London is set to host the second professional Sumo wrestling event outside of Japan at the Royal Albert Hall in October next year. This Grand Sumo Tournament will be held at the 153-year-old venue in collaboration with the Japan Sumo Association, Nihon Sumo Kyokai, to commemorate its centenary.
The only other time Sumo was professionally hosted overseas was in 1991, when the same venue held a five-day 'basho' event, which was sold out and broadcast nationally in the UK. After a 34-year hiatus, London will once again welcome Japan's national sport.
James Ainscough OBE, the Royal Albert Hall's chief executive, told PA Media, 'Good things come to those who wait.' He explained that various obstacles, including Covid, had delayed the event. 'We have our own timetable of shows here, Sumo tournaments in Japan have their own rhythm, so finding a moment for our timetable and their rhythm to coincide has taken this long. But we're absolutely thrilled to be bringing it back in 2025.'
The 1991 event, part of the Japan Festival in London, was a logistical challenge. Wheelbarrows were used to transport specialized soil from Heathrow to Kensington, and the stage had to be adapted to withstand the impact of the wrestlers.
Ainscough continued, 'The fact they've chosen to come back when they could have gone to any capital city around the world is quite an honour, particularly for us here at the Royal Albert Hall.' He emphasized that Sumo is not just a sport but a cultural moment with a rich tradition and ritual.
Sumo is more than a sport in Japan; it has a ceremonial-religious aspect dating back over 1,500 years. Competitors live almost monastic lives in 'heya' stables, adhering to strict and highly restricted lifestyles. Forty of Japan's top wrestlers are expected to compete over five days from 15-19 October.
Hakkaku Rijicho, the winner of the 1991 tournament and now the chair of Sumo Kyokai, was in London to launch the event. He said, 'There were many talks before, but with Covid, it was not the right moment. We will really bring the authentic way of presenting a Sumo tournament to London.' Ainscough added, 'It's what the Royal Albert Hall was built for. It says on the outside of the building, we were built for all nations, and so part of our job is to enable the British public to encounter different cultures and different experiences.'
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