“According to legend, the very origin of the Japanese race depended on the outcome of a sumo match.”

It was 5:25pm and I’d dashed from my seat to catch the bookstand in the Ryogoku Kokugaikan —Tokyo’s sumo stadium— to buy the ‎‎¥‎100 booklet on the history and rules of sumo. Since the tournament ended at 6pm, I’d arguably left this a little late.