The night echoes with the heavy footsteps of sumo wrestlers, moving slowly and casting sharp glances, but their opponents this time will not stand before them under the bright lights of the elevated clay "dohyo" ring.
Tonight, the young wrestlers from the Isenoumi stable will fight unseen enemies on the streets of Edogawa Ward, which has one of the highest crime rates in Tokyo.
After a long day of training, a team of two or more grapplers leaves around 11 p.m. to patrol the empty streets in the neighborhood of their 250-year-old stable for up to one hour.