Does Sumo need saving? The crisis facing Japan's national sport

The ancient Japanese ritual of Sumo is in crisis. Only last week, a Mongolian wrestler was forced to retire after assaulting a teammate – but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Subscribe to The Guardian on YouTube ► http://bit.ly/subscribegdn Sumo is Japan's naitonal sport, but years of controversy and scandal – coupled with the country's declining population – have greatly impacted the sport's ability to attract new talent. The Guardian visits Tokyo's Ryōgoku district, the birthplace of Sumo, to see how this iconic institution is adapting to life in the 21st century, and why – despite women being banned from the ring itself – young female fans are flocking to watch it like never before. The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► https://bit.ly/3biVfwh Sign up to the Guardian's free new daily newsletter, First Edition ► http://theguardian.com/first-edition Website ► https://www.theguardian.com Facebook ►   / theguardian   Twitter ►   / guardian   Instagram ►   / guardian   The Guardian on YouTube: Guardian News ► https://bit.ly/guardiannewssubs Guardian Australia ► https://bit.ly/guardianaussubs Guardian Football ► https://bit.ly/gdnfootballsubs Guardian Sport ► https://bit.ly/gdnsportsubs Guardian Live ► https://bit.ly/guardianlivesubs #sumo #sumowrestler #sumowrestling #japan