The experience Sumo! Sumo! Sumo! is hands-on and held inside a real sumo ring at Amita Sumo Dojo. Below, a look at the dojo, the meeting point, and the instructors who will guide you through the session.

Two daily slots are available, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The meeting point is Amita Sumo Dojo, located inside Heiwa no Mori Park in Ota City, southern Tokyo.

Meet the Instructors:

Sota Kohara

Sota Kohara is an accomplished sumo wrestler and a current student at Hosei University. He won the Chiba Prefecture High School Sumo Championship for two consecutive years and earned third place in the team division at the All-Japan Student Sumo Championships. Drawing on his extensive competitive experience, he introduces guests to authentic sumo techniques and training in an approachable and engaging manner.

So Miyaue

So Miyaue has over 25 years of competitive sumo experience and provides professional sumo instruction in English. He was the runner-up in the under-85-kilogram category at the All Japan Intercollegiate Sumo Weight-Class Championships. Combining extensive technical knowledge with clear and approachable guidance, he helps international guests understand sumo's fundamental movements, training methods, rules, and traditions through an authentic hands-on experience.

Shinnosuke Takemasa

Shinnosuke Takemasa is a former professional sumo wrestler who competed under the ring name Genki and reached the Makushita division. Before entering professional sumo, he won the team division at Japan's National Sports Festival and became champion of the All Japan Junior Sumo Championships. Drawing on his experience at both elite amateur and professional levels, he provides guests with authentic instruction in sumo techniques, training, and traditions.

Masahiro Yamaguchi

Former professional sumo wrestler (rikishi) under the ring name Daikiho. His achievements include being High School Yokozuna, winning multiple national university tournaments, and rising to the top of the Makushita division after joining Miyagino-beya. After retiring in 2019, he continues to share his deep knowledge of sumo as a special staff member at Amita Sumo Dojo. He has appeared in Thermae Romae II, Netflix's Sanctuary, and TV Tokyo's Dekamori Hunter.

❖ Welcome, Mawashi Wrap-Up and Ring Preparation

A warm welcome at Amita Sumo Dojo, self-introductions, and a short quiz on sumo history and rules. Then you wrap an authentic mawashi (sumo loincloth) with the instructor's help and assist in preparing the ring as the wrestlers do.

❖ Rules, Rituals, and Basic Movements

An introduction to sumo's rules, etiquette, and sacred rituals, followed by the two movements every wrestler starts with: shiko (the foot stomps that mark the opening of every bout) and koshiwari (the low sumo squat that builds the legs).

Koshiwari, the deep sumo squat performed with a straight back and knees pressed wide, builds the low, rooted power that a wrestler fights from.

❖ Stretching, Footwork, and Wall Drills

Sumo-style warm-up and stretching to prevent injury, then the fundamental training drills: suriashi, the low sliding-step footwork that keeps a wrestler balanced in the ring, and teppo, the two-handed push against a wooden pillar that builds upper-body power.

Suriashi looks effortless but burns the thighs: with the feet kept flat to the clay, you drill the balance and forward drive that keep a wrestler from being toppled.

❖ Battle Practice and Match Experience

Mock battles against an instructor, with guidance on form and technique. You are then walked through a full torikumi (an actual bout) including the flow of the match, the chirichozu hand gestures performed before the clash, and the kinjite (forbidden moves) you must avoid.

In butsukari, the classic charging drill, you drive your full weight into the instructor as he absorbs the impact and pushes you back across the ring.

❖ Commemorative Photos and Shower

A group photo in the ring with your instructors to close the session. A shower is available at the dojo for a small coin fee (¥100 per five minutes); bring a towel and a change of clothes if you plan to use it.