A new perspective on sumo culture arrives in book form—one that places design and artistry at its core.
SUMO and DESIGN is an art and costume design book that examines two garments unique to the world of sumo: the kesho-mawashi (ceremonial apron) and the some-nuki kimono (dyed kimono worn by wrestlers outside the ring). The book was released on January 5, 2026, by Two Virgins Publishing.

Courtesy of TWO VIRGINS
Worn only by wrestlers of certain ranks, these garments are privileges as much as they are symbols. Each piece is handcrafted by skilled artisans specifically for one wrestler, making every kesho-mawashi and kimono a one-of-a-kind creation. Beyond their ceremonial function, they embody a rich intersection of tradition, design, and personal narrative. Kesho-mawashi are silk garments lavishly embroidered with motifs that reflect a wrestler’s ring name, origins, or the intentions of patrons who commission them. Some-nuki kimono, dyed through to the reverse side, feature bold colors, pictorial designs, and the wrestler’s name left in white, revealing a quieter but equally expressive aesthetic language.

Courtesy of TWO VIRGINS
The book documents these garments in exceptional detail, introducing their structure, scale, and methods of wear while also unveiling materials rarely seen by the public—design sketches, preparatory drawings, and full-scale hand-painted drafts created with brushes and watercolor. These materials trace the creative process from concept to completion, highlighting the designers’ and artisans’ problem-solving and visual thinking. The book documents these garments in exceptional detail, introducing their structure, scale, and methods of wear while also unveiling materials rarely seen by the public—design sketches, preparatory drawings, and full-scale hand-painted drafts created with brushes and watercolor. These materials trace the creative process from concept to completion, highlighting the designers’ and artisans’ problem-solving and visual thinking.

Courtesy of TWO VIRGINS
Importantly, the garments are shown as living objects. Through photographs of ceremonial ring entrances and public unveilings, the book illustrates how kesho-mawashi achieve their full presence when worn—how movement, posture, and ritual activate their design. Wrestlers dressed in dyed kimono are likewise presented with commentary and brief biographies, allowing attire and identity to be read together. The book also ventures behind the scenes, visiting ateliers and workshops responsible for these creations—from kesho-mawashi tailors to Kyoto-based yuzen dye houses and weaving studios that produce mawashi fabric. These sections underscore that sumo attire is not only heritage, but an evolving, contemporary practice sustained by living craftsmanship.

Courtesy of TWO VIRGINS
By approaching sumo through clothing and ornamentation, SUMO and DESIGN reframes the sport as a visual and cultural system. It offers readers—whether sumo fans, designers, or art lovers—a deeper understanding of how tradition, creativity, and identity converge in one of Japan’s most iconic cultural forms.

To mark the release of SUMO and DESIGN, a special commemorative event is currently being held at Daikanyama T-SITE.
The venue features advance sales of the book, exclusive publication-related merchandise, and a rare display of an authentic kesho-mawashi worn by Kitajin-oyakata, formerly known as Endo. It offers a valuable opportunity to experience the scale, texture, and craftsmanship behind the designs introduced in the book.

The event runs from December 24, 2025, through January 12, 2026,
and takes place at Daikanyama Tsutaya Books (Building No.2, 1F Art Floor).
For readers interested in seeing how sumo attire transcends function to become design and art, this exhibition is well worth a visit.