Japan

Out of the six annual grand tournaments of sumo wrestling, Tokyo hosts three. Of those, the Natsu Basho in May is an experience like no other! For fifteen days, wrestlers from all divisions compete with determination and grit, while fans fill the arena with cheers, camera flashes, and waves of applause. Each day of the tournament kicks off in the morning and features back-to-back matches until early evening. Many spectators buy tickets for the whole day but take breaks, returning in time to catch their favorite wrestlers. In the mornings, you’ll see the lower-ranked competitors—eager and full of spirit. The action intensifies as the day progresses, and by around 2:00 p.m., the elite top-division rikishi begin to enter the ring. As the sun starts to dip, the arena truly comes alive: the crowd leans in, the atmosphere thickens, and the big bouts begin. At the end of the 15-day tournament, one wrestler emerges as division champion. This winner not only takes home the trophy but earns the chance to climb higher in the rankings, working toward the prestigious and rarely awarded title of Yokozuna—sumo’s grand champion. Since the 17th century, fewer than 100 men have ever reached this status. Tickets…