Dōton-zeki

The Dōton-zeki statue

The Osaka audio-guided tour draws your gaze to Dōton-zeki, an imposing statue of a sumo wrestler installed in 2017 at the entrance of a shop in the Dōtonbori district.

A tribute to sumo and to the district

The statue represents a yokozuna, the highest rank of sumo, recognisable by the sacred white rope tied around its waist, in the ceremonial posture of the shiko. Sumo, one of the oldest sports of Japan, has its origins in Shinto rites more than a thousand years old, where the bouts were organised to honour the deities. The name Dōton-zeki pays tribute to Yasui Dōton, the merchant who had the Dōtonbori canal dug at the beginning of the seventeenth century; a commemorative stele, just beside, recalls his role and that of his associate.

What there is to see

The statue, a fictional character created as a cultural and touristic nod, has become a very popular photo spot. Its posture, its sacred rope and its power evoke the ritualised traditions of sumo. Just beside, the stele dedicated to Yasui Dōton recalls the founding history of the district. It is a playful stop in the heart of the effervescence of Dōtonbori.

Practical information

The Dōton-zeki statue stands at the entrance of a shop in the Dōtonbori district, in Osaka. It can be contemplated freely at all hours and on the level, from the street; the neighbouring commemorative stele can be discovered in the same way.

What does the Dōton-zeki statue represent?

A sumo wrestler of yokozuna rank, a fictional character installed in 2017, whose name pays tribute to Yasui Dōton, founder of the canal.

What are the origins of sumo?

Sumo has its origins in Shinto rites more than a thousand years old, where the bouts honoured the deities; it became professional under the Edo period.