The Greater Kansas City Japan Festival invites scholars, practitioners, and subject-matter experts to submit proposals for lectures and presentations at our 2026 festival.

We are particularly interested in Sumo related topics as well as related Japanese culture topics, including but not limited to:

Sumo-related topics:

• Shinto Rituals & Sumo
• History of Sumo
• Sumo in the Global Dohyo
• Sumo and Pro Wrestling
• Rikishi ranking system
• Rikishi and tournament $$ponsorship
• Sumo in contemporary Japanese society
• Rikishi daily life: training, diet, fitness, life expectancy
• Prominent rikishi past and present

Related Japanese cultural topics:

• Sumo and the arts
• Women in Japanese Arts
• Shinto in Japanese Society
• Arts and Craftsmenship of the People: i.e. Mingei (Japanese folk arts and crafts)
• Nihonga in contemporary society
• Practices and products related to purification and protection
• Other relevant topics connected to Japanese culture

We welcome engaging, educational, and accessible presentations for a broad public audience.