As everyone knows, sumo, Japanese-style wrestling, is Japan's national sport. There are about 800 rikishi (sumo wrestlers), ranging from trainees to yokozuna (the highest rank in sumo).
Sumo bouts are unique, short, and full of excitement!



There are six Grand Tournaments held each year:
three in Tokyo and one each in Osaka, Nagoya and Kyushu. Each basho (tournament) lasts fifteen days.
During 2008, Tokyo will hold tournaments on the following dates: January 7 to 21, May 13 to 27, and September 9 to 23. Sunrise has organized a half day sumo tour to get you close to the action.



The itinerary is as follows:
Arrive at the Kokugikan (Sumo Amphitheater) by train
Visit the Sumo Museum. Sumo paraphernalia dated from the Edo period to the present are displayed in the Sumo Museum.　Dohyo-iri and Sumo Bouts: Watch the Dohyo-iri (entering the ring) ceremony and Sumo bouts (B-class reserved seat on the second floor)　English guidance is available in the form of a rental radio.
The tour disbands at Kokugikan around 6:00p.m.

Professional Sumo is practiced exclusively in Japan but wrestlers of other nationalities can participate. There are wrestlers from countries such as Mongolia, South Korea, Russia, Georgia and Bulgaria. In fact, the two current yokozuna are from Mongolia. You might even find someone from your own country wrestling.
So come along and experience Japan’s unique national sport.