Sumo moves to beat Japan summer heat as temperatures rise

Sumo wrestling continues throughout August, with the athletes participating in a demanding summer tour across various locations nationwide. The heat in Japan has reached unprecedented levels, with the country experiencing its hottest summer ever last year, and recent days have seen temperatures soaring above 40C in certain areas.

Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather in Japan to human-induced climate change. Sumo officials have acknowledged the need to address the dangerous heat conditions for the wrestlers' well-being. Takadagawa, the tour chief, stated that they must avoid venues without air conditioning during the summer months.

This month, some exhibitions took place in venues lacking cooling systems, including changing rooms, according to local media. Takadagawa, a former wrestler now serving as a stablemaster, added that the sumo chiefs plan to decrease the annual tour's 90-day schedule to around 70 days beginning next summer. They aim to minimize physical strain by having wrestlers stay in the same location for nearby venues and incorporating two- or three-day tournaments, thus avoiding excessive travel.

Japan witnesses approximately 1,300 heat-related fatalities each year. Recently, Fijian rugby player Saimoni Vunilagi passed away in Japan after being hospitalized with severe heatstroke symptoms. Due to the heat, authorities have adjusted the timing of various cultural and sporting events in recent years.