Dohyo — Ring
The dohyo (土俵) is the ring where sumo bouts take place. It is a circular area 4.55 meters (14.9 feet) in diameter, defined by partially buried rice-straw bales (tawara) set into a platform of compacted clay approximately 34-60 cm high.
The clay surface is covered with a thin layer of sand, which helps judges determine whether a wrestler's foot has crossed the edge — footprints in the sand provide clear evidence. Two white lines (shikiri-sen) in the center mark the starting positions for each wrestler.
Before each tournament, the dohyo is built fresh in a sacred ceremony called dohyo-matsuri, led by a senior gyoji (referee). The ritual involves burying salt, dried squid, chestnuts, kelp, rice, and other offerings in the center of the ring to purify it and pray for the safety of the wrestlers.
The elevated platform means wrestlers who are thrown or pushed out often take dramatic falls to the floor below, occasionally landing on spectators in the front rows — making ringside seats both coveted and occasionally hazardous.