National Geographic: Inside Sumo's Ultimate Clash
46 mins
We meet the highest ranked sumo wrestler, Mongolian Asashoryu. and delve into the hidden culture of this ancient sport. Sumo. More than a sport in Japan, it's a religion. Its history goes back 2000 years, with time-honored Shinto rituals and ceremonies originating from the ancient martial art called "Tegoi". Crashing into this tradition-bound world is Mongolian "outsider" Asashoryu. He's a rule-breaker. A rebel. And much to the chagrin of the sumo-crazy Japanese, he's their reigning champion. To add insult to injury, the Americans are even beefing up to join the sport. And now, for the first time in nearly 15 years, Japanese Grand Sumo is coming to ground zero of the outsider invasion. Hawaii - birthplace to Sumo's first foreign-born grand champion, Akebono. Asashoryu is not any Sumo wrestler. He's the "yokozuna" - or highest ranked. The Muhammad Ali of Sumo. With permission from...
Peter Yost
Producer
Peter Yost
Director
Peter Yost
Writer
Anna Auster
Editor
Erin Harvey
Cinematography
Rob Lyall
Cinematography
Arthur Yee
Additional Photography
Frauke Levin
Associate Producer
Edna Albuquerque
Production Manager
kirsten kelly
Production Manager
Hilary Burke
Production Manager
damion perkins
Production Coordinator
Don Beaulieu
Researcher
Todd Hermann
Researcher
Marlene Walker-Golden
Manager of Operations
Debbie Nathanson
Post Production Supervisor
Michael Helenek
Post Production Coordinator
Adam Siggers
Post Production Coordinator
Araby Williams
Assistant Editor
Jennifer Filippazzo
Assistant Editor
Masashi Shimonao
Translator
Miyako Inue-Herrera
Translator
Coleen Sackheim
Transcriptions
Ben Holtzman
Production Assistant
Jason Leta
Visual Effects Art Director
Marcie Callahan
Schedule Coordinator
Juilia Withcomb
Schedule Coordinator