Feel the tense atmosphere in the sumo stable as soon as you step in there, led by your guide. This is what starkly sets apart watching morning sumo practice from ‘sumo shows’ out there. While you can enjoy a humorous performance in sumo shows to entertain spectators and you can even challenge the wrestlers, the morning sumo practice viewing contrasts sharply with the shows because:
1) All the sumo stable wrestlers belong to the Japan Sumo Association, the only governing body of professional sumo in Japan, while sumo show wrestlers are performers.
2) While the performers try to make their show entertaining as best as they can, the professionals are just focused on climbing the ranks through hard practice.
3) All the wrestlers you will see participate in the grand sumo tournaments held 6 times a year.
The sumo stable you are visiting has two top-division wrestlers. Watch how grueling it is for other lower-ranked wrestlers to wrest their positions from the two wrestlers. While the professionals keep an unapproachable atmosphere around them during the practice, once they are off from the sumo ring, they are affable; you can take commemorative photos with them.