Enthusiastic young female fans provided a breath of fresh air for the sumo world in 2017, which once again finds itself reeling in the wake of a scandal.
The women, nicknamed sujo, short for sumo joshi (sumo girls), exchange information through Instagram and other social media, showing their fervent support for wrestlers in Japan's ancient national sport, whether they be big names or lower in the ranks.
SuJo, who use their smartphones to take photos of the wrestlers, or rikishi, while waiting outside sumo arenas, even show interest in the gyōji (referees), the yobidashi, ushers who announce the names of wrestlers, and those called on to sweep the raised ring.