Southwark (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Four top sumo wrestlers from Southwark visited Monkatsu in East Dulwich for lunch ahead of their performance at The Grand Sumo Tournament.
Before heading off to the Southwark sumo champions dine at Monkatsu in East Dulwich to take part in the Grand Sumo Tournament, the sumo wrestlers paid a short visit to experience a little slice of home.
Kirishima Tetsuo (Ozeki), Ichiro Tamawashi (Sekiwake), Oshoma Degi (Komusubi) and Roga Tokiyoshi (Maegashira) were all greeted at the family-run Japanese establishment Monkatsu this morning.
The special guests, who learned about Monkatsu from a friend’s recommendation, thrilled the owners, Khishigee and Baagii.
Khishigee said:
“We are not open in the morning. We specially made them home made gyoza and dumpling and ramen soup, with a side of kimchi and salad.
It was a proud moment for our family-run restaurant and an exciting day for the East Dulwich community to host such elite athletes right here in Southwark.”
From Wednesday, October 15 to Sunday, October 19, more than 40 of Japan’s top maku-uchi rikishi (wrestlers) will compete in the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall. On each of the five days of the tournament, there will be approximately 20 Sumo wrestling bouts and a dohyo-iri (ring entrance ceremony) taking place.
Prizes will be awarded to both the winning rikishi and those judged as outstanding in their performances during the tournament.
How often do sumo wrestlers come to London for events or meals?
Sumo wrestlers do not visit London often for special reasons. Events such as the Grand Sumo Tournament have occurred outside Japan only twice, the first time in 1991 at the Royal Albert Hall, and the second in 2025, which was the first time in Birmingham.
Any visit generally lasts for a minimum of three days for the wrestlers to compete three or four times. The wrestlers, along with an entourage, have come especially for these international exhibitions organized by the Japan Sumo Association.
The sumo wrestlers will rarely make a casual or frequent visit to London for meals or other promotional events.
The traditions and ritualistic aspects of the sport mean that international occasions will only be planned carefully and are significant events that would receive the highest ranked wrestlers or rikishi.