London’s Royal Albert Hall is hosting a Grand Sumo Tournament for the first time in 34 years – and it is an opportunity not to be missed.
Over 40 of Japan’s elite makuuchi rikishi (sumo wrestlers) will compete over five days, with the Hall transformed into a temple of sumo complete with an authentic traditional soil-and-sand dohyō (ring), and a roof inspired by a Shinto shrine.
Also read: How to watch sumo in Tokyo
Rarely held outside Japan, the tournament will showcase Grand Sumo not just as one of the oldest sports in the world with a 1,500-year history, but a sacred ritual and an intrinsic part of Japanese culture. Surrounding the explosive power and strategic skill of the athletes is the importance of ceremony and tradition, from the hand-embroidered silk kesho-mawashi robes to the ancient salt-throwing ritual.
Hakkaku, Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association and champion of the 1991 tournament at the Royal Albert Hall, said, “We are very pleased that the Japan Sumo Association can once again showcase the time-honored tradition of Grand Sumo on the stage in London. Through this event, we hope to contribute to spreading Japanese culture around the world.”
Register on the Royal Albert Hall website to be notified when tickets are available, as they are expected to sell out very quickly. The action starts at 2pm and at 7.30pm, with doors opening an hour earlier.
Organisers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.Add to Calendar
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