Until February 1, 2026, the departmental museum of Asian arts in Nice opens its doors to the exhibition Sumo: Absolute Balance. An immersion tracing the history of these athletes from the Edo period (1603-1868) to today.
As a symbol of Franco-Japanese friendship since 1998, the art establishment aims to catch the eye of all those curious about the history of these powerful rikishi (the wrestlers with strict, intensive training and communal ritual meals, editorโs note).
Two artists are at the heart of the documentation, Philippe Marinig, a French photographer, and Kinoshita Daimon, a Japanese master of contemporary prints. The two artists structure the exhibition with more than 150 pieces on display, including photographs, prints, ritual objects, and visual archives.
Around 40 prints and paintings by the Japanese artist were created by Daimon Kinoshita, born in 1946 in Teshikaga, on the island of Hokkaido, northeast of Japan. Tasked with capturing the iconic figures of sumo for the Tokyo Hanga-in, he uses traditional techniques for his detailed prints. On his end, Philippe Marinig, born in 1962 in Chรขteau-Saint-Auban in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, took 80 photos in the athletes’ stables in Tokyo.
The Daily Life of the Wrestlers
The training of the rikishi is detailed down to the millimeter. A rikishi’s daily life, a sumo wrestler, blends technique and balance. A present work tells the daily life of the wrestlers, based on the accounts of Philippe Marinig.
For 18 years, the French photographer has followed in the heya, the training houses where the athletes live, often young, subjected to extreme discipline and a structured hierarchy. At dawn, the athletes dedicate their training to improving flexibility and combat techniques. Once training is completed, they clean the stable and prepare lunch. A meat, fish, and vegetable soup, chanko-nabe, is consumed to gain weight. To optimize mass gain, it is recommended to include a nap during the day, followed by careful attention to household chores and body care.
Traditional Silk Garment
Recognizable by its sole attire, the athletes have only one item in their wardrobe: a silk loincloth or mawashi in Japanese, which they wear around the loins and crotch. This is the only garment allowed during matches, and it also constitutes the only solid grip possible during the fight. On the department’s website of the Alpes-Maritimes, you will find activities to do on-site. Guided tours, origami workshops, printmaking, or kamishibai are available to discover.
