With the 2013 July Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya set to kick off Sunday, Osunaarashi of Egypt is grabbing the media spotlight as the first pro sumo wrestler from Africa.
But sumo fever is also spreading at Nagoya University, where the sumo club took in three foreign students this year.
With mawashi (belts) around their hips, the three train rigorously at the school three times a week. After Saturday practices, they usually join their 10 Japanese teammates in chowing down some "chanko-nabe," the sport's traditional stew.