#LondonSumo

Day1
Oz Kotozakura (L)
M1 Wakatakakage (R)
Many are surprised Zakura made the decision to appear this basho as he was injured and had to skip #londonsumo - looking good this far anyway.
#kyushubasho2025

Welcome to the sumo community anyone who came to the sport through the #londonsumo tournament. cant wait to see you all on here next major tournament. Starting Sunday 9th November.

"Many of the wrestlers, including the yokozuna, told me the environment and the atmosphere that was created inside the Royal Albert Hall was much better than that at the Kokugikan or any regional venue in Japan" Hiro Morita on #LondonSumo. Our report here: open.spotify.com/episode/3SO4...

The big farewell from the men of sumo to the #londonsumo fans - bowing to all 4 directions so everyone is recognized, as is only proper.

#londonsumo award winners from left:
Ura - Audience Appreciation
Tobizaru - Outstanding Performance
Hōshōryū - Tourney Champ
Takayasu - Fighting Spirit

If #londonsumo seemed less than full-on that’s because any records here do not affect rikishi’s (wrestler’s) ranks and no one will risk serious injury in an exhibition. BUT, the serious sumo starts in November back in Japan and it will be well covered on this account. Stay tuned.

Hōshōryū, the 6th Mongolian Yokozuna (grand champion) takes championship in #londonsumo.

Day5 #londonsumo
Ōnosato 4-0 (L)
Hōshōryū 4-0 (R)
Well the two yokozuna (grand champions), are only ones left at 4-0, so the winner here takes the cup. Hōshōryū is the nephew of sumo's favorite badboy from 15 years ago and Ōnosato is Japan's first dominant Japanese yokozuna in too long.

Day5 #londonsumo
Wakatakakage 2-2 (L)
Kirishima 2-2 (R)
Both are Sekiwake, the 3rd highest rank. Usually only two men have the rank during a tournament. Wakatakakage is the most successful of 3 brothers all in sumo. Kirishima is Mongolian and a former ōzeki battling to get back to the rank one day.

Day5 #londonsumo
Komusubi: Takayasu 3-1 (L)
Maegashira 15: Tobizaru 4-0 (R)
Tobizaru's name means flying monkey, and his by hook or by crook sumo lives up to his name. Takayasu is a former ōzeki who has stayed a force in sumo long after his demotion.

Day5 #londonsumo
Maegashira 8: Ura 3-1 (L)
Komusubi: Aonishiki 3-1 (R)
Oh my, these two. Ura is known for rare moves and quick reflexes - affectionately known as Pink Magic (at least to foreign fans) and Aonishiki is the new Ukranian usurper - noone can seem to sus out his perfect attack.

Day5 #londonsumo
Tamawashi 2-2 (L)
Takanoshō 2-2 (R)
Tamawashi is the Iron Eagle of sumo (washi means eagle) and is number 1 on many longetivity records even considering sumo's 100s of years of history.

Day5 #londonsumo
Hakuōhō 3-1 (L)
Abi 1-3 (R)
To anyone new to sumo - there is significantly less smiling in non-exhibition sumo 🤗.

Day5 #londonsumo
Wakamotoharu 3-1 (L)
Gōnoyama 2-2 (R)
These two take a while to feel each other out. Wakamotoharu is the middle of three sumo brothers. Gōnoyama is protégé of former ōzeki Gōeidō.

Day5 #londonsumo
Midorifuji 1-3 (L)
Fujinokawa 2-2 (R)
These two are probably my personal faves right now. Two skilled 'lil scrappers.

Day5 #londonsumo
Ryūden 2-2 (L)
Ōshōumi 1-3 (R)
Ryuden's shikona (ring name) means "lightning dragon".

Day5 #londonsumo
Nishikigi 0-4 (L)
Tokihayate 1-3 (R)
Nishikigi is well-known for always bespectacled everywhere except in the ring.

Day5 #londonsumo
Daieishō 1-3 (L)
Rōga 3-1 (R)
Daieishō is known for his thrust attack, Rōga is just trying to keep up.

Day5 #londonsumo
Takerufuji 1-3 (L)
Churanoumi 2-2 (R)
Wouldn't surprise me if Takeru was an ōzeki by now if it weren't for his badly times injuries. Churanoumi's name means "beautiful sea" in the Okinawan dialect/language.

Day5 #londonsumo
Hitoshi 3-1 (L)
Mitakeumi 3-1 (R)
Mitakeumi is another hard battling former ōzeki. Someone tries to win by ippon (no sumo isn't judo but sometimes it feels like it.

Day5 #londonsumo
Asakōryū 2-2 (facing)
Kotoeihō 1-3
Man, that nodowa (throat thrust)!

Day5 #londonsumo
Shishi 3-1 (L)
Shōnannoumi 2-2 (R)
Shishi is from region of Ukraine right on front lines of war with Russia. Shōnan was subject of controversy when he was allowed to continue a match after suffering an obvious concussion a few years back.

Srsly though #LondonSumo has been properly enthralling viewing and hopefully I'll be able to watch future tournaments in English easily online/through BBC sport.

Oof, a slip and the lad'll be kicking himself for that Brian #LondonSumo

Watching #londonsumo and this might be contextual to when I was younger watching on Transworld sports, but are the Rikishi lighter than they used to be?

Harry Potter lore knows no boundaries. #londonsumo

Day4
Ōnosato (L)
Aonishiki (R)
Both are going for 4th straight win. #londonsumo

Ōshōumi (L)
Asakōryū (R)
This bout is another kettle of fish - impossible to look dignified when you lose this way. Kimarite: TSURIDASHI. #londonsumo

The thousand year old sport is kicking it in front the thousand some year old monument. #londonsumo #stonehenge

Ura wins by insane rarely seen underarm forward body drop! TSUTAE-ZORI! #LondonSumo