Sumo is the featured attraction at the Royal Albert Hall this weekend in a rare foray for the ancient sport outside of its spiritual home of Japan. The five-day tournament started on Wednesday and features 40 rikishi (wrestlers) (about six-tonnes’ worth) squaring off in a specially constructed dohyo (ring). Reinforced chairs and upgraded toilets have been installed for the exclusive use of the 28-stone ‘naked ambassadors’ (as they are being called here in Japan).

Like test cricket, sumo wrestling is set apart and sustained by its antiquity

It has been a huge success so far. Tickets sold out long ago but can be picked up for hundreds of pounds on the secondary market. Ring-side spectators have been warned about the danger of being squashed by a falling wrestler.

Sheer curiosity will

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