A true athlete with his regime.

Photographer IsseiKato had the unique opportunity to show how looks the life of a sumo inside.

Already fifteen hundred years old large and tough people push each other out of the circle in the sand, and everyone loves it.

Sumo wrestling is a sport which has seeped into pop culture. But still, this is a unique Japanese phenomenon remains a mystery for many people: international sumo Federation has made every effort to guard the secrecy of the lives of their athletes.

For the tournament NagoyaGrandSumo photographer IsseiKatoбыло provided the unique right to capture the daily life of the wrestlers from schools Tomozuna who have temporarily settled in a Buddhist monastery.

Fighters undergo intense training and eat about 8000 calories per day when preparing for performances.

This is their life from the inside.

Martial art of sumo wrestling has existed in Japan for over a thousand years. The Mongols, however, are superior to the Japanese.

Born in Mongolia fighter Tomozuna Oyakata.

Tomozuna Oyakata, also known under the alias of Kakutani, was the first Mongolian fighter, who led the school of sumo.

“The language barrier was the main cause for stress,” shares Tomozuna. “I couldn’t understand anything when I was criticized or even when praised”.

Sumo wrestlers are called “rikishi”.

Coaches in school Tomozuna.

At the prestigious school Tomozuna rikishi spend more than three hours every morning practicing grips.

You win when you push your opponent out of the ring or throw him to the ground.

A sumo wrestler Kaiho during exercise.

Sometimes the fighting lasted only a few seconds.

Wrestlers consume 8000 calories a day.

Kaiho eating dish “chanko”.

Hardcore wrestlers is the number of calories divided into two doses.

Lunch prepare young wrestlers.

Fighter Cinovka prepares the dish called “chankonabe”.

This is a pate of pork legs, grilled sardines and steamed rice.

This dish is called “chankonabe”.

Goulash made from meat and vegetables.

This signature dish associated with sumo wrestlers.

During the tournament NagoyaGrandSumo school Tomozuna have temporarily settled in a Buddhist monastery.

This is the place where the wrestlers eat.

The temple is a place for lunch, sleep and exercise.

Sumo wrestlers are not born in Japan, are in complex relations with this country.

Wrestler Kiniski returns to training in the monastery GanjojiYakushido.

They need to fully assimilate into Japanese culture. To become a rikishi non-Japanese wrestlers have to renounce his citizenship.

Have Tomozuna Oyakata, for example, a wife from Japan, besides, he refused Mongolian citizenship, taking citizenship Japanese.

“We wear a beam on the head, kimono and sandals. Live by Japanese rules, the rules of sumo,” says Oyakata. “The fact that we were born in another country – just happened.”

Non-Japanese sumo wrestlers try to take in the culture of Japan.

Born in Brazil Kaisey fighter and wrestler from Mongolia Kakusho.

They are like samurai wear a beam on the head and are in a rigid hierarchy of sumo.

Many sumo wrestlers have loyal fans.

Tomozuna Oyakata gives autographs to his fans after a training session.

Tomozuna Oyakata born in Mongolia and received at birth the name of Samavartana, speaks almost flawless Japanese.

Some of the fans bring food.

Food and vegetables prepared by the fans of sumo.

Local fans and well-wishers sometimes cooked for sumo wrestlers.

The ring in sumo made of sand.

Sand-covered loincloth or mavasi.

When a fighter falls, it mavasi covered with sand.

School Tomozuna is one of the most prestigious schools.

Kaiho wrestler during training.

It was founded in 1941.

To maintain strength, wrestlers sleep for several hours immediately after meals.

Sumo wrestlers asleep in masks.

They sleep on the hard floor.

Masks help to the fighters breathe while they sleep.

Kaiho wrestler in a mask.

Also masks are a popular method of treating sleep apnea (when breathing stops for 20-30 seconds).

Workout sumo intense, so wrestlers need to take breaks.

Wrestler Kesehatan takes a break during training.

The constant pushing inflict heavy damage.

This sport may look old-fashioned, but the fighters in this namonaki.

The wrestler Recutica sits in his phone during a break.

Wrestlers also have smart phones and accounts on Facebook, like normal people.

The sumo also need to look your best.

Wrestler from Mongolia Kakusho knotted hair after a workout.

Like other athletes do sumo wrestlers have a social life.

The sumo always welcome at events, not related to this sport.

The wrestlers Kakuchaya, Kakusho from Mongolia, the Brazilian Kaisey and Asahicho preparing for dinner.

They will go to the honorary dinner, where he will meet with his fans.

Here they take the decorations at the festival of Tanabata.

Decoration made of bamboo and strips of colored paper.

Pupils have written wishes on colored paper and gave them to the fighters.

Sometimes it’s fun to be very strong.

Kinoru playing with the kindergartners.

One of the advantages to be a huge sumo wrestler is the ability to deal with hordes of kindergartners.

Sumo wrestling is a Japanese tradition, but it attracts not many young people.

Fighter Kakutsa posing with the baby for pictures.

Many Japanese children don’t decide on a tough workout sumo, so the sport is dominated by so many foreign athletes. However, sumo wrestlers, like everything in Japan is constantly changing.