On November 13th, 2022, the Grand Sumo Tournament Kyushu Basho kicked off in Fukuoka, Japan.

At Fukuoka Kokusai Center, where the basho is being held, many original goods, such as calendars featuring popular rikishi (wreslters), cookies, instant curry, and the like, are available, delighting the many sumo fans who visit.

However, when The Japan Sumo Association recently introduced a new product it was selling, it became somewhat of a topic on Twitter.

The product first went on sale at the "Sumo Fan Appreciation Festival" held in Tokyo in October and was very popular at the time.

Please take a look at this surprising new product:

Rikishi Black Tea, 1,200 JPY (incl. tax)

What they were selling were tea bags with pictures of sumo wrestlers on them!

When placed in a cup of hot water, it looks as if a sumo wrestler is soaking in a bath!

The concept of this tea bag is sure to make you chuckle.

The witty tea bags have elicited many comments online, such as:

  • "I love it...it's so cute! I wish they would be sold online!"
  • "I love the idea! It looks like sumo wrestlers are going to make some soup stock with their bodies lol."
  • "This made me laugh! I'm not sure I want it, though..."

If you have a chance to find these at an official Japan Sumo Association gift shop the next time you're in Japan, they'll surely make fun gifts!


By - grape Japan editorial staff.