Sumo's summer regional tour is already under way, snaking around Lake Biwa and across central Japan towards the Kanto region.

After a brief stop in Tokyo, the jungyo, as it is known, heads up north as far as Hokkaido before returning to the capital where it will finish Aug. 26 at the KITTE building beside Tokyo Station.

While the regional tours are a side of sumo not nearly as well known as the six annual tournaments, they have long been a vital component in the promotion and continuation of the sport.