Kokugikan Arena

Luigi's photograph of a sumo fight in the Kokugikan Arena.

Kokugikan Arena is a sporting arena in Tokyo, Japan. It is mainly used for sumo wrestling tournaments. During the events of the game Mario is Missing!, a Sumo Apron of one of the wrestlers was stolen by Koopa Troopas. Luigi, when he visited the city, had to find and return it to the arena. He was rewarded 1,040 dollars upon doing so.

Pamphlet Information from Mario is Missing!

Sumo wrestling has been both a popular art form and sport since the 6th century, and originated in Shinto temples. The wrestlers begin training in their early teens by endless practice, strenuous exercise and the avid eating of special foods. To become serious contenders, the men must reach an enormous size, 250 to 375 pounds. The aim of a match is for one contender to force the other out of the ring, or to touch the clay surface with any body part besides a foot. The wrestlers appear first in the heavily embroidered aprons donated by dedicated fans, and then strip down to skimpy loincloths and a special kind of bun-like hairstyle.