The Grand Sumo Tournament in London has left a lasting impression on the capital, marking only the second time this prestigious annual contest has been held outside Japan since 1991. The five-day event at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington was a complete sell-out, drawing immense interest in the 40 super-size wrestlers who captivated audiences both inside and outside the ring. Tourists and locals alike witnessed these Japanese wrestling superstars embracing London life, from posing in traditional dress outside Buckingham Palace and cycling on hire bikes, to helping pull pints in a pub and even browsing TK Maxx before enjoying a McDonald's, all while preparing for their battles.

Hosting such a unique and large-scale event presented a significant challenge for the historic Royal Albert Hall, which has stood for 154 years. Beyond constructing the sacred five-meter-wide soil-and-sand dohyo, complete with its distinctive pagoda-style roof, practical considerations were paramount. Matthew Todd, the venue's director of programming, revealed they had to source new chairs capable of supporting up to 200kg, double their usual standard, and even reinforce wall-mounted toilets. Catering for the wrestlers was a massive undertaking, requiring 1,500lbs of rice, 1,000 packets of instant miso soup, 750 packs of noodles, 1,050 rice balls, and 400 bottles of soy sauce just for snacks, in addition to three full meals a day at their West London hotel.

Sumo, a sport with no weight limits, celebrates size, with the combined weight of the 40 contenders at this tournament reaching a staggering six tonnes, equivalent to a large African bull elephant. The staple meal for a sumo wrestler is chankonabe, a hearty stew of dashi, mirin, bok choy, chicken, and other meats. A typical wrestler might consume ten bowls per meal, totaling around 10,000 calories daily. Legends like Takamisugi Takakatsu, who retired in 1995, were known to consume up to 65 bowls in one sitting. The sport's largest ever competitor, Orora Satoshi (Anatoly Mikhakhanov), weighed in at a peak of 292.6kg.

Despite their jovial demeanor during sightseeing, these sumo wrestlers are elite athletes undergoing intense discipline. Among them are stars like 27-year-old Mongolian-born Hoshoryu Tomokatsu and 25-year-old Onosato Daiki, both Yokozuna, the highest rank, often likened to the Federer and Nadal of sumo. Scott Findlay, president of British Sumo, emphasizes that breaks are rare from the rigorous physical and mental training. Wrestlers live communally in 'stables' from around age 15, enduring relentless daily workouts focused on flexibility, stamina, and raw power for hours, year-round. This life is deeply steeped in Shinto traditions, the Japanese religion dating from the 8th century.

A typical day begins at 5 am, with novices tying their hair into chonmage (topknots) and wrapping their massive frames in three-meter-long mawashi (loincloths). They prepare the dohyo before moving on to stretching, gym work, and sparring. Junior wrestlers also cook, clean, and tend to their seniors. While sumo has adopted modern elements like social media and QR code tickets, tradition remains paramount. Lower-ranked wrestlers are rarely permitted girlfriends or mobile phones, gaining independence and the right to marry only upon reaching the professional sekitori division.

Today, some senior wrestlers, or 'rikishi,' have embraced a more public personal life, with their wives, affectionately dubbed 'Swags,' gaining fan followings. Folk singer Konomi Mori, married to Takayasu Akira, and model Yukina Chiba, married to Ozeki Takakeisho, are notable examples. However, fame can also bring scandal, as seen with Ryuden Goshi, whose reputation was marred by allegations of affairs. Despite modern influences, the sport continues to prize its profoundly spiritual roots.

The rules of sumo are deceptively simple: a wrestler loses if they touch the floor with anything other than their feet or are pushed out of the 14-foot ring. Yet, this simplicity belies the sport's depth and ancient heritage. Sumo, one of the world's oldest sports, traces its origins back over 1,500 years, initially performed on temple grounds as prayers for bountiful harvests. By the 17th century, it transformed into popular entertainment, with matches raising funds for public works, and giving rise to professional wrestlers. Its fame spread through vivid woodblock prints, though it faced periodic bans due to spectator brawls. Standardization arrived with the Japan Sumo Association's foundation in 1925, establishing six major tournaments annually.

The London event also highlighted the authentic experience provided. Spectators in the first few rows traditionally sit cross-legged on cushions, a highly prized spot where in Japan, only Japanese individuals are permitted. The entire setup at the Royal Albert Hall was meticulously designed to replicate a sumo hall in Japan, with straw for the bales, clay for the dohyo, and even hairdressers for the topknots flown from Tokyo. Wrestlers' hotels were also arranged to mimic the communal life of their stables back home.

The possibility of a British Grand Champion is now emerging. Sixteen-year-old Nicholas Tarasenko, only the second British recruit ever, has left Yorkshire to train in Japan's Minato-beya stable. His father, Georgi Zilkin, notes Nicholas's judo background made the transition to sumo easier, though mastering it is another story. Scott Findlay describes Nicholas as having an 'exceptional attitude,' unwavering determination, and fluency in Japanese – a requirement for his stable. Nicholas is set to compete professionally next year, with a career potentially lasting into his 40s. While another Londoner, Nathan Strange, attempted professional sumo in 1989 but found the regime too gruelling, the sport is seeing serious development in the UK, with British Sumo engaging schools and councils to boost physical and mental development in children through sumo programs and clubs.