London is about to feel the full force of Japanese tradition, strength, and stomping feet as the Grand Sumo Tournament begins tomorrow at Royal Albert Hall.
From visiting the National History Museum, trying all the food the city has to offer, running into Platform 9 ¾ and squeezing into a phone box – the wrestlers have been soaking up all of London’s bites and sights.
With their topknots and mawashi tightened, the wrestlers are ready to rumble after a wholesome tour of the capital.
One woman, who saw a sumo wrestler on her way to church today, told Metro: ‘I was on the bus and it was a few stops before Knightsbridge where I saw him.
‘He was wearing a sage green kimono and looked beautiful just walking down the street. Although I did think it was a bit incongruous, almost like a dream.’
Other Londoners have spotted different sumo wrestlers in Marks & Spencer, Asian supermarkets and restaurants.
Sumo-lovers from across the country and world have come to the capital – including devoted fan, Manfred Deutschlaender, who travelled from Germany today.
Manfred has been travelling to Japan for 23 years to watch the sport and enjoy the sumo culture.
Today, he was able to meet and talk with some of his favourite wrestlers outside of the hotel they are staying in.
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Through his love for sumo, Manfred has picked up the Japanese language, which he believes helped a lot when he first visited Japan.
The megafan told Metro: ‘Going into the world of Sumo in Japan, nobody speaks English.’
But with apps like Google Translate available at the touch of a button, it is a lot more accessible for fans to interact with the culture.
The last major tournament outside Japan took place at Royal Albert Hall 34 years ago. For the return of the five-day-long event, the venue has been transformed.
What is sumo wrestling?
- Sumo is a style of Japanese wrestling where weight, size and strength are of the greatest importance
- The aim is to propel the opponent of a ring that is about 15 feet in diameter or to force him to touch the ground with any part of his body other than his feet
- Sumo wrestlers wear only loincloths and grip each other by the belt
- The sport’s origins dates to the myth of a contest of strength described in Japan’s oldest historical chronicles
- Between the Kamakura period (1192-1333) to the Warring States period (1467-1568) sumo was practiced as a form of combat training for warriors
- In the Edo period (1603-1867), sumo became a professional sport and official tournaments were held
Source: Britannica and Japan Up Close
(Picture: Metro/Molly Lee)
Royal Albert Hall previously warned fans that ‘it is possible that wrestlers may fall or be thrown from the ring into the ringside area as part of the competition.’ This is because of tradition, where there are no barriers between the athletes and the audience.
Banners and billboards advertising the event have been put up around the venue.
One worker said: ‘It’s been a challenge as it’s all new like we moved 11 tonnes of gravel into the ring.’
The entire venue will be filled with fans which comes with security considerations.
Will Geddes, international security specialist said: ‘The Royal Albert Hall is pretty well versed in hosting major events so they have pretty good security infrastructure.
‘The sumo team themselves will have a fairly large entourage with them but the Japanese tend to go fairly low key with their security.
(Picture: Metro/Molly Lee)
‘However, they’re big old lads, as you know, so they could probably handle quite a bit of pushing and shoving.’
Could you be a sumo wrestler?
You might have a chance if you fill the criteria, which came into force in 2015:
- Healthy males (there are currently no professional sumo tournaments for women)
- Have completed a middle-school education
- Under the age of 23 (or 25 for those who have competed in approved amateur or university tournaments)
- Must be over 5’4 tall (167cm)
- Weigh over 67kg
- Participation is not restricted by citizenship, and many non-Japanese rikishi, such as Mongolian, American, Brazilian and others, have had successful careers in sumo
Source: Japan Up Close
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