On a humid September afternoon in the lower west side of Sumida City, Tokyo, the crowd inside the Ryōgoku Kokugikan falls into a murmur. With a powerful, melodic call that pierces the air, the yobidashi caller summons the 39-year-old Mongolian sumo wrestler Tamawashi.

The moment arrives. Stepping onto the nijiguchi, the side entrance of the ring, Tamawashi faces his opponent, Kagayaki, and offers the traditional bow. He moves to his corner beneath the red tassels in the east, turns towards the entrance, and claps. Lifting one leg high into the air, he performs the shiko ritual, stomping forcefully onto the clay, dispelling evil spirits from the dohyō ring.

He takes a ladle of chikara-mizu from the previous bout's winner—water used to purify himself—drinking it before wiping his mouth with a small paper towel called chikara-gami. Next, he throws a handful of salt into the dohyō to purify the space. This act is part of the shio-maki ritual, where each rikishi, or fighter, brings his own unique style. Tamawashi, with the calm composure of experience, appears almost casual as he tosses the salt, yet his hand remains steady, followed by several firm thuds on his mawashi belt.

In a moment of subdued tension before the bout, the two rikishi face each other and assume the sonkyo posture—knees bent, backs straight, hands resting lightly on their knees. This stance shows respect for both the opponent and the dohyō. Then, they rub their hands together, clap once, raise their hands to shoulder height with palms facing upward, and turn their palms downward. This gesture, chirichōzu, signals that they are unarmed.

Both rikishi rise from sonkyo and enter the tachiai, the charged moment that signals the start of the bout. They synchronise their breathing, carefully watching for the subtle signs of mutual readiness, while the gyōji referee observes closely to ensure both wrestlers are prepared. Unlike most sports, where matches begin at the referee's signal, sumo bouts start when both wrestlers silently agree to engage, marked by their simultaneous forward motion.