May Grand Sumo Tournament

Held every May, this is the third of Japan’s six annual Sumo Tournaments, known as honbasho and one of only three to be held in Tokyo. 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.

Tickets and seats

Tickets go on sale from April 4 on the official website, but you can guarantee tickets earlier by booking a tour.

If you don’t know your Yokozuna from your Ōzeki, then it is a good idea to bring a guide with you to find out what exactly you’re watching. This ticket gets you second-floor arena seats, a guide, and booklet.

You can also reserve 2nd floor B-class seats with Viator and Klook, as well as Viator.

Notes on seating and matches

Seating is divided into box seating — tatami areas seating four people, which start at around ¥34,000 — and arena seats, which start from ¥3,500.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance, with some released at the venue on the day — for these, you have to be there very early, but it’s good for last-minute plans.

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 in Tokyo 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 can not be demoted and remain so till they retire. This means there can be more than one Yokozuna at one time. In the Ōzeki ranking however, you can easily be demoted so pressure to win is intense.

Who will be the next Yokozuna?

Coming into the May 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. Despite having a strong run into the March tournament, Aonishiki finished with a losing record which means his promotion chances are currently not looking so bright.

What to expect at the May 2026 tournament

With a dominating tournament victory in March, former Ōzeki Kirishima will be looking to maintain his run for a chance at rejoining the Ōzeki ranks. Conversely, recently promoted Ōzeki Aonishiki will be looking to improve on his performance in Osaka in order to maintain his current title. When it comes to the two Yokozuna, both Hōshōryū and Ōnosato will be looking to save face after a string of defeats 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 Ōzeki confirmed shortly after the November tournament, he became the fastest wrestler to earn that rank since the current system was established in 1958.

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 Ōzeki 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 Ōzeki since 1937. With some unfortunate losses in the March tournament, he’ll be looking to turn things around in Tokyo in May.

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 there

The Tokyo sumo tournaments are held at Ryōgoku Kokugikan Stadium. It’s a short 2-minute walk from the West Exit of Ryōgoku Station. Nearby restaurants serve chanko nabe, a large hot-pot dish designed for sumo wrestlers.