TOKYO - Sumo fans are given a rare glimpse behind the scenes at one of the sport's most prestigious stables in a documentary released recently on Netflix.
"Dohyo Giwa," meaning "at the edge of the ring," follows the training and daily lives of wrestlers at Takasago stable, including former ozeki Asanoyama, while documenting the stable's efforts to recruit new talent.
"Professional sumo is a world governed by rankings, where wrestlers have to win to move up," director Yuya Terami said of the 74-minute documentary. "I wanted to show that everyone is at dohyo giwa."
Terami, an acquaintance of stablemaster Takasago, former sekiwake Asasekiryu, decided to make the documentary after watching the wrestlers train and being moved by their dedication.
The film crew spent more than a year closely following the stable, capturing scenes of the stablemaster meeting prospective recruits and their families.
In one scene, Takasago promises a prospective recruit's parents, "I will be his parent and take responsibility for him."
Terami praised the stablemaster's willingness to tell a child's parents he would "become his parent."
"I want people to understand the strength of those in the sumo world who live with that kind of responsibility," he said.
Asanoyama, the highest-ranked wrestler at the stable, is shown becoming the first wrestler to return to the top-tier makuuchi division after twice falling to the fourth tier, most recently due to a severe knee injury.
The 32-year-old, who is ranked at No. 1 maegashira for the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, acknowledged that the number of wrestlers at the stable had dwindled compared to when he joined 10 years ago.
"It's a dramatic documentary, and I hope it will give people an opportunity to learn more not only about our stable but also about professional sumo as a whole," Asanoyama said.
