Hot pot sumo is Tokyo's latest tourist attraction
Sporting cabaret at Tokyo Tower taps foreign interest in Japanese culture
August 14, 2026
MAYUKO KURIHARA, YUKI KOHARA
TOKYO -- Sumo lessons, kabuki performances and traditional meals are part of the latest fusion of Japanese culture put together to satisfy the appetites of foreign visitors.
"One, two, three, dosukoi!" was the sumo shout as a tourist, dressed as a rikishi wrestler, had her photo taken with two former combatants and a gyoji, referee, at Tokyo Sumo Club Entertainment this month. A preopening 90-minute show at the capital's landmark Tokyo Tower was being staged for invited guests and foreign visitors selected through a social media campaign.
Spectators watched the two retired wrestlers demonstrate basic techniques and compete in an exhibition match, with a humorous running commentary explaining rules, winning moves and prohibited actions.
Audience volunteers were then invited onto the dohyo, the raised clay ring where matches take place, to experience the traditional practice of throwing salt into the ring, and to face off against the former fighters.
Sue Ryan, a 64-year-old Australian visitor, took part in one match. "I had heard of sumo before coming to Japan, but I didn't know the rules and traditions. It was good to learn all of that," she said.
Visitors watched the show while enjoying a Japanese-style set meal that included chanko nabe, a hot pot dish traditionally eaten by sumo wrestlers at training stables.
Traditional Japanese arts part of the show
The preview also featured traditional Japanese performing arts, featuring three-stringed shamisen instruments, similar to a banjo, lion dances and a rendering of "Kagamijishi," a famous kabuki drama.
For the climax, wrestlers, dancers, and the entire cast took to the stage to dance the Bon Odori, a traditional Japanese folk dance performed in the summer, with the audience joining in.
Global interest in sumo has been rising, helped by the success of the Netflix drama series "Sanctuary," which depicted the world of a sumo stable. Sumo tournaments were held in London last year and in Paris this year, marking the first such events in both countries in more than 30 years. Foreign visitors now account for roughly 20% of the spectators at official Grand Sumo tournaments, according to the Japan Sumo Association.
As interest in the sport grows, tickets have become harder to obtain. All six of the association's annual 15-day tournaments were sold out in 2024 and 2025. This scarcity has created a business opportunity for a new concept that allows consumers to experience sumo culture up close.
Cultural showcase, corporate appeal
After officially opening this week, the Tokyo Tower show will hold four performances a day. Three ticket packages, priced between 16,000 yen ($100) and 25,000 yen per adult, are available, depending on seating location and meal options.
The venue also features a souvenir corner that sells T-shirts and other merchandise, backpacks made from repurposed obi, the sashes worn with traditional Japanese kimono.
The show is the second sumo-themed extravaganza operated by Kronos Gaia, a hotel operator and construction company, following a production in the northern island of Hokkaido. Yukihiko Hashimoto, the company's president, said it is targeting monthly sales of 230 million yen. In addition to visitors from overseas and foreign residents in Japan, "There is potential for business use by Japanese companies hosting overseas clients," Hashimoto said.
Retired rikishi show off sumo skills
The shows also give retired sumo wrestlers the chance to pursue a second career.
Professional sumo wrestlers typically start young. New apprentices are generally under 23 years of age. Many join a sumo stable straight after graduating from middle or high school, training daily and living in a communal dormitory. Injuries and the effects of age mean that wrestlers often retire by 30.
Sumo wrestlers are divided into categories based on their performance, and only about 10% reach the rank of sekitori, the group that receives a monthly salary. The rest receive tournament allowances and performance-based bonuses. As a result, some wrestlers retire and begin searching for new careers without much money in the bank.
Tenma, a 31-year-old retired wrestler, is performing at Tokyo Sumo Club Entertainment after a 13-year career in professional sumo. "I want to show visitors authentic sumo. The exhibition match is the highlight of the show," he said.
Another retired wrestler, 22-year-old Yamato, who spent nearly seven years in professional sumo, said, "I want to share Japanese culture with visitors through sumo, Japan's national sport."
