Sumo diplomacy: Japan's heavyweight 'soft power' ambassadors

Sumo diplomacy: Japan's heavyweight 'soft power' ambassadors

TOKYO — Two giants stare each other down before colliding with a dull thud. After years on the sidelines, sumo is back centre stage as part of Japan’s soft power arsenal overseas. Behind the scenes at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo, preparations were already being made for a tour to Paris in June, following a stop in London last year. The last time sumo wrestlers travelled to France was in 1995, when such tours were common, but they…