Sumo Wrestling Sees Unlikely Boom in the British Isles With Growing Popularity and Events
The British Isles are witnessing a notable rise in sumo wrestling's popularity, highlighted by the upcoming British Isles Sumo Championships for amateur wrestlers from the UK and Ireland. This inaugural event, scheduled in six weeks, marks a significant milestone for the sport in the region.
Earlier this year, elite Japanese wrestlers Ōnosato Daiki and Hōshōryū Tomokatsu headlined the Grand Sumo Tournament held in London at the Royal Albert Hall in October. The event sold out and was only the second Grand Sumo tournament to take place outside Japan, underscoring growing international interest.
A key figure in the British sumo scene includes 15-year-old Nicholas Tarasenko, who became the second Briton to join professional sumo in Japan after achieving success in amateur tournaments and learning Japanese. This reflects the increasing pathways available for British athletes in the sport.
Grassroots enthusiasm has surged over the past three years in Britain, prompting plans for more coaches and clubs in 2026 and beyond. Organizations like Sumo na hÉireann in Belfast, under Jonathan Templeton's leadership, exemplify this growth by promoting sumo as both fun and spectator-friendly.
Amateur sumo in the UK differs from professional sumo by featuring weight classes and being inclusive of all sizes, genders, backgrounds, and abilities, whereas professional sumo remains male-only.
The sport's rising popularity is further boosted by social media platforms such as TikTok, where the short, approximately 10-second bouts are highly engaging and easily consumable content.
Promoters are actively pursuing sumo's inclusion in the Olympic Games and aim to reframe its image beyond traditional stereotypes, striving to establish it as a modern and accessible sport.
