Japan Sumo Association to hold tourney in London next year in rare overseas event

LONDON –

Only once in the sport’s 1,500-year history has a five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, or basho, been held outside Japan — and next year, London’s Royal Albert Hall will repeat its feat of 1991.

To be as true to tradition as possible, the venerable concert hall will build a raised clay dohyō in the center of the auditorium to host the event, with spectators sitting around it on cushions and, further back, on chairs.

“We’ll experience not just the sport, but the tradition and the ritual and the culture of sumo,” said James Ainscough, chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall.