Tamawashi, left, pushes Watakakage during a bout at The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
LONDON (AP) — Sumo wrestlers are bringing 1,500 years of tradition to London’s Royal Albert Hall.
It marks only the second time the elite five-day tournament will be held outside Japan. The first was in 1991 at the same venue.
Organizers of the London event say they hope to show Japan’s rich culture as well as its traditional sport that pits two huge men clad in very little against each other in a test of strength and technique.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Sumo rikishi Daieisho and Roga, facing, during their Grand Sumo Tournament bout on the dohyo, the sacred sumo wrestling ring, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo wrestlers, called rikishi, Takayasu, rear, and Abi push during their bout on the dohyo, the sacred sumo wrestling ring, during The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo wrestlers, called rikishi, celebrate the opening on the dohyo, the sacred sumo wrestling ring, during The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo wrestler Takayasu throws salt before a bout during The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo wrestlers, called rikishi, prepare for their bouth on the dohyo, the sacred sumo wrestling ring, during The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo wrestlers, called rikishi, Kotoeiho and Oshoumi, left, prepare for their bout during The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo wrestlers Oho and Kirishima grapple during their bout at The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Kotoeiho, back to camera, pushes and lifts Oshoumi during their bout at The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)A Sumo wrestler lands on the edge of the ring during The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Workers build up the dohyo, the sacred sumo wrestling ring and the ceremonial heart of the event, during a ritualized process that combines centuries-old tradition with precise engineering at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 ahead of The Grand Sumo Tournament. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Workers build up the dohyo, the sacred sumo wrestling ring and the ceremonial heart of the event, during a ritualized process that combines centuries-old tradition with precise engineering at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 ahead of The Grand Sumo Tournament. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo wrestlers, called rikishi, arrive for The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo wrestlers, called rikishi, pose for a photocall ahead of The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo rikishi Kinbozan and Oshoma, right, during their Grand Sumo Tournament bout on the dohyo, the sacred sumo wrestling ring, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo rikishi Aonishiki left, and Ura during their Grand Sumo Tournament bout on the dohyo, the sacred sumo wrestling ring, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Ryuden battles with Fujinokawa in the Makuuchi Division bout on day three of the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall, London, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)The opening ceremony ahead of the Grand Sumo Tournament on the dohyo, the sacred sumo wrestling ring, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Sumo rikishi Takayasu, left, and Tobizaru during their Grand Sumo Tournament bout on the dohyo, the sacred sumo wrestling ring, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Midorifuji battles with Ura in the Makuuchi Division bout on day four of the Grand Sumo Tournament in London, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)Shodai battles with Daieisho in the Makuuchi Division bout on day four of the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
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