Written by Alexandra Ziminski
Researched by Carey Finn
Held every November, this is the final of Japan’s six annual Sumo Tournaments, known as honbasho. With sumo rankings released a few weeks before, it’s a chance to see the traditional sport up close and personal. While the fights are broadcast on NHK, nothing beats the atmosphere of the tense final matches of the day, complete with cushion-throwing and cheers.
Sumo is having its moment — grab a seat and be part of it.
Tickets
| Seat Type | Price from | Notes | Booking Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arena | ¥3,500 | Likely to sell out early | Ticket Pia (Available from September 19) |
| Class S seating | ¥20,500 | Includes guide (from 2:30 p.m.) | Viator (currently unavailable) |
| Class A seating | ¥24,000 | Includes guide | JTB Sunrise Tours (currently unavailable) |
Seating is divided into box seating — tatami areas seating four people which start at about ¥40,000 and arena seats which start from around ¥3,500.
Sumo tournament dates
There are six Grand Sumo Tournaments throughout the year. Not here during a big tournament? Fear not. Here are other ways to see sumo in Tokyo.
2026 sumo dates
- January Sumo Tournament in Tokyo: Jan. 11–25 (tickets on sale from Dec. 6, 2025)
- March Sumo Tournament in Osaka: Mar. 8–22 (tickets on sale from Feb. 7, 2026)
- May Sumo Tournament in Tokyo: May 10–24 (tickets on sale from April 4, 2026)
- July Sumo Tournament in Nagoya: Jul. 12–26 (tickets on sale from May 16, 2026)
- September Sumo Tournament in Tokyo: Sept. 13–27 (tickets on sale from Aug. 8, 2026)
- November Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka: Nov. 8–22 (tickets on sale from Sep. 19, 2026)
What to expect
Sumo is a massive — pardon the pun — deal in Japan, and the thrill of the audience during tournaments is contagious. You’ll look down (or up if you’re lucky enough to bag a ring-side seat), on the dohyō (sumo ring) as two sumo wrestlers try to push each other out of the circle by grappling, pushing, and throwing.
Each bout is usually pretty quick, but there are still grip-locked matches that get the heart pounding and the fans rowdy as they cheer on their favorite side.
Daily schedule: What time should I go?
Sumo matches take place throughout the day, and you can leave to grab food and return when you like.
Generally, doors open at 9 a.m. on the first to the 12th day, 10:30 a.m. on the 13th and 14th days, and 10 a.m. on the last day. Note that the morning bouts are reserved for unranked or lower-ranking wrestlers, and so the arena can seem a bit deserted.
Most of the excitement starts in the afternoon around 2 p.m. when the second-highest ranked division (Jūryō) enters the ring. The highest-ranked wrestlers, the Makuuchi, then enter just before 3 p.m. in preparation for their fights. The current top dog, the Yokozuna, enters the stadium around 4 p.m. and is greeted with calls of “Yoisho!” (an exclamation of effort) from the crowd as he stomps.
Everything comes to a close just before 6 p.m. when a ceremony featuring bow twirling is performed.
The busiest days are, as you may expect, weekends and towards the end of the tournament.
How do the sumo rankings work?
Getting to Yokozuna doesn’t happen overnight.
There are six main sumo divisions: Makuuchi, Jūryō, Makushita, Sandanme, Jonidan, and Jonokuchi (from highest to lowest). Within the divisions, there are also rankings. The one to watch is the Makuuchi division, as the order here decides the next Yokozuna — the highest sumo rank.
The order goes Yokozuna, Ōzeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi, and Maegashira. Only the Makuuchi and Jūryō divisions have fights every day across the 15-day tournament. The others compete for 7 days.
How do sumo wrestlers move up?
Sumo wrestlers can’t jump several ranks in one go. They must climb up the table.
If you have a good record, i.e., win more matches than you lose in the tournament, you will usually move up a rank or division. Although, as the higher ranks have limited spaces, this might not always be the case. The one who wins the most bouts is crowned the winner of their division. For the Makuuchi, this means you win the whole tournament.
If a wrestler wins two consecutive tournaments, they will be crowned the Yokozuna. Alternatively, they can get the rank by displaying similar high-level performances when they are an Ōzeki. Once a sumo wrestler becomes a Yokozuna, they cannot be demoted and remain so till they retire. This means there can be more than one Yokozuna at one time.
Who will be the next Yokozuna?
Coming into the March tournament, there are still just two yokozuna — Hōshōryū and Ōnosato, both of whom have been plagued with injuries in the lead up to the January tournament. With consecutive tournament wins and multiple records under his black mawashi belt, though, Aonishiki will have the chance to compete for promotion to yokozuna in March.
Wrestler to watch: Aonishiki Arata — Ukrainian-born November tournament champion
Aonishiki Arata, whose real name is Danilo Yavhushyshyn, is turning heads with his rapid rise through the rankings. The 21-year-old is a member of the Ajigawa Stable in Tokyo’s Koto Ward, and officially entered professional sumo in 2023. His win in November 2025 made him the first Ukrainian to claim the Emperor’s Cup, and, with his promotion to Ozeki confirmed shortly after the November tournament, he became the fastest wrestler to earn that rank since the current system was established in 1958.
Arata says he is aiming for the top.
Aonishiki won back-to-back championships in January 2026 after defeating maegashira Atamifuji in the tie-breaking match for the Emperor’s Cup. Joining the New Year Tournament with a recent promotion, he became the first freshly minted ozeki to win a tournament since 2006 and the ninth wrestler overall to do so. He also became the first to win consecutive tournaments at the ranks of sekiwake and ozeki since 1937.
Fun facts: Arata is 180 cm tall, weighs in at 125 kg (relatively light), and can bench press a whopping 210 kg. Keep an eye out for him!
How to get to the tournament venue
The Fukuoka sumo tournament is held at Fukuoka Kokusai Center. It’s a 12-minute walk from Gofukumachi Station or a 10-minute bus from Hakata Station.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.- 0.9 km from Gofukumachi Station Hakozaki Line (H2)
- 0.9 km from Nakasu-Kawabata Station Hakozaki Line (H1)
- 1.0 km from Chiyo-Kenchōguchi Station Hakozaki Line (H3)
