The last (and only) time that a sumo wrestling Grand Tournament took place outside of Japan, Hulk Hogan was still winning Royal Rumbles.
But in 2025, for the second time in its 1,500-year history, an official sumo tournament will be hosted at London's Royal Albert Hall. From 15-19 October 2025, elite wrestlers from Japan's top divisions will descend on the Albert Hall for a five-day basho, competing in around 20 bouts each evening. These will be preceded by a sacred dohyō-iri (ring entrance ceremony) and shikiri (pre-bout showdown to symbolise readiness and banish evil spirits).
Sumo — literally 'striking one another' — is considered the national sport of Japan (although these days they also adore baseball), and one of the oldest sports in the entire world's. In simple terms, two opponents grapple to wrestle their opponent outside of the circle, or dohyō.
In October 1991, the Grand Sumo Tournament played out for five days at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring Hawaiian Konishiki, the heaviest sumo wrestler ever, nicknamed the 'Dump Truck'. Clay for the ring was sourced from a quarry near Heathrow, while backstage toilets had to be stress tested to ensure they would hold the wrestlers, who weighed up to 37.5 stone.
The tournament was a huge success, with punters paying £95 for the coveted cushions on the floor next to the dohyō. It'll be interesting to see how much these go for in 2025...
The 1991 tournament was ultimately won by Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi, now chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. Says Nobuyoshi about next year's tournament: "I will be making every effort to convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo, an ancient traditional Japanese culture, and to ensure that everyone enjoys the event to their heart's content."
Tickets for the Grand Sumo Tournament go on sale early 2025. Stay posted on the Royal Albert Hall's website.
