SUMO East and West

Running time: N/A

SUMO East and West is a visually mesmerizing and dramatic journey that follows the lives and commitment of modern day professional and amateur sumo wrestlers. For centuries, the art and sport of sumo have been a cloistered and highly secretive world. It is, in many ways, the living embodiment of Japan itself. Sumo is not only Japan's national sport but also a cultural treasure that is literally part of the Shinto religion. It was not until the '70s that this ancient sport began to gain world notoriety with the success of American sumo wrestlers from Hawaii, culminating in the 1993 ascension of Akebono, the first non-Japanese yokozuna (grand champion) in history. Since then, sumo had undergone a massive transformation due to western influence, including its initiation into the Olympics and the introduction of women into the sport-a controversy that still reverberates among Japanese purists. Filmmakers Ferne Pearlstein and Robert Edwards, both graduates of Stanford, take us on a thrilling voyage with this entrancing work in progress, following the current North American amateur champion, Wayne Vierra, among others, as we witness the cultural clash of western influence on sumo, from the glitzy promotions in Vegas to its acceptance in the Olympics, where sumo has lost its traditional form. Reviewed by Al Owens. Preceded by: Only a Turtle (Renee Fischer, 8 min., USA) You would never guess how much charm and personality they have, as Stanford University's Renee Fischer introduces us to the world of a turtle.