Sumo is a popular Japanese wrestling sport in which the opponents attempt to force each other to the ground or out of a circular ring. With its origin dating back to some six centuries ago, Sumo has preserved many ancient traditions such as the use of salt as purification and elaborate wrestling rituals and ceremonies. A wrestler is declared the winner if he forces his opponent to step out of the ring or to touch the ground with any part of the body other than the bottom of his feet.

Japan is the only country where Sumo is practised professionally. The latests news about Sumo is the scandle involing Sumo players in match fixing which led to the cancellation of the 2001 spring grand tournament.