,cabbage, spring onion. It's all hands on deck. To protect sumo's distinctJapanese culture, the governing Sumo Associationintroduced a rule. Each stable is strictly allowedno more than one foreign wrestler. They've adopted 27-year-old UkrainianShi-Shi. So, um, they're your family? So, this is chanko nabe?Chanko nabe.
The famous sumo meal. One ancient rule is non-negotiable. While foreign men are welcomein the ring, Japanese women are not. In one infamous case,the rule was enforced even when it wasa matter of life and death. In 2018,there was major controversy. A local mayor collapsedinside the sumo ring and women rushed to his aid. But the refereeordered them to leave.
It is a centuries-old sport with an appearance that's basedon some centuries-old thinking. Australian Murray Johnsonis the international voice of sumo. Well, this is the home of sumo, where you've seen some dynamicsumo matches over the year. He's been commentating the sportfor 30 years. During that time, he's seenthe governing Sumo Association refuse to reform. Is there a reluctance in sumoto evolve?.
Is it too focused on the past?Too focused on Japan? Too focused on men?Yes. (CHUCKLES) Unfortunately, yes. It's basically they don'twant to lose their identity, because it is a Japanese sport. You know, it was once calledthe national sport. But I thinkit will eventually change, but I don't think I'll be alive. Fumihiko Nara is the coach atRio Hasegawa's university sumo club.
He says evolution is needed. And Rio Hasegawacan be a catalyst for change. For now, this is the biggesttournament for women's sumo – the amateur world championships. (SPECTATORS CHEER AND SHOUT) Hiyori Kon is preparingfor her heavyweight bout. Hiyori's made a momentous decision. She's decided she won't continueto juggle sumo and work. This could beher last world tournament.
How are you feeling? Mm… More exciting. Excited. Nervous? Yeah, no. Never. Never nervous?Never nervous. Hiyori makes light workof her first opponent. (SPECTATORS SHOUT AND CHEER) Her second boutbarely lasts any longer.
Ukrainian Ivanna Berezovskaalso outmuscles her opponent. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) So, they've justswitched off the lights, meaning we're into the finals now. And after a long day,I've got to say the atmospherehas really gone up a notch. ANNOUNCER: On the east side,for Japan, Kon Hiyori. On the west, for Ukraine,Berezovska Ivanna. Victory will be determinedin seconds.
(CHEERING, SHOUTING) (APPLAUSE) Hiyori's dreams are dashed. Berezovska Ivanna, the gold medal. Silver medal to Kon Hiyori of Japan. For now, Hiyori is leavingcompetition life behind. Ah! Konnichiwa. But she's not abandoning sumo. This year, she's moving to Argentinato teach sumo.
As part ofa Japanese government program. It was advertised asa male-only position until Hiyori successfullychallenged it. Rio's determinedto keep fighting at home. Captions by Red Bee Media CopyrightAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
