(CHEERING) These athletes have come
from across the world seeking glory in Japan's most iconic sport, sumo. This is the most important
tournament of the year for amateur female wrestlers. The winner will be crowned
world champion. This is the one. This is the world championship, and you've got a lot of huge names
on the list. And the fans are focused
on two heavyweight champions. Hometown favourite Hiyori Kon. Ready to be hero. (LAUGHS) Her main rival is Ukrainian
Ivanna Berezovska. At 6'1", she towers over Hiyori. Size isn't her only advantage. Ukrainian female sumo can get
government financial support. Japanese women don't. In sumo, it's all about the men. These female sumo are determined
to change old attitudes. They're pushing for respect and even the chance to go pro. It's a huge challenge,
but they're up for the fight. One of the world's
greatest metropolises, Greater Tokyo is home
to over 37 million people. Amidst the hustle and bustle
of this modern city, a deep connection to the past
remains... ..where ancient culture and tradition
blend seamlessly with the future. It's a Saturday afternoon, and kids
at the Oto Arashi sumo club are being put through their paces. (COACH SHOUTS) (SHOUTS) (SHOUTS) Today they've got
a trailblazing guest. Hiyori Kon is a legend to these kids. Hiyori started sumo
when she was only six. After winning the Junior
World Sumo Championships twice, Hiyori won silver as an adult
in 2018 and '19 before the pandemic
put a hold to her success. Studying Hiyori's moves
is 10-year-old Kanano Suzuki. Her family's behind her all the way. There's a lot of enthusiasm
in this ring and you can see the kids
are really giving it their all. But the reality is
clubs like this one are really few and far between. Girls aren't always welcome. After a busy weekend,
Hiyori's back home. Sumo may be her passion,
but it doesn't earn an income. Her only time to train
is before sunrise. She then goes to her office job. It sounds exhausting -
having a career and having to train and compete
at sumo. Mmm. Hiyori's work has a corporate sumo
club, but it was for men only. Hiyori convinced them to change that and became the first woman
to join their ranks. Despite her success, Hiyori's
feeling pressured to give it all up, find a husband, and have a family. It's an experience
many women here face. Japan regularly performs poorly
on issues of gender equality. On the northern tip of Japan's
main island, Honshu, is Aomori Prefecture. It's renowned for its natural beauty. It's also famous for producing
more sumo champions than any other prefecture. Rio Hasegawa
is a rising star of the sport. Rio was born into
a sumo-loving family. She followed her brothers
to train at the local club. But her dad was the biggest
driving force. He died when Rio was just 15. Rhea moved to Tokyo, some 600km away,
for university. Her style is a break from the
traditional sumo look of black hair, and it gets a lot of attention. Keio University is one of
the most prestigious in Japan. It's never had a woman at its sumo
club in its 100-year history, until Rio pushed the door open. Do you see yourself as a pioneer
for women's sumo? With no professional competition
for women, Rio knows she'll probably have to
give it all up after university. On the southern island of Kyushu
lies the regional city of Oita. Today, it's hosting the Jungyo,
a professional sumo promotional tour. The only women here are spectators. So, got my press pass,
my shoes are off - let's go watch some sumo. (APPLAUSE) While amateur sumo
involves men and women, professional sumo, known as ozumo,
is for men only. So, this is actually my first time
seeing professional sumo, and I must say it's quite exciting. Sumimasen. Selfie onegaishimasu? OK. OK. (CAMERA CLICKS)
Oh, perfect. OK. Arigato gozaimasu. Sumo has deep roots
in Japanese culture, said to date some 1,500 years. It outlasted the samurai. But the sport we know today emerged
after the defeat of Imperial Japan in the Second World War. These events,
even if just a bit of fun, are designed to
attract new audiences. But such a highly traditional sport is struggling to get young people
to sign up. (MEN CHANT) The world of sumo
is famously secretive, much of it off limits
to outsiders or the media. But I've been granted a rare
opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes. (MEN CHANT) Ikazuchi stable is run by
husband and wife combo stablemaster Toru Kakizoe
and the manager Emi Kakizoe. (CALLS INSTRUCTIONS) The pair met 24 years ago when Emi was competing in
high school sumo competitions. Emi and her husband are determined
to make it a more friendly place. After training, it's time to eat. There's a lot going on
in this kitchen. We've got eggs
that have just been cooked. These guys are washing the dishes. Beef simmering away. Plenty of, uh, leafy greens,
cabbage, spring onion. It's all hands on deck. To protect sumo's distinct
Japanese culture, the governing Sumo Association
introduced a rule. Each stable is strictly allowed
no more than one foreign wrestler. They've adopted 27-year-old Ukrainian
Shi-Shi. So, um, they're your family? So, this is chanko nabe?
Chanko nabe. The famous sumo meal. One ancient rule is non-negotiable. While foreign men are welcome
in the ring, Japanese women are not. In one infamous case,
the rule was enforced even when it was
a matter of life and death. In 2018,
there was major controversy. A local mayor collapsed
inside the sumo ring and women rushed to his aid. But the referee
ordered them to leave. It is a centuries-old sport with an appearance that's based
on some centuries-old thinking. Australian Murray Johnson
is the international voice of sumo. Well, this is the home of sumo, where you've seen some dynamic
sumo matches over the year. He's been commentating the sport
for 30 years. During that time, he's seen
the governing Sumo Association refuse to reform. Is there a reluctance in sumo
to evolve? Is it too focused on the past?
Too focused on Japan? Too focused on men?
Yes. (CHUCKLES) Unfortunately, yes. It's basically they don't
want to lose their identity, because it is a Japanese sport. You know, it was once called
the national sport. But I think
it will eventually change, but I don't think I'll be alive. Fumihiko Nara is the coach at
Rio Hasegawa's university sumo club. He says evolution is needed. And Rio Hasegawa
can be a catalyst for change. For now, this is the biggest
tournament for women's sumo - the amateur world championships. (SPECTATORS CHEER AND SHOUT) Hiyori Kon is preparing
for her heavyweight bout. Hiyori's made a momentous decision. She's decided she won't continue
to juggle sumo and work. This could be
her last world tournament. How are you feeling? Mm... More exciting. Excited. Nervous? Yeah, no. Never. Never nervous?
Never nervous. Hiyori makes light work
of her first opponent. (SPECTATORS SHOUT AND CHEER) Her second bout
barely lasts any longer. Ukrainian Ivanna Berezovska
also outmuscles her opponent. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) So, they've just
switched off the lights, meaning we're into the finals now. And after a long day,
I've got to say the atmosphere
has really gone up a notch. ANNOUNCER: On the east side,
for Japan, Kon Hiyori. On the west, for Ukraine,
Berezovska Ivanna. Victory will be determined
in seconds. (CHEERING, SHOUTING) (APPLAUSE) Hiyori's dreams are dashed. Berezovska Ivanna, the gold medal. Silver medal to Kon Hiyori of Japan. For now, Hiyori is leaving
competition life behind. Ah! Konnichiwa. But she's not abandoning sumo. This year, she's moving to Argentina
to teach sumo as part of
a Japanese government program. It was advertised as
a male-only position until Hiyori successfully
challenged it. Rio's determined
to keep fighting at home. Captions by Red Bee Media Copyright
Australian Broadcasting Corporation