The task of melding two disparate cultures is always a challenge for national sumo federations around the world.

Taking a 2,000-year-old Japanese sport that is intrinsically tied to the history, religion and culture of that particular nation and trying to make its various nuances and traditions compatible with a modern sporting environment in a foreign country is never easy.

And for one nascent governing body, it¡¯s a challenge that is further complicated by the federation¡¯s own unique political, cultural and geographic circumstances.