Sumo Photography Museum

This is a small photography museum placed in the parking area of a photo studio in Ryogoku, Tokyo. As you go through the shop curtain hung at the entrance, the room is crammed with photographs and reference materials of sumo wrestlers up to the ceiling. For every Sumo Grand Tournament held in Tokyo, the museum completely changes its display to show people various items, such as the history of sumo in the Taisho, Showa, and Heisei periods, as well as the photographs of consecutive generations of winning wrestlers and yokozuna (the highest rank in sumo) wrestlers. Besides presenting the history of sumo, the museum displays private photos, signed handprints, and ornamental aprons. Visitors can peep into sumo wrestlers' lives outside of the sumo ring and enjoy the world of sumo. This museum was opened in the Kudo Photo Studio’s parking area with the help of the Japan Sumo Association, as part of the ”small museum movement” in Sumida Ward. It is just a three-minute walk from the JR Ryogoku Station or a seven-minute walk from the Tokyo Metro Oedo Line Ryogoku Station.