It’s Sumo Time Again!
The September Sumo Grand Tournament will be held between September 14th and 28th at the Kokugikan in the Ryogoku area of Tokyo and will be your last chance to catch a tournament in Tokyo this year!
If you will be in Tokyo during this time, this is one event that you will definitely want to include in your itinerary. Book your tickets in advance or get to the the ticket office early in the day as tournament day chair seats (general admission) are limited to around 400 and go on sale at 8:30AM.
If my enthusiasm for this event hasn’t made you want to check it out for yourself then take a moment to watch this video from National Geographic(event details and links after the video).
I went in May and I’m off again this time – I think it’s great!
I have to wonder what effect the drug scandal will have on the tournament. One wrestler is already “retired,” his spot left vacant, and two more are being questioned over positive drug tests. I hope they don’t do anything drastic, I do enjoy watching on TV.
Feitclub…it will be interesting to see how the drug scandal pans out. I’m not sure how much smoking marijuana would help out a wrestlers performance, apart from encouraging the munchies thereby helping them to keep the weight on!
Having said that, I think that the ‘drug scandal’ is more an illegal activity scandal…
I just hope it doesn’t get in the way of what is usually a great fortnight! That would be a real shame.
I really regret not going once while I was in Tokyo. If I move back I’ll definitely go.
Tom;
I lived here in the early 90’s and never went then. I have yet to go the the Kokugikan but I went to the Sumo event at Yasukuni Shrine in April and I am definitely a convert now!