Sumo ring building underway at new venue in Nagoya
This year's Nagoya tournament will be held at IG Arena from Sunday.
More than 40 officials were helping construct the ring, known as the dohyo, on Wednesday.
They shaped soil into a square platform with sides measuring about 7 meters, pounding it with wooden implements to harden it. They filled straw bales called tawara with soil and hit them with beer bottles to form them into a cylindrical shape. To make the ring, the bales are partially buried in the dohyo floor.
The Japan Sumo Association says the dohyo will be completed on Thursday.
The official overseeing the dohyo construction said workers are facing challenges because the ring is being built at a new venue. He added they hope wrestlers will deliver strong bouts without injury -- and give the spectators a good show.
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