Sumo banners lined the main street on the way to the
venue.
Wrestlers waiting for the bus on the way to the venue, downtown Fukuoka.
The venue, Fukuoka Kokusai (International) Center.
View of the venue entryway: banners to the left and right, drum tower in the
middle.
Lifetime employment: former wrestler turned parking lot attendant, having a
smoke.
Line of spectators watching for arriving rikishi at the red carpet outside. This
is Oyanagi, a Juryo bruiser still too new to have his hair done up, but put up
one tough, forward moving fight around 15:30 today. A guy to watch.
Life goes on: wrestler in a quiet moment checks his cell phone.
The entry hall; all the wrestlers walk through here in space in the lower left
corner. Fans line up all day to see them pass by—having them do this is good
marketing, and makes for a friendly atmosphere.
Ah, marketing. Also, um, which way is the third floor again?
Ah, marketing, Part II. Admit it, you want one.
Under the stands, entrance to the hana-michi, but also the way to many of the
seats. Anybody can just walk around here. These guys were practicing, and there
were sometimes half a dozen at a time.
Former Wakanosato, just hangin' out. He talked to these random ladies for ten or
fifteen minutes.
Did I mention, accessible? If I had wanted to, I could have walked up and sat
down next to the announcers. This is the NHK booth.
Wow, next time I'm getting me one of these seats: two-chair, carpeted booths
with little tables. Note the cushions: one solid mass. Not to be thrown.
The venue, unplugged. From my seat, around 2:15 p.m.
Now we're talkin'. Kakuryu during his ring entering ceremony.