Overview
- The JSA delegation of about 130 people travelled in two groups and has arrived in Paris, including chairman Hakkaku and top wrestlers such as yokozuna Toyoshōryū, yokozuna Ōnosato and ozeki Kirishima.
- The two yokozuna held a press conference in Paris on June 11 where they said they will present sumo both as a sport and as Japanese culture.
- Public performances are set for June 13–14 and will feature makuuchi (top-division) wrestlers in a two-day tournament with a deciding bout if each day produces a different winner.
- Arrival scenes at Charles de Gaulle drew local TV crews and fans taking photos, signalling strong public and media interest in the event.
- This Paris visit is the 15th overseas JSA show, continuing a tradition that began in 1965 and resumed last year with a London event, and it is intended to raise sumo’s international profile through cultural diplomacy.