The Perfect Guide to Sumo

Description: I purchased this book from the Hokusai Museum in Tokyo (Sumida). Being loaded with classical paintings (woodblock prints), I found the distribution through this store very appropriate and I thought the focus was on the artistic side. In reality, it is a very complex work about sumo, with the author opting to illustrate the book with “classic” images. I think it was an excellent decision! In addition, I discovered that the author, Katsuharu Ito, is a luminary in the field, one of the greatest referees, being the 34th Kimura Shonosuke (the highest rank of sumo referees). The book is bilingual (English and Japanese) and is read in the Japanese style (somehow, from the end, according to our customs, and the page is turned from left to right). The rigor, the system behind this sport, a system built over hundreds of years of activity, is impressive.

Year: 2017

MyRating (1-5): ****