Sumo wrestlers won over by well-behaved crowds at Royal Albert Hall
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Oho and Abi in action at the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – While the ongoing Grand Sumo Tournament has proven a hit in London, with widespread media coverage and around 5,400 spectators packing the Royal Albert Hall each day, the wrestlers themselves have been impressed by the polite and enthusiastic audiences at the renowned concert venue.
Recent tournaments in Japan have been marred by hecklers breaking the concentration of wrestlers preparing to battle, but there has been no such problem thus far during the five-day exhibition meet in the British capital.
The final buildup to each bout has been met with a respectful silence, followed by an explosion of cheering as the combatants collide in the opening charge.
Yokozuna Onosato noted the “different kind of excitement” from Japan.
“I was surprised by how much enthusiasm there was,” he said.
Rank-and-file wrestler Ura, Onosato’s opening-day opponent, remarked that there had been “no heckling” during the competition.
“I feel I should point out when things are bad,” he said, referring to the recent incidents in Japan.
Former sekiwake Oho expressed his gratitude to the locals who came to watch the tournament, which runs through Oct 19.
“I want them to experience the rituals and the atmosphere that precede bouts,” he said. “I could feel a lot of respect.”
Complimenting the crowd on their behaviour, veteran komusubi Takayasu speculated whether the Royal Albert Hall’s role as a cultural venue may have had an influence.
“The guests don’t stand up for the duration. Maybe it’s because they’re used to watching operas and plays,” Takayasu said. KYODO NEWS
