Grand Sumo Tournament makes historic return to London’s Royal Albert Hall after 34 years
The five-day event, or ‘basho’, has been held only once before outside Japan – back in 1991 and also at the venerable concert hall
Only once in the sport’s 1,500-year history has a five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, or basho, been held outside Japan – and next year, London’s Royal Albert Hall will repeat its feat of 1991.
To be as true to tradition as possible, the venerable concert hall – known for an annual “Rule Britannia” singalong – will build a raised clay dohyo, or fighting stage, in the centre of the auditorium to host the event, with spectators sitting around it on cushions and, further back, on chairs.
“We’ll experience not just the sport, but the tradition and the ritual and the culture of sumo,” James Ainscough, chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall, said.
“So as well as it being an exciting sporting event, it’s actually going to be a great cultural moment and a time for us to come across something we don’t normally experience and to maybe learn something different from it from a different culture, and be challenged in the way we think as well.
“In this divided world, when two countries join together, it’s always a pleasure,” he told reporters.
Every night from October 15 to 19, more than 40 wrestlers from Japan’s top sumo division will fight around 20 bouts to contest the London title at the event, which will mark the Japan Sumo Association’s centenary.
