Sumo wrestling is Japans national sport. If you are visiting Tokyo make sure to reserve some time for watching a match. I show you how to get in and where to get tickets.
How many sumo tournaments are there in Japan each year?
Tournaments and Ranking Hierarchy. The governing body of professional sumo is the Japan Sumo Association. Six tournaments are held every year: three in Tokyo (January, May and September) and one each in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July) and Fukuoka (November).
How many times a year are there wrestling tournaments in Japan?
Six tournaments are held every year: three in Tokyo (January, May and September) and one each in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July) and Fukuoka (November). Each tournament lasts for 15 days during which each wrestler performs in one match per day except lower ranked wrestlers who perform in fewer matches.
How do you appreciate sumo wrestling?
Perhaps the best way to appreciate sumo besides attending a tournament is to visit a sumo stable to witness a morning practice session. Sumo stables are where the wrestlers live and train together and where all aspects of life, from sleeping and eating to training and free time, are strictly regimented by the stable master.
How many tickets are sold per day for sumo wrestling tournaments?
200 to 400 same-day sumo wrestling tickets are sold at the door each day there is a tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. This is the option that I went with on a Saturday at the end of the May Sumo Grand Tournament in Tokyo.
When do Sumo tournaments start and end?
The good news is that each year’s sumo tournament seasons follows a precise and predictable pattern: It will start in Tokyo in January and continue in Osaka in March. Then the tournament will return to Tokyo in May, following up with Nagoya in July, and back again to Tokyo in September.
