The sport
Sumo is one of the planet’s oldest sports, dating back over 1,000 years. The aim of the game is to push your opponent out of the ring, or to force them to touch the ground with anything apart from the soles of their feet.
Sumo wrestling is like no other sport on the planet. Two mighty, immovable beings collide with earth-wobbling impact, each one attempting to force the other out of the ring or off their feet. Experiencing the spectacle in person is even more vivid – you hear the crunches and feel the athletes’ sheer power.
Alas, professional sumo competitions are extremely rare outside of Japan. Way back in 1991 London hosted a Grand Sumo Tournament and became the first international city to have done so – and in the years since that’s still the only time elite sumo has been on show outside Japan as a five-day tournament. That is, until now.
If you’ve always dreamt of experiencing sumo live but haven’t yet managed to pop over to the Land of the Rising Sun, we have very exciting news indeed. Nearly three decades after it first graced the capital, Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) is bringing the Grand Sumo Tournament back to London.
The setting for such an historic occasion? The same as in ’91 – the Royal Albert Hall. The 154-year-old Kensington venue will be transformed into an arena where more than 40 elite maku-uchi rikishi (sumo wrestlers) will compete to be crowned Grand Champion. And the event is fast approaching: it will take place over five days this month, on Oct 15-19.
Whether you’re a passionate kokakuka (sumo connoisseur) or a total newbie curious about an iconic sport, you won’t want to miss London’s sumo takeover. Here’s why.
