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Sumo wrestling returned to London with sold out Royal Albert Hall The opening night was electrifying, culminating with activations from the game’s top players.
Only the second time the Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outdoors Japan The five-day event ends on Sunday as organizers look to take advantage of growing worldwide interest in Japan’s national sport.
London’s Royal Albert Hall also hosted the event in 1991 and this time 40 wrestlers (rikishi) were participating with Grand Champion Onosato Daiki winning the main event of the evening when he threw Ura Kazuki out of the ring (dohyo).
Ukrainian Aonishiki Arata was another notable winner as his excellent debut year in sumo continued when he defeated Atamifuji Sakutaro despite losing more than six stone.
This was one of many ‘David vs. Goliath’ size mismatches, the most extreme example of which was in bout four when Tobijaru Masaya pinned Shonannoumi Momotaro to the floor, losing his eight stone and almost a foot.
At the end of the interval, the crowd was reminded by the compere not to go near the dohyo as it is a “very sacred place”.
The Royal Albert Hall had to make significant adjustments for the wrestlers, including bringing in new chairs capable of holding up to 200 kilograms, as well as installing reinforced toilets.
About 11 stones of rice are consumed per day by the competitors and event organizers revealed that the wholesaler being used had run out of noodles due to the quantity ordered.
The wrestlers have been seen posing for photos in front of the Houses of Parliament across London since their arrival buckingham palaceRiding a Lime bike and even eating a hot dog on Westminster Bridge.
Sumo, which has a ceremonial-religious aspect and is more than 1,500 years old, will be taken to Paris next year to reach new audiences.