Our award-winning photographer went behind the scenes of the Grand Sumo tournament in London as it returned to the capital for the first time since 1991
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thleticism, power and ceremonial splendour were all on display at London’s Albert Hall last week as sumo wrestling returned to the storied venue for the first time in 34 years. The ancient Japanese sport has roots tracing back more than 1,500 years, but this was only the second time that a major event had been hosted abroad. It was a remarkable spectacle both inside and outside of the sacred dohyo ring.
A sumo wrestler, wearing the traditional topknot hairstyle called the oicho, pictured outside the Royal Albert Hall.
Before the start of the five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, the wrestlers, known as rikishi, visited several London landmarks dressed in their silk kesho-mawashi robes. They also posed for official portraits with their hair tied in traditional topknots, called oicho, and showcased their remarkable appetites. Each sumo – some of whom weigh upwards of 180kg – consumes up to 10,000 calories per day, including almost 2kg of rice.
