Sumo in June 2012

Hi guys,

We in Osaka / Kyoto and possibly Tokyo between 14th and 22nd of June 2012. We would love to see a sumo match, but from what I've seen so far, sumo ends around the last weekend of May and starts again towards the end of June. Are there any smaller matches somewhere that we can go to? Any information on location, tickets, etc would be great!

Thanks a lot.

Not that I am aware of. Your only option is to visit a Sumo Stable although this doesn't seem to always be easy to organise.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3022.html

I'd probably save the Sumo for next time you visit Japan and plan your trip around the tournament dates.
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/index.html

Enjoy your trip!

Hi, shurik

There will be a smaller sumo tournament on the 16th of June in Kawagoe city (a traditional city located 30km northwest of central Tokyo). Don't forget that this sumo tournament is a series of matches exclusively for children (boys and girls) under 12 years old. Of course, you can freely watch the tournament as an audience (no admission charge is required to watch the matches). At the end of this tournament, a "real" adult sumo wrestler (an active sumo wrestler) will appear there to play with child sumo wrestlers.

pdf file
http://kawagoe-hachimangu.net/docs/sumo24.pdf

If you don't mind it, take a look:
Windows Media Player movie (NHK news):
http://kawagoe-hachimangu.net/docs/movie-nhk.wmv
Photos:
http://ton-q.at.webry.info/200806/article_5.html
http://ton-q.at.webry.info/200906/article_9.html

At the beginning of this tournament, a Shintoism ceremony will be held by a Shinto priest to keep the sumo wrestling arena clean. This sacred ceremony may be also attractive to you.

Date: June 16, 2012
Open Hours: 10:00-16:00
Place: Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine
address: Minami-Tohri Machi 19-1, Kawagoe city, Saitama
How to access: about 50-minute train ride from the Ikebukuro or Takadano-baba station of Tokyo; after getting off the Kawagoe station, walk for 6 minutes or move by taxi to the shrine
tel: +81-49-222-1396
If it rains, the tournament will be held on the 17th of June.

Thank you! I guess I won't be seeing any adult sumo this time. Another reason to go back!