Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing

The genesis of sumo was believed to have been a part of a Shinto ritual to appease the gods. Over a century later, it has developed into a beloved sporting tradition with a long lineage of iconic competitors. After reaching a peak in popularity in the 1990s, professional sumo wrestling in the present day faces the crisis of a dwindling talent pool. Through Erik Shirai’s lens, viewers are granted rare access to traditions of the sport originally shrouded in secrecy. Featuring the intimate lives of a group of rikishi (wrestlers) at various stages of their careers, director Shirai paints a comprehensive portrait of the sport’s formidable hierarchy and the fierce training regimen required to ascend to its apex. With sweeping cinematography and moving sound design, Sumo captures the true spirit of its glorious athletes and the art of combat in all its majesty. —Jordan Klein