Sumo wrestlers slam into London for the first time in decades

LONDON — It’s safe to say they’re making their presence felt.

Japan’s best sumo wrestlers were strolling the streets of London ahead of the sold-out Grand Sumo Tournament taking place this week at the Royal Albert Hall, the British capital’s famous Victorian concert hall.

Dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, the wrestlers known as rikishi, explored the city between rigorous training for what is only the second such event held outside of Japan in 1,500 years.

This time, the spotlight is on two most prestigious wrestlers, known as yokozuna: the Mongolian Hoshoryu Tomokatsu and the Japanese Onosato Daiki. Onosato, 25, became the 75th fighter to win the title in May, having reached the rank in a record 13 tournaments.

His rival, Hoshoryu, was the 74th man to reach this rank.

“I’m happy that sumo is back after so many years,” Onosato told NBC News broadcast partner Sky News on Wednesday. “I hope I can show British fans how fantastic sumo is.”

“Being a yokozuna comes with a lot of responsibilities,” Hoshoryu said. “My uncle was a yokozuna – and I’m happy to follow in his footsteps. But I came here to London as a yokozuna, which is not the case, so I’m even happier,” he added.

Stopping to pose for photos with traditional souvenirs, the pair were part of a group of sumo wrestlers who visited most of London’s sights, including Buckingham Palace and Westminster with its iconic Big Ben.

But that didn’t stop them from continuing their rigorous training schedule and equally rigorous diet.

Their carefully structured, high-calorie meals are essential for building the size and strength needed to compete at the highest level.

“We eat 70 kilos of rice a day,” Donagh Collins, CEO of Askonas Holt, an arts company which helped organize the event, told Sky News. “Someone told me the noodle wholesaler was out of noodles,” he added.

But in a break from their traditional diet, some wrestlers were photographed enjoying London street food and feeding each other hot dogs as they explored the city.

While the London tournament was sold out, Sumo faced a series of scandals at home, including allegations of harassment, assault and sexism at the stables where wrestlers train. Allegations of illegal betting and links to organized crime also cast a shadow over the image of Japan’s national sport.

But in London, Wednesday was the first day of the five-day exhibition tournament – ​​the first of its kind since it was held at the same venue some 34 years ago.

The wrestlers, who weigh a total of six tonnes, slapped, grappled and heaved, while spectators reveled in the sight of the centuries-old Japanese sport.

About eleven tons of clay were brought into the room to build the dohyo, the elevated arena where wrestlers compete, demarcated by rice balls shaped and secured using beer bottles, according to Reuters.

The two great champions, Hoshoryu and Onosato, were each victorious in their bouts, closing out the evening with strong performances – literally.