dohyo

A dohyo is the traditional ring used in sumo wrestling, typically made of clay and covered with a thin layer of rice-straw. It measures approximately 4.55 meters in diameter and is elevated slightly above the surrounding floor. The space within the dohyo is where sumo bouts take place, and its boundaries are marked by rice-straw bails. The dohyo represents a sacred space, symbolizing the wrestler’s connection to tradition and the spiritual aspects of sumo. Prior to a match, the surface is meticulously prepared, and wrestlers perform ceremonial rituals to honor the ring’s significance.