Sumo has elaborate rules. These rules provide for a thorough ranking of everything and everyone involved, from players to ring sweepers. Hierarchies on overdrive, but it is deeper than a military hierarchy. One thing is how the bi-monthly tournaments play out without knockout round or round matches: as every top division player has one match a day for 15 days, pairs are picked so that the higher-ranked and well-playing get the more difficult opponents, and it's so effective that often the two best end up meeting in the very last match.

Sumo matches are short, but both preceded and followed by elaborate Shintoist ceremonies. Tradition also determines the training methods, clothes, hairdo of the players, what's more, their demeanor -- you won't see a Sumo player celebrating victory or showing negative feelings for an opponent. There are traditions for the viewing public, too -- for example, great upsets are celebrated by throwing the seat cushions into the ring.

While all six major tournaments are in Japan, as are the Sumo clubs, foreigners are now admitted. There are a lot of Mongolians in the top division -- presumably because Mongolia has a related sport --, also a South Korean, there used to be an American from Hawaii, and now a lot of Europeans: two Russians (brothers, but one fell out), a Georgian, an Estonian and a Bulgarian.

Now I will show some important and/or favourite sumo players with YouTube clips.

Asashoryu and Hakuho

The two players in the top rank yokozuna (grand champion, who managed to win two consecutive tournaments) are both Mongolian. With 20 tournament wins, Asashoryu is fifth best ever, and unrivalled in consecutive tournament wins -- often with 15-0 match win margins. But he lost form in the last two tournaments, when just 22-year-old Hakuho rose to the top. Both unite strength and speed -- when Asashoryu was in top form, opponents would just tumble around, with no time to finish any counter-move.

Kotooshu

The tallest player with the near-flat belly is one of the currently three second-highest rank ozekis (basic requirement: 33 wins in three consecutive tournaments) -- and came from Bulgaria. He can be very technical, but his main 'strength' is the length of his arms. He was a shooting star, then got stuck as ozeki, he sometimes seems demotivated -- but had some great victories against other top-ranked in the last tournament.

Chiyotaikai

An old Japanese ozeki. Hr is known for expert use of a single technique, which others almost never use: blocking and pushing away the opponent with a constant rain of shoves/slaps. But I grew fond of him more recently, when he increasingly began to apply other techniques -- and when successful, there was always the hint of an elfish smile on his face.

Ama

The Mongolian player who recently rose to the third-highest rank sekiwake (of which there are two) is the lightest in the top division: even after some weight gain, 'just' 124 kg. But Mr. Pockmarked Face is a very tricky player, and it is great to watch him overcome up to 50% more heavy rivals. He is my favourite.

Takamisakari

A player of the lowest but most numerous (presently 33) rank maegashira. In Japan, he is the most popular by far -- less for his fighting style, more for his ceremonies. He walks in like a robot (earning the nickname Robocop), as if he had difficulty moving due to muscle cramps. Climbing into the ring, he has his own ritual of beating himself to get into fighting mode, also in muscle cramp style. He then fights with great enthusiasm, though less talent. If he loses, he walks off with head bent down and with an ashamed look. If he wins, he walks off with head backwards, face looking up.