Sumo Questions for Tokyo in May

I'm planning to see a Sumo match in May at Kokugikan in Tokyo. The most convenient day for me is probably May 11 (which is the second day of the match opening). I've read that the beginning days there aren't a lot of good sumo wrestlers. But I'm just wondering for a tourist like me (who knows pretty much next to nothing about sumo), is it a big deal when I go?


Also I read that the matches go on all day, and with one ticket you can see all the matches. The good ones are usually after 3 or 4pm. Just wondering if there is a set schedule on when matches start/end so I can get there at the right time?


Seats. Is it worth it buy an assigned seat online (I'm looking at C section on Floor 2), or should I just go on the day of and buy a general seat ticket? Given that I'm going on the second day of the tournament, wouldn't it sell out in advance?


Thank you

I've read that the beginning days there aren't a lot of good sumo wrestlers.

The source that you read is wrong! All high ranked wrestlers compete on every day of the tournament. The highest ranked ones compete between 4pm and 6pm. It is true, however, that the highest ranked wrestlers are not matched up with each other until later during the tournament. But that is not a big deal even for sumo lovers.

Also I read that the matches go on all day, and with one ticket you can see all the matches. The good ones are usually after 3 or 4pm. Just wondering if there is a set schedule on when matches start/end so I can get there at the right time?

I recommend to read on the basics here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2080.html

Seats. Is it worth it buy an assigned seat online (I'm looking at C section on Floor 2), or should I just go on the day of and buy a general seat ticket? Given that I'm going on the second day of the tournament, wouldn't it sell out in advance?

May 11 is a regular weekday, so it is not going to sell out. But the same-day tickets are in the very back of the balcony. depending on budget and ability to sit on the floor, I would recommend to get better seats.

probably May 11 (which is the second day of the match opening).

May 11 of 2014 will be a Sunday and the first day of May Grand Sumo Tournament held in Tokyo.
Six Grand Sumo Tournaments are held regularly every year, three at Kokugikan in Tokyo and three in other regions, each beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Sunday two weeks later.
(A regular Grand Sumo competition is often called a tournament, though losers do not have to leave it.)

You can see photos which were taken when Kokugikan was empty and expect how a view from a certain seat section would be like.
- From Seat section C on the 2nd floor
http://www.sumo.or.jp/img/ticket/seat/seat_detail/2f-c-s.jpg
- From Seat section B on the 2nd floor
http://www.sumo.or.jp/img/ticket/seat/seat_detail/2f-b-s.jpg
- From Seat section A on the 2nd floor
http://www.sumo.or.jp/img/ticket/seat/seat_detail/2f-s2.jpg
- From non-reserved seat section (= Row No. 14) for holders of same-day tickets
http://www.sumo.or.jp/img/ticket/seat/seat_detail/2f-f-s.jpg

Just to chip in about seats, if the ones you want are sold out, or you can't afford good ones, during the morning/early afternoon (especially on a weekday!) a lot of the seats are empty; they don't fill up completely until the main matches. So if you get a crappy/not-so-good seat, go in the morning and you can sit anywhere and watch a few matches in a nice seat and get pictures. Then when you come back for the big matches, you will be in the back, but have had a chance to see some up close. I'm not a huge sumo fan, so when I went I didn't want to spring for expensive tickets. So I went in the morning to get some close-up action, then was content to sit in the back in the evening when the big names came out.

Just a thought!