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Grand Sumo Tournament Opens at London’s Royal Albert Hall After 34-Year Wait

The Japan Sumo Association is using the five-day showcase to promote the sport globally with newly crowned yokozuna leading the delegation.

Overview

  • About 40 top rikishi are in London, including yokozuna Onosato Daiki and Hoshoryu Tomokatsu, who have vowed to champion sumo to new audiences.
  • Royal Albert Hall installed a traditional dohyo and overhead roof and made safety upgrades including reinforced toilets, 200kg-rated chairs and special insurance.
  • Organisers report heavy food logistics, consuming roughly 70 kg of rice per day, and a local supplier has temporarily run out of noodles.
  • Strong demand saw all five days sell out, as wrestlers toured landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Big Ben and engaged with fans across the city.
  • Broadcast plans are reported inconsistently, with some outlets citing PlutoTV and BBC iPlayer in the UK and others pointing to DAZN, and details vary by source.