For the first time in 34 years, the Grand Sumo Tournament is returning to London, and the iconic Royal Albert Hall is being transformed into a traditional Sumo dohyō for the event.
The event was also held at this historic venue in 1991, which was the first time it was held outside of Japan.
Why is the tournament happening in London?
Although Sumo is one of the world’s oldest sports, originating in Japan, over the years it has gained a huge base of international fans. The Chair of the Japanese Sumo Association, Hakkaku Rijicho explained that he wanted to “convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture”.
And it seems the love is mutual. The competing sumo wrestlers have been spotted around London, enjoying the thrills of the city, including recreating the iconic Abbey Road Beatles album cover and getting their hands on their very own Paddington souvenirs.
How will the tournament work?
Over five days, starting on 15 October, 40 of Japan’s elite maku-uchi rikishi, also known as the wrestlers, will compete in powerful battles to eventually crown the winner. Other prizes for those wrestlers whose performance is deemed noteworthy will also be handed out.
For those who can’t attend the tournament in person, you can also catch all the action on BBC iPlayer.
What do I need to know about sumo?
- The current champion is Yokozuna
- On each day of the tournament, you can expect to see 20 bouts, lasting around 4 mins each
- There is a ritual and ceremony leading up to each bout
- A bout is won when a rikishi (wrestler) is forced out of the dohyō
- There are two main fighting styles and 82 winning moves
This is a rare opportunity to witness this historic sport in the flesh and with over 1,500 years of tradition behind it, it sure to be a special experience. Find out more about the event here.