Before each of the six annual sumo tournaments, a banzuke is released.
Banzuke – like the badly photographed one above – are ranking sheets that not only list all the wrestlers (around 600), but also all the staff connected with the sport. And as each tournament has a hand written original with a unique calligraphy style, they are practically works of art.
This type of banzuke has been around since 1757, and due to a rather tenuous link to the sumo world, I have acquired an extra one that I’m willing to post off to a Tokyo Times reader. If you are in any way interested, leave a comment below. The one that either amuses or interests me the most will receive the pictured banzuke, plus a photograph from the recent tournament if I can get my pictures developed in time.