Mongolian-born grand champion sumo wrestler, or yokozuna, Hakuho shakes hands with a shopper as he and other sumo wrestlers try to raise money for earthquake victims.

A dozen sumo wrestlers took part in the campaign in the Ginza shopping district, asking shoppers for donations for the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Last month the sumo wrestlers visited a shelter for evacuees.

Bi-monthly sumo tournaments will restart in Japan next month, with spectators offered free entry in May as the sport looks to recover an image tarnished by a match-fixing scandal.