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 (currently unavailable) |
| 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.
Upcoming 2025 sumo dates
- November Tournament in Fukuoka: Nov. 9–23 (tickets on sale from Sep. 20, 2025)
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?
Ahead of the November 2025 tournament, there are currently two Yokozuna: Hōshōryū Tomokatsu and Ōnosato Daiki, who both dominated the September tournament with 13 wins and two losses. The two Yokozuna clashed on the final day of the September tournament, with Hōshōryū winning, leading to a nail-biting playoff for the first time in 16 years. Ōnosato eventually took out the win, securing his first championship as Yokozuna and fifth overall.
The only Ōzeki at the moment is Kotozakura Masakatsu, who maintained his position with a 9-5-1 record in September despite withdrawing from the tournament due to a knee injury.
What to expect at the November 2025 tournament
The ongoing rivalry between the two Yokozuna is the main headline. Hōshōryū will be looking to redeem himself after the last tournament, while Ōnosato will be looking to continue his dominance and secure a sixth tournament victory. All things going smoothly, it’s likely we’ll see a fierce rivalry continue between the two for the foreseeable future.
As for the young Ozeki Kotozakura, looking forward, he’ll need to recover and bring his A-game to the November tournament if he wants to keep his Ōzeki title.
We’re also once again looking forward to some exciting performances from the lower-ranked wrestlers.
Young Ukrainian wrestler Aonishiki achieved his fourth straight 11-win tournament in September, even taking down the dominant Yokozuna Hōshōryū for the second time on day 12, breaking the Yokozuna’s 11-day streak. If he secures another winning record in November, he could potentially achieve the rank of Ozeki before the end of the year.
Wrestler to watch: Aonishiki Arata — Ukrainian-born up-and-coming sumo
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.
Arata says he is aiming for the top.
On the back of a series of wins, Arata was promoted to the rank of Jūryō in time for the November 2024 tournament; he says he has “a clear goal” of going for Yokozuna one day. And it looks possible: in the July 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament, Arata defeated Hōshōryū, snagging a kinboshi (gold star) in what was only his 12th career tournament — making it the fastest achievement in the post-war sumo era. He has won other prizes along the way. The next big thing would be securing the title of Ōzeki.
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.Add to Calendar
- 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)
