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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.
*Just a little warning for many who don’t need to see an excessive amount of flesh, the images inside this text do showcase a variety of pores and skin. I’ve tried to {photograph} the occasion tastefully and used artistic methods to make the pictures slightly extra arty…hopefully you’ll get pleasure from seeing a peek inside this fascinating Japanese sport.
On my current journey to Tokyo, I used to be fortunate sufficient to order a ticket to the September event at Ryogoku Kokugikan, the nationwide sumo area of Japan. I reserved the seat on-line, picked up the tickets at a neighborhood 7-Eleven retailer and had no thought as to the place we’d be sitting, however assumed it could be very removed from the motion as a result of they have been roughly $20AUD.
Spoiler, we have been within the very again row, however this truly ended up being supreme for somebody who had no thought what was taking place and needed to {photograph} as a lot as potential with out getting in anybody’s manner.
So, let’s chat about sumo wrestling, a phrase I by no means thought I’d be typing. I need to supply an perception into what it’s wish to {photograph} at a sumo event, some pictures suggestions to assist plan what lenses to pack and what digicam settings work finest, plus slightly perception into what the heck is definitely taking place after they step into the ring, or extra particularly, dohyō.
One of the vital outstanding sumo tournaments is held yearly in September in Tokyo, only a few blocks down from the Tokyo Skytree at Ryogoku Kokugikan Nationwide Sumo Area. This occasion not solely showcases the bodily prowess and talent of sumo wrestlers but in addition pays homage to the wealthy custom and historical past of this revered sport. The world, the environment and the evident tradition present an enchanting perception into each the opponents and the followers.
Sumo wrestling dates to historical Japan, with its origins deeply rooted in Shinto rituals. Thought-about a sacred occasion, it was believed to be a technique to entertain the gods and convey success to the neighborhood. Over time, it developed right into a extremely expert sport that calls for immense energy, agility, and psychological self-discipline. In the present day, sumo tournaments are held in grand arenas referred to as “kokugikan,” which interprets to “nationwide sport corridor,” symbolising the importance of this historical custom.
The September Sumo Match in Tokyo
The September sumo event in Tokyo is among the most prestigious occasions on the sumo wrestling calendar. The event, often called the “Aki Basho,” attracts followers from world wide who collect on the Ryogoku Kokugikan to witness the extraordinary battles between sumo wrestlers, or “rikishi.” These wrestlers, carrying nothing greater than loincloths and an emblem of their steady’s crest, preserving the simplicity and sacredness of the game.
I need to admit to being slightly bowled over once 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…hi there pores and skin!
The event 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, referred to 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 potential 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. Nevertheless, the day begins at 9am and you’ll enter the stadium to observe the decrease ranked opponents too. We arrived at 11am, as a result of I needed time to get adjusted to the circumstances, attempt to work out what was occurring and the way all the pieces 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 methods with a variety of matches.
Within the morning, the environment 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 (until you’re a registered member of the press), and also you’re not permitted to stroll the aisles attempting to get a greater vantage level. Basically, you’re taking your seat and {photograph} from it.
Because of the structure of the sector, 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 variety of pictures I used to be actually proud of.
- Pack a zoom lens, when you’re like me and find yourself within the again row, you’ll want all of the zoom you will get when you’re looking for nearer pictures of the opponents. 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 number of first to see what points you need 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 manner, however then I discovered a technique to compose the pictures and produce some artistic pictures that includes the opponents and a little bit of golden bokeh.
- Don’t be so consumed by taking images that you simply miss the expertise and participating within the environment.
- 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, when you’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.
- It’s possible you’ll want to extend your ISO to round 1600 and shoot with a quick shutter pace to comfortably seize the motion with out blur. It’s comparatively well-lit inside the sector, nevertheless relying on the place you’re seated, the decrease mild could make issues slightly 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.
Artistic Problem – Photographing Motion
There are a bunch of matches all through the day, so many that you simply’ll ultimately need to experiment and get slightly artistic together with your pictures.
Give lengthy exposures a go to seize the motion and movement of the athletes, but in addition the custom. Between matches somebody will come out to make use of a brush to brush the floor, for every stage of competitors, there’s a parade of opponents 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 extra six will come from a special path 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.
Tips on how to Get Sumo Tickets
The schedule for the 12 months’s tournaments may be discovered on the official web site right here, the location additionally states when tickets are launched and easy methods to buy them.
For the September event, I truly bought mine about three weeks upfront, nevertheless there was solely the one date left, and the seats have been within the again row. When you’re hoping to have slightly extra alternative by way of date and seat allocation, be sure you reserve your tickets the second they’re launched, sometimes about 6-8 weeks earlier than a event.
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 prime of the display screen)
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Howdy! 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 street. I hope it’s helpful on your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences world wide.
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