Sumo Wrestling - The Grand Sumo Tournament - Royal Albert Hall, London, Britain - October 15, 2025 1991 Grand Sumo Tournament winner and Japan Sumo Association president Hakkaku Rijicho poses for a photograph with Yokozunas Onosato and Hoshoryu along with other sumo wrestlers and officials outside the Royal Albert Hall during a photo call ahead of the tournament Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
LONDON (Reuters) -Japan's top sumo wrestlers will roll into London's Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday evening for the start of a five-day tournament to showcase their ancient sport heaving under the weight of tradition, ritual and huge, semi-naked men.
More than 40 elite rikishi (wrestlers) flew in at the weekend with a supporting cast of organisers, referees and sumo elders (managers) ahead of the Grand Sumo Tournament - the first event of its kind held outside Japan since one hosted at the same venue in 1991.
