A Beginner’s Guide to Sumo: The History, Rules, and How to Enjoy It

In October, a rather surprising event became a talking point in London:sumo wrestling was held at the music temple, the Royal Albert Hall.

The five-day tournament filled the venue every day, and more than a few visitors said, “I didn’t know sumo was like this.”

So for anyone who became curious about this unusual sport from Japan,　here is a simple guide — just enough to enjoy it from day one.

What is Sumo? A Very Short History

Sumo is often called Japan’s “national sport”.

Its roots go back over 1,500 years, and by around 1,000 years ago, it already had a form very close to what we see today.

In the Edo period (17th–19th century), sumo grew as public entertainment, while still keeping the rituals of a sacred ceremony.

Modern professional sumo inherited both sides:the ritual beauty and the competitive sport.

That mix is what makes sumo truly unique.

Professional sumo is called ōzumō, but there is also student and amateur sumo.

Amateur tournaments are held around the world, and in recent years, wrestlers from Europe, Oceania, and the Americas have appeared even in the professional ranks.

The Rules Are Surprisingly Simple

For spectators, sumo is easy to enjoy without knowing every detail.

You lose if:

1.     You step outside the ring

2.     Anything other than the bottom of your feet touches the ground
– a hand, a knee, or your back

That’s it.
Because the rules are so clear, everyone instantly knows who won.

Matches are short: some end in one explosive second, others last several tense minutes.

Wrestlers use speed, strength, balance, and technique.
Some crash into each other head-first — imagine a 180–200 kg athlete diving forward like a rugby tackle, without any helmet.
The sound makes many first-time viewers gasp: “This is crazy!”

The Mysterious Start – No Whistle, No Gong

Sumo also has a very unusual way of starting a match.
There is no whistle or gong.
The referee calls “matta nashi, hakkeyoi,” and the bout begins only when both wrestlers place both hands on the ground at the same time.

If one hand is not fully down, the referee stops the match.
This is a modern rule to ensure fairness.

Old videos show something very different:
wrestlers barely touched the ground, and started by sensing each other’s breathing — a kind of craftsman’s timing.
Today, the hands-down rule is strictly enforced.

In amateur sumo, fairness is even more important, so matches often start with a referee’s signal.

Rituals Before the Fight

Sometimes the pre-match ceremony is longer than the match itself.
Wrestlers squat, stare, and throw salt into the ring.
The ring is considered a sacred space, so salt is used for purification.

The referee’s costumes are also striking — the higher his rank, the more ornate the outfit becomes.
After winning, wrestlers do not shout or pump their fists.
They bow silently, receive prize envelopes with calm dignity, and show respect to their opponent.
That sense of ritual and etiquette is part of sumo’s charm.

 The Mawashi: Sumo’s Only Costume

Wrestlers fight wearing only a mawashi, the traditional belt.

It looks simple, but it’s actually about six meters of silk, wrapped tightly many times around the body.
The mawashi isn’t just clothing—it’s also part of the strategy.
Grabbing an opponent’s belt is how wrestlers execute powerful throws and control each other in the ring.

Under the mawashi, professional wrestlers do not wear anything.
This is part of the traditional style of sumo.
In amateur sumo, however, the rules are more flexible, and wrestlers are often allowed to wear spats or tight shorts underneath for safety and comfort.

The Hair – Ōichō and the Samurai Topknot

Another symbol of sumo is the traditional hairstyle.
Top-division wrestlers wear the ōichō, a fan-shaped topknot inherited from the samurai era.
It is made by a specialist called a tokoyama, and it takes time and skill to shape.
Lower-ranked wrestlers still wear a simpler topknot, similar to the old samurai style.
Even the hair shows rank — something unique to sumo.

Tournaments: Honbasho and Jungyō

Professional sumo has six official tournaments (honbasho) every year, each lasting 15 days.

Ryogoku kokugikan

Three of these are held in Tokyo, and the city’s Ryōgoku Kokugikan is known as the home arena of sumo.

Outside the official tournaments, wrestlers travel across Japan — and overseas — for exhibition tours called jungyō, designed to entertain fans and promote the sport.
London’s event was part of this worldwide effort.

On honbasho days, matches begin around 8 a.m. with new wrestlers, and continue until evening, ending with the top-division stars.

Ranks and the “Banzuke”

Sumo has a ranking system, with Yokozuna at the very top.

Rankings go up and down based on the results of each honbasho.

The key number is eight wins.
A wrestler who finishes with a winning record (8 wins or more in 15 bouts) will usually be promoted, while a losing record means falling down the rankings.

At the top is the Yokozuna, the grand champion.
A Yokozuna cannot be demoted—once you reach the summit, you stay there.
Sounds easy, right? Actually, it’s the opposite.
If a Yokozuna keeps losing, they are expected to retire with dignity, and the pressure from fans, media, and tradition is enormous.

So while other wrestlers fight to avoid demotion, a Yokozuna fights to avoid retirement.
This constant pressure is part of what makes the rank so special, and so rare.

yokozuna

The name Yokozuna comes from the sacred rope (shimenawa) worn around the waist — the same rope seen at Shinto shrines.

A Yokozuna performing the ceremonial ring entrance is one of the most iconic sights in sumo.

Since wrestlers usually fight opponents of similar rank, a lower-ranked wrestler can keep winning without meeting the strongest competitors.
So sometimes a “dark horse” suddenly appears in the championship race.
Because it’s not a knockout tournament, every honbasho creates its own drama.

Bigger Is a Weapon

Weight matters in sumo.
Wrestlers train hard and eat heavily to build massive bodies.
For years, foreign-born wrestlers dominated.
People compared it to Wimbledon, where the home champions once struggled for a long time.

Today, Japanese champions are returning.
In 2025, Ōnosato became the first Japanese-born wrestler in many years to reach Yokozuna.
He now shares the top rank with Mongolian-born Hōshōryū, and a fast-rising wrestler from Ukraine, Aonishiki, is also drawing attention.

Beloved Around the World — Even by Presidents

Sumo has many overseas fans.
Former French President Jacques Chirac was famously obsessed with it.
When he visited Japan, he always went to watch.
During his presidency, he reportedly checked the results every morning before starting his workday.

His political rival, Nicolas Sarkozy, once called sumo “not an intellectual sport,”
which somehow turned into a national argument about sumo.

Sumo Is Going Global

You can find sumo matches easily on YouTube, and English-speaking commentators are growing.
The Sumo Association is working on international outreach, so the days when you had to fly to Japan just to watch are changing.

And who knows?
The next wrestlers might come to your city.

If You See It, Just Watch for a Minute

Simple rules.
Huge impact.
A mix of sacred ritual and intense sport.

You don’t have to understand everything — the moment someone hits the ground or steps out, you know who won.

Sumo is a sport you can enjoy from the very first day you see it.

Related articles:

Why Do Shinto Shrines and Temples Look So Similar?

Discovering Tokyo’s Yokocho: From Gritty Alleys to Neo-Nostalgia

Tokyo Bike Share Guide: Easy Cycling Options for Visitors