July Grand Tournament
Nagoya's July Basho is held at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. From the beating of the yagura-daiko drum announcing the event to the thunderous clash of wrestlers, immerse yourself in the ancient rituals of Sumo at the year's biggest Grand Tournament.
Sumo is one of Japan's most popular sports, steeped in legend, history and ceremony. To the outsider it can seem like a mere battle of strength and power, but it should be remembered that this is a sport with over 70 different throws, trips, forms and tricks. Only when these are mastered will the wrestler stand a chance of becoming a Yokuzuna (grand champion).
As a spectacle Sumo is amazing. The men are giants, and in front of a packed house, they attempt to eject each other from the four-and-a-half metre circle or throw each other to the hard clay floor. The backdrop to the action provides constant reminders of the history and reverence of the occasion, from the Gyoji's (referee's) fan - a sign of authority - to the symbolic salt scattering before each contest.
The best seats in the house are those situated closest to the dohyo (the ring), but be warned, these are extremely difficult to get hold of. The large arena provides many seating alternatives, however, ranging from a simple cushion in the isu-seki (balcony) to a box-seki (similar to a corporate box) in the Kokugikan at the back. Make sure that you order tickets early though, as they can sell out quickly.
Related Information
Website: Nihon Sumo Kyokai Website
| Contact Details | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Tickets |
| Phone: | +81 52 962 9300 |
| Venue Information: | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium |
| Full Name: | |
| Address: | 1-1 Ninomaru, Naka-ku |
| Directions: | Head to Shiyakusho Station on the Meijo Subway line (exit 7). Chubu Centrair International Airport is 30 minutes by train, 1 hour by bus, from Nagoya. |
| Contact Details: | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium |
| Phone: | +81 (0) 52 971 2516 (Japanese speaking) |
| Other Information: | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium |
| Website: | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium Website |
| Contact Details | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Tickets |
| Phone: | +81 52 962 9300 |
| Name: | Nagoya Tourist Information Centre |
| Location: | Nagoya |
| Address: | 1-1-4, Meieki,Nakamura-Ku,Nagoya City,Aichi Prefecture,Japan |
| Phone: | +81 (0) 52 541 4301 |
| Name: | Japan Tourist Office |
| Location: | Japan |
| Address: | 10 Floor, Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan Building, 2-10-1, Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006 |
| Email: | visitjapan@jntonyc.org |
| Phone: | +81 (0) 3 3201 3331; UK +44 (0) 20 7398 5670 |
