The Summer Grand Sumo Tournament started on May 8th

The Sumo Grand Tournament started in Tokyo on May 8th. The tournament takes place in Ryogoku - the center of the mysterious sumo world.

The spiritual and physical home of sumo, Ryogoku is where centuries of Japanese tradition continue to live and breathe right in the whirl of modern Tokyo.

Situated between historic Asakusa and the symbol of future Tokyo, the Skytree, Ryogoku is past and future Tokyo bracing for a grudge match in the sumo wrestling ring – the question is, who will win?

With its large copper roof, the Ryogoku Kokugikan dominates the district’s skyline. There’s an interesting museum open year-round but the best time to visit is undoubtedly when the stadium plays host to an epic 15-day showcase of some of the world’s most powerful athletes in blink-and-you’ll-miss-it clashes of brute force.

The tournament takes place in Tokyo in January, May and September, and travels around Japan for three other tournaments during the rest of the year. Outside of the season, it’s still possible to glimpse history in motion at a sumo morning training session in one of the sumo stables (houses where sumo wrestlers train and live) in the area. It’s a rare insight into the mysterious world of sumo and a fascinating cultural experience.

Just next door, the Edo-Tokyo Museum offers a comprehensive and interactive journey into Tokyo’s past all the way to the present and future. This is one of the country’s top museums, with over 2,500 items on display from traditional toilets to transport. There are also a number of smaller museums spread around town showcasing local crafts and culture.

The Summer Grand Sumo Tournament runs the 4th day today and there are some wrestlers who are already out of the tournament. Veteran maegashira Aminishiki, the oldest wrestler in the makuuchi division, will miss the rest of the tournament with a torn left Achilles tendon. The tournament earlier lost No. 12 maegashira Amuru (Nikolai Ivanov, Russia), who pulled out prior to his match due to a left knee injury.

The Summer Grand Sumo Tournament will run until the 22nd May.