Hoshoryu, Aonishiki, Atamifuji. Three different backgrounds. Three different paths. One martial art. From the studio to your hands, for sumo fans around the world. 
#豊昇龍 #安青錦 #熱海富士 #大相撲 #bardocraft
Besides his own ambitions, Onosato carries the weight of a nation’s aspirations on his shoulders, the first Japanese-born Yokozuna since Kisenosato retired in 2019. In just two years, Onosato went from his Makuuchi debut in January 2024 to be
The meaning of the iconic “Hakkeyoi”, is actually debatable. A popular explanation connects it to 発気揚々 (hakki yōyō), roughly “full of fighting spirit.”, but there isn't a universally accepted translation. Either way, it is a c
Refugee Rikishi is a must watch on YouTube. In 6 short minutes, the film gives us an intimate look at Danylo, the man the sumo world knows as Aonishiki. It is a deeply personal and inviting short documentary, carried by thoughtful storytelling, preci
The very first time watching sumo, I couldn’t believe how primitive (in a good way) Ryogoku Kokugikan is, just seats and a roof, while all the arenas in the world are plastered with giant screens and distractions. 2026, sumo remains a ritualize
Non stop revisions and prototypes, almost there! 
#Atamifuji #Aonishiki #Hoshoryu #大相撲 #bardocraft
Shikona (四股名), the ring names used by sumo wrestlers, are tied to shiko, the iconic leg-stomping ritual. But originally, shikona was written 醜名, with 醜 meaning “ugly.” The name was linked to the ritual of stamping out evil spirits and car
she the captain meow. #hakuho #asashoryu #sumo #大相撲 #bardocraft
What are the arrows that gyoji gives out on the final day? The last 3 bouts of the basho, known as Kore Yori Sanyaku (これより三役), carry special significance. It is rank, history, ceremony, and combat compressed into the final moments of a grand sumo bas
Foreign sumo fans are nothing short of detectives. We have to memorize faces, English names and even Kanji, just in case we stumble upon some juicy materials only in Japanese, all while everyone is pretty much the same shape and size. ⚠️Caution: you
The Daruma has long been a symbol of resilience in the world of sumo, embodying the Japanese saying “Fall seven times, rise eight” (七転び八起き). Its unwavering, self righting form reflects the spirit expected of every rikishi: to endure setba
Some dreams take you away from home, only to bring you closer to it. 
#Aonishiki #安青錦 #TheOdyssey #オデュッセイア #bardocraft
You should never question the mental toughness of someone who had to flee his home country from war, start a brand new career as a teenager, in a foreign country such as Japan, learn a new language, and somehow fight his way into the top 5 of a 1500
I thought Atamifuji was onto something when he started doing the “gradual descent”, then on day 8, my man performed the “buffet homestretch”. What a master piece, yall should see Kirishma’s face, I mean tata was out ther
If there is one thing a top dog despises, is a talented young blood with a full head of steam. Aonishiki feels different among the homegrown rikishi (other than his looks), a clear understanding of broader grappling education. When in doubt, he falls
By the late 1890s, ukiyo-e woodblock printing was adapting to Japan’s Meiji-era modernization. Its strong flat colors, dramatic cropping, and exaggerated Kabuki makeup and expressions vividly portrayed scenes and characters from the Kabuki