Sumo, Japan's traditional wrestling returns to the sport world when the autumn sumo tournament gets underway on November 8 for a 13-day period at the Kokugikan Amphitheatre in Tokyo.
    This year, however, sumo enthusiasts will miss the classic background for Japan's king of sports since Kokugikan has been remodeled into a Memorial Hall for Allied forces.
    Instead, the sumo fans will be able to witness the matches in the gleaming white interior of a modern gymnasium with the arena constructed of sand bags on the spacious wooden floor. Spectators will be able to witness the wrestling from conformable Western style chairs instead of the former mats.
    The capacity for the coming tournament will be over 10,000 about two thirds of the accommodations of the former Kokugikan Amphitheatre.