«Cherry Blossom» by Ruth Welsford

Cherry Blossom was strong! He could pick up an opponent by his mawashi belt and lift him out of the ring. He was agile! He could dodge with his big body, then, quick as lightning, thrust his opponent beyond the dohyo. But for all his strength, Cherry Blossom felt powerless when an earthquake struck his beloved country. The many faces of strength, courage, love, loss, and how this informs our actions in times of adversity are at the center of this story while capturing the spectacle of the art of Sumo.