Don’t cry, big guy

I’m crying with you, Koto’oshu. Sad to see you leave the sumo world, you sexy Bulgarian. (Thanks to husband for tip).

 

And the lady fans roared

As Hakuho wins another tournament, this one the new year’s first in Tokyo. Thanks to the husband for the link.

 

Oosunaarashi 「大砂嵐」is hot new Egyptian sumo wrestler

 

Wow! That’s a lot of hair-covered muscle from Oosunaarashi, the hot Egyptian sumo wrestler. There’s been plenty of Mongolians and East Europeans, but Oosunaarashi is probably the first Arab to compete at the top level.

Congratulations Hakuho on 25th tournament victory

Undoubtedly, Mongolian Hakuho is one of sumo’s greatest. Yesterday he won the Tokyo tournament, his 25th! In the background is Bulgarian hottie Kotooshu, who scored his eighth win on the last day to maintain his ozeki status.

Sumo wrestler riding a bicycle

These gentle giants have captured my heart. Photo by Paolo Patrizi.

Sumo wrestlers getting their hair done

Photo by Paolo Patrizi.

Sumo wrestlers washing themselves with hose on sidewalk

Another photo by Paolo Patrizi.

Sumo wrestler frying up some food

I love Paolo Patrizi‘s intimate portraits of sumo wrestlers in and around the Tokyo “stables” where they train. Wonder what this one is cooking?

Funeral for Taiho, Japan’s greatest post-war sumo wrestler

Taiho, one of Japan’s great yokozuno sumo champions, had a lavish funeral with mountains of white flowers. Current champion Hakuho led the mourning. Taiho was very hot in his youth. He was half-Ukranian and born in the Soviet Sakhalin island, which are claimed by the Japanese as the Karafuto island.

Sumo wrestlers descending stairs at the train station

As much as I enjoy seeing sumo wrestlers at ringside, in all their fleshy nakedness, it’s also super exciting to come across them in daily life: at the ward office, or in the train system. They are immediately recognizable, and always impeccably dressed and groomed.