Photo report from The Grand Sumo Tournament

What is the Grand Sumo Tournament?

The Grand Sumo Tournament, known in Japanese as Honbasho, is a prominent sumo wrestling event held six times a year in Japan. Each tournament lasts for 15 days, featuring wrestlers from various divisions who compete daily. The top divisions, makuuchi and jūryō, see wrestlers compete once per day, while those in lower divisions wrestle approximately every other day.

Here's a brief overview of the annual tournament schedule and locations:

January Hatsu Basho: This tournament kicks off the sumo year and is held in Tokyo at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. It starts on the first or second Sunday of January.
March Haru Basho: This spring tournament takes place in Osaka at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, usually starting on the second Sunday of March.
May Natsu Basho: Returning to Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, the summer tournament begins on the second Sunday of May.
July Nagoya Basho: Held in Nagoya at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, this tournament starts on the first or second Sunday of July.
September Aki Basho: The autumn tournament is back in Tokyo at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, starting on the second Sunday of September.
November Kyūshū Basho: The final tournament of the year takes place in Fukuoka at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, beginning on the second Sunday of November.

The Grand Sumo Tournament has a rich tradition and history dating back over 1,400 years. It's not just a sporting event but also a cultural spectacle, featuring various rituals and ceremonies that reflect its historical roots and the deeply ingrained customs of sumo wrestling. For example, the opening ceremony includes a ritual where the yokozuna (grand champion) claps hands to attract the attention of gods and demonstrates a symbolic purification of the ring by lifting legs and stomping on the ground. At the end of the day's play, there's a bow dance (yumitori-shiki) performed by a selected wrestler from the third division.

Wrestlers, known as rikishi, wear a special loincloth called mawashi during bouts and sport traditional top-knot hairstyles that indicate their rank. The sumo referees, or gyōji, are also an integral part of the tournaments, wearing traditional kimonos and officiating the matches with distinct rituals and gestures.

The Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, one of the primary venues for these tournaments, is owned by the Japan Sumo Association and is set up for sumo year-round. Preparations for other venues begin a week in advance of their respective tournaments.

Sumo wrestling rankings are updated after each tournament, with wrestlers moving up or down in the hierarchy based on their performance. The highest rank in sumo is Yokozuna, the grand champion, a position that holds great honor and responsibility. Yokozuna cannot be demoted but are expected to retire if their performance starts to weaken.

Visiting a Grand Sumo Tournament offers a unique and immersive experience into Japanese culture and the ancient sport of sumo wrestling. Combatpit was fortunate to have John Adams visit the tournament on day 13 and share his photographs with our readers.