[Update, February 7] The NHK Grand Sumo Tournament has been cancelled due to the current quasi-state of emergency.
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[January 7] After the annual NHK Fukushi Ozumo Grand Sumo Tournament had to be cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic, we’re excited to see the charity wrestling event is back this year on February 11 at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Stadium. It’ll be an afternoon packed with all things sumo, plus special ceremonies, singing and performances where you’ll get to see the wrestlers out of their element.
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The event starts at 1pm on February 11 (opening time is 12.10pm) and will consist of three parts. First, there’s a taiko drum performance, followed by the sumo tournament. The second part is where the the wrestlers get to let their hair down, so to speak, with a yokozuna (grand champion) rope demonstration, shokkiri (a sumo match in which wrestlers can use the sport’s so-called forbidden moves in a comedic way), a singing competition between professional singers and sumo wrestlers, and more.
In the final segment, you’ll get to see the full dohyo-iri ring-entrance ceremony performed by the top-tier makuuchi division wrestlers and another by the grand champion yokozuna wrestlers. The event is scheduled to finish around 5.30pm.
Since this is a charity event, all the proceeds will go towards purchasing Fukushi Sumo-go minivans like the ones above, which will be donated to organisations working with the disabled and the elderly in Japan.
Tickets cost anywhere from ¥2,600 to ¥8,700 per person depending on the seat, and you can purchase them from January 9 at 10am via the Ticket Pia site or ticketing machines at Seven Eleven stores nationwide. If you can't make to the tournament in person, don't worry. NHK usually broadcasts the event a couple of weeks later, so keep an eye on your TV guide.
For more information visit Nihon Sumo Kyokai’s website.
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