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Reach for the Summit
Agency DENTSU INC. / Tokyo + THE HOKKOKU SHIMBUN / Ishikawa + SHOEI inc. / Tokyo + WOIL inc. / Tokyo
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Category
Posters / Billboards - Series
Annual ID
ADC103_BCD018S
About the Work
The Kanazawa High School Sumo Tournament is one of four national tournaments held annually. Kanazawa, the host city, boasts a strong lineup of sumo powerhouse schools, making it the highlight of the national tournaments. Therefore, it serves as the ultimate stage for high school sumo wrestlers from across Japan to aspire to.
This year marked the first in-person event in four years, navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an era where online streaming has become the norm for all forms of spectating and theatrical events, it was crucial to reiterate to the local residents, who had distanced themselves due to the pandemic, the unique thrill of witnessing the grand battles the athletes unfold on-site.
Sumo, a sport where matches are decided in mere seconds. Yet within those few seconds, the year-long efforts of the athletes are condensed and packed. Their massive bodies, imbued with strength and dignity, are forged through grueling training sessions that make them cough up blood every day.
We deliberately excluded dynamism and chose to capture the silence of the momentary battle. This silence evokes overwhelming power, presence, and the weight of time. And since this tournament is also the ultimate showdown to determine the best in Japan, we liken the two competing wrestlers to "majestic mountains."
The swirling monochrome photographs, inspired by ink wash landscape paintings and photographs of mist-covered high mountains, capture the tension of the summit showdown.
In contrast to the distant perspective of ink wash landscape paintings, close-up shots looking up at the wrestlers authentically reproduce the unique sense of presence and the grandeur of the mountains, providing a sensation that online broadcasts cannot convey.
This year marked the first in-person event in four years, navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an era where online streaming has become the norm for all forms of spectating and theatrical events, it was crucial to reiterate to the local residents, who had distanced themselves due to the pandemic, the unique thrill of witnessing the grand battles the athletes unfold on-site.
Sumo, a sport where matches are decided in mere seconds. Yet within those few seconds, the year-long efforts of the athletes are condensed and packed. Their massive bodies, imbued with strength and dignity, are forged through grueling training sessions that make them cough up blood every day.
We deliberately excluded dynamism and chose to capture the silence of the momentary battle. This silence evokes overwhelming power, presence, and the weight of time. And since this tournament is also the ultimate showdown to determine the best in Japan, we liken the two competing wrestlers to "majestic mountains."
The swirling monochrome photographs, inspired by ink wash landscape paintings and photographs of mist-covered high mountains, capture the tension of the summit showdown.
In contrast to the distant perspective of ink wash landscape paintings, close-up shots looking up at the wrestlers authentically reproduce the unique sense of presence and the grandeur of the mountains, providing a sensation that online broadcasts cannot convey.
2024 Awards
Total Points: 21
Silver Cube
Credits
Agency
Dentsu Inc. / Tokyo
Client / Brand
THE HOKKOKU SHIMBUN / Ishikawa
Production Company
SHOEI INC. / Tokyo
WOIL inc. / Tokyo
Art Director
Satoshi Kohno
Copywriter
Iori Anegawa
Kazuki Sato
Creative Director
Iori Anegawa
Photographer
Ryohei Takanashi
Business Producer
Yugo Kizukuri
Creative Producer
Koji Abe
Media Producer
Koji Yamamoto
Photo Producer
Daichi Hamaguchi
Hayato Satomi
Printing Director
Shunichi Yamashita
Retoucher
Ren Arai
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