There are not many sports that can keep an audience enraptured through 45 minutes of ceremony before the first point is even contested. And yet, the intricate traditions unfolding in a small clay ring - virtually unchanged in hundreds of years - managed to do just that.
Welcome, then, to the Grand Sumo Tournament - a five-day event at the Royal Albert Hall featuring 40 of the very best sumo wrestlers showcasing a sport which can date its first mention back to 23BC.
London's Victorian concert venue has been utterly transformed, complete with a six-tonne Japanese temple roof suspended above the ring. It is here the wrestlers, known as rikishi, will perform their leg stomps to drive away evil spirits, and where they will clap to get the attention of the gods.
Above all this ancient ceremony, a giant, revolving LED screen offers the audience all the stats and replays they could want. Sumo may be ancient, yet it exists in a modern world, helping spread its spirit far beyond Japan's borders.
The London tournament is notable as only the second time this event has graced the city— the last being in 1991. As fans gathered from around the globe, they exchanged stories of discovering sumo through YouTube, social media, or travels to Japan, and many expressed that witnessing the power and speed of the rikishi live was an unforgettable experience.
However, the sport isn't without its troubles, facing scandals over the years and struggles to attract younger fans amidst changing interests. Despite these challenges, the passion for sumo remains alive and well, fueled by the vibrant community it has fostered online and at events like this.
As the tournament unfolds, fans share the thrill of being part of the spectacle, transforming their online fandom into a shared reality, a celebration of culture and athleticism like no other.
