There are not many sports that can keep an audience enraptured through 45 minutes of ceremony before the first point is even contested. And yet, the intricate traditions unfolding in a small clay ring - virtually unchanged in hundreds of years - managed to do just that.
Welcome, then, to the Grand Sumo Tournament - a five-day event at the Royal Albert Hall featuring 40 of the very best sumo wrestlers showcasing a sport which can date its first mention back to 23BC.
London's Victorian concert venue has been utterly transformed, complete with a six-tonne Japanese temple roof suspended above the ring. It is here the wrestlers, known as rikishi, will perform their leg stomps to drive away evil spirits, and where they will clap to get the attention of the gods. Above all this ancient ceremony, a giant, revolving LED screen offers the audience all the stats and replays they could want.
Sumo may be ancient, and may have strict rules governing every aspect of a rikishi's conduct, but it still exists in a modern world. The world is helping spread sumo far beyond Japan's borders.
This week's event in London is only the second time the tournament has visited the city - the first was in 1991 - while the last overseas trip was to Jakarta in 2013.
Going to Japan is almost the only way to see a top-flight sumo tournament, but for many, the London tournament provided their first chance to experience the sport up close. Seeing it up close, you get a sense of the speed and the power which you don't get on TV. It was incredible, says Caspar Eliot, a fan from London.
The audience was a mix of seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike, with some fans sharing their journey to sumo through various internet platforms. For example, Sian Spencer discovered the sport through videos and YouTube channels dedicated to the rigorous training and lifestyle of the rikishi.
Behind the scenes, however, sumo wrestles with issues like a decline in new recruits and a reputation marred by scandals. Despite these challenges, the sport's popularity remains resilient, buoyed by passionate fans and the intriguing blend of ancient ritual with modern entertainment.
As fans from all around the world filled the Royal Albert Hall, the event stood as a testament to sumo's enduring appeal and its ability to adapt in a fast-paced digital age.
Welcome, then, to the Grand Sumo Tournament - a five-day event at the Royal Albert Hall featuring 40 of the very best sumo wrestlers showcasing a sport which can date its first mention back to 23BC.
London's Victorian concert venue has been utterly transformed, complete with a six-tonne Japanese temple roof suspended above the ring. It is here the wrestlers, known as rikishi, will perform their leg stomps to drive away evil spirits, and where they will clap to get the attention of the gods. Above all this ancient ceremony, a giant, revolving LED screen offers the audience all the stats and replays they could want.
Sumo may be ancient, and may have strict rules governing every aspect of a rikishi's conduct, but it still exists in a modern world. The world is helping spread sumo far beyond Japan's borders.
This week's event in London is only the second time the tournament has visited the city - the first was in 1991 - while the last overseas trip was to Jakarta in 2013.
Going to Japan is almost the only way to see a top-flight sumo tournament, but for many, the London tournament provided their first chance to experience the sport up close. Seeing it up close, you get a sense of the speed and the power which you don't get on TV. It was incredible, says Caspar Eliot, a fan from London.
The audience was a mix of seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike, with some fans sharing their journey to sumo through various internet platforms. For example, Sian Spencer discovered the sport through videos and YouTube channels dedicated to the rigorous training and lifestyle of the rikishi.
Behind the scenes, however, sumo wrestles with issues like a decline in new recruits and a reputation marred by scandals. Despite these challenges, the sport's popularity remains resilient, buoyed by passionate fans and the intriguing blend of ancient ritual with modern entertainment.
As fans from all around the world filled the Royal Albert Hall, the event stood as a testament to sumo's enduring appeal and its ability to adapt in a fast-paced digital age.
