Sumo as Sacred Rite: Bruno Aveillan's Photographic Exhibition in Paris

Photographer Bruno Aveillan and producer Nicolas Bary gained unprecedented access to the Naruto-beya sumo stable in Sumida, Tokyo, in June 2025. The stable is run by Kotoōshū Katsunori, a former ozeki from Bulgaria and the first European to reach sumo's second-highest rank. Their resulting exhibition, 'Sumo, forces sacrées,' at the Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris from June 9 to September 26, 2026, presents large-format prints that focus on the Shinto rituals preceding matches—salt purification, foot stomping, and entrance ceremonies—rather than the physical combat. The exhibition coincides with the first official sumo tournament in France, the Tournoi de Paris, at Accor Arena on June 13–14, 2026. The venue is located at 101 bis quai Jacques Chirac, Paris 15e, open Tuesday to Saturday 11am–7pm, closed Monday and Sunday, with free entry.