Built in 1985, the Ryogoku Kokugikan is a modern, spacious, and well-designed sumo arena where three of the six Grand Sumo tournaments are held. In January, May, and September, Tokyoites can see sumo live and enjoy numerous things inside the facility.

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Photos of a Grand Sumo Tournament. These pictures aim to give you an idea of what you see at a real sumo tournament at the Kokugikan sumo arena in Tokyo. The colorful ring-entering ceremony by the top two divisions (Makunouchi and Juryo) as well as by the yokozuna. See a few sumo matches fought by foreign wrestlers as well.

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On Oct. 17, 2008, the Ozumo Maibara Basho exhibition sumo tournament was held at Green Park Santo in Maibara, Shiga Prefecture. Most of the famous sumo stars came and showed their stuff including Yokozuna Hakuho; Ozeki Chiyotaikai, Kotomitsuki, Kotooshu, and Kaio; Takamisakari, Baruto, Kisenosato, and Homasho. It has been nine years since they came to Shiga for an exhibition tournament.

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Yokozuna Musashimaru, the last of the Hawaiian sumo greats, held his retirement ceremony on Oct. 2, 2004 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena in Tokyo. His departure marks the end of the Hawaii's Golden Age of Sumo. For the first time since 1968, sumo in Japan is without a wrestler from Hawaii. Also see the video at YouTube.

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Sumo practice at the Kokugikan sumo arena in Ryogoku, Tokyo. The practice, held before the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, was open to the public on April 29, 2005. Surprisingly, about 8,000 people attended, taking advantage of free admission. Also see the video at YouTube.

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